.. index:: Expand Instance Node

.. _Expand_Instance_Node:

Expand Instance Node
====================

The Expand Instance Node function can be activated by clicking the left mouse button just outside a collapsed :ref:`instance node<instance_node>`.  The active region surrounding a collapsed instance node is indicated by the special cursor image shown in Figure 1.

.. figure:: images/ExpandInstanceNodeTool.png

	Figure 1: The Expand Instance Node Cursor that appears when the mouse cursor is located right outside a collapsed instance node.

The Expand Instance Node function expands an instance node so that the :ref:`interface nodes<interface_node>` of the network instance that the instance node represents become visible and the size of the instance node is increased.  An instance node must be expanded to create :ref:`binding links<binding_link>` to the :ref:`input nodes<input_node>` of the instance node and to create ordinary (causal) :ref:`links<casual_link>` from its output nodes.  You can also :ref:`expand all<expand_instance_nodes>` instance nodes in one operation.

Please note that links to and from an instance node can only be selected when the node is expanded.

See also :ref:`Collapse Instance Node<collapse_instance_node>`.