Table of Contents
Getting Started
Getting Started
User's Manual
Metadata Manual
CHAPTER 1 Process Modeling and Analysis with SIMPROCESS
What is SIMPROCESS?
How Do You Use SIMPROCESS?
SIMPROCESS Editions
SIMPROCESS Terminology and Menus
SIMPROCESS Terminology
SIMPROCESS Menus
File Menu
Edit Menu
Layout Menu
View Menu
Create Menu
Define Menu
Simulate Menu
Report Menu
Experiment Menu
Tools Menu
Window Menu
Help Menu
CHAPTER 2 SIMPROCESS Basics
SIMPROCESS Components
Processes
Activities
Entities
Resources
Connectors
Pads
Putting it Together
Using the Layout Toolbar to Create Activities
Removing Objects from the Layout
Common Activity Input Fields
Naming Activities
Choosing an Icon
Adding a Comment
Documenting the Activity
Labeling with Text Blocks
Getting Help
Generate Activity
Defining a Basic Generate Activity
Delay Activity
Dispose Activity
Defining an Entity
Defining Resources and Processes
Resources
Processes
Alternative Sub-Processes
Adding Detail to a Process
Simulation Setup
Run Settings
Animation Settings
Running a Simulation
Running a Simulation with Model Parameters
Allowable Actions During a Simulation
Standard Report
CHAPTER 3 Statistical Modeling Constructs
Random Number Generation and Standard Distributions
Random Number Generation
Standard Distributions
User Defined Distributions
Standard Distributions
Tabular Distributions
Auto Fits Distributions
Run Settings
Run Settings
Cost Periods
Debug Traces
Expression Output
Time Server
CHAPTER 4 Activity Modeling Constructs
Entity-Related Activities
Assemble Activity
Batch Activity
Unbatch Activity
Gate Activity
Synchronize Activity
Entity Control Activities
Assign Activity
Transform Activity
Branch Activity
Merge Activity
Transfer Activity
Clone Activity
Split and Join Activities
Defining a Split Activity
Defining a Join Activity
CHAPTER 5 Resource Modeling Constructs
Resources and Simulation
Resource Allocation Policy
Defining Resources
Adding Resource Requirements to Activities
Explicitly Getting and Freeing Resources
Get Resource and Free Resource Activities
Replenishing Consumable Resources
Preempting Lower Priority Entities
CHAPTER 6 Graphical Modeling Constructs
Background Text
Background Graphics
Importing Graphics Image Files
Background Images
Activity, Process, and Entity Images
Post Simulation Animation
Post Simulation Animation Toolbar
Recording an Animation
Animation Playback
CHAPTER 7 Activity-Based Costing
ABC and SIMPROCESS
Benefits of ABC with SIMPROCESS
Focus on Cost Drivers
Strategic Pricing
Evaluation of Capital Investments
How to Use ABC in SIMPROCESS
Setting Up Cost Periods
Setting Up Resource Costs
Cost Calculations
References
CHAPTER 8 Output Reports
Standard Report
Default Performance Measures
Custom Statistics
Entity Statistics
Resource Statistics
Process/Activity Statistics
Connector Statistics
Real-Time Plots
Defining Plots
Setting Plot Properties
Displaying Real-Time Plots
Displaying Plots Remotely
Automatic Saving of Plots
Post Plotting Options
Custom Plots
Adding Values To Custom Plot
Removing Values From Custom Plot
Setting and Removing Plot Group
Setting Legends
Expression Plots
Simulation Results File
CHAPTER 9 Reusable Templates and Libraries
Library Concepts
Defining and Editing Templates
Using The Library Manager
Adding a Process/Activity Template
Adding Resource Templates
Adding Resource Downtime Templates
Editing Templates
Editing Templates
Editing Library Parameters
Advantage of Templates Over Copy/Paste
CHAPTER 10 Customizing a Model with Attributes and Expressions
Introduction to Attributes and Expressions
Attributes
Expressions
Using Attributes in SIMPROCESS
System Attributes
User Defined Attributes
Creating a User Defined Attribute
Assign Activity
Changing an Attribute Value with the Assign Activity
Variable Resource Usage
Writing Expressions
SIMPROCESS Expression Language Basics
Expression Editor
Using Attributes in Expressions
Evaluate (Evl) Function
Expression Activation Events
Attribute Value Initialization
Example: Batching Entities Based on Weight
Build Process Flow
Initializing Entity Attributes
Releasing Entities Based on Weight
An Alternative Method Using Entity Types
Using Object Attributes in Expressions
Getting and Freeing Resources Using Expressions
GetResource
FreeResource
Combining Get and Free Expressions With Activities
Creating Resources Using Expressions
CreateResource
SetResourceCost
SetResourceDowntime
SetResourceExpression
Resource Usage
Changing Resource Capacity With Expressions
IncreaseCapacity
DecreaseCapacity
Setting Maximum Resource Wait With Expressions
User-Defined Functions
Dynamic Labels
Interfacing With A Database
Setting Up Database Using Windows and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
Database System Methods
Database Example
Interfacing With A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet System Methods
Read and Write Cell References
Formula Cell References
Additional Spreadsheet XML Information
Accessing Statistics During Simulation
GetActivityStatistic
GetActivityByEntityStatistics
GetAttributeStatistic
GetCostStatistic
GetEntityStatistic
GetResourceStatistic
GetResourceByActivityStatistic
GetTimeStampStatistic
GetTotalCostStatistic
Statistic Errors
Creating and Controlling Plots With Expressions
CreatePlot
AddPlotLegend
ClearPlot
DisplayPlot
PlotValue
Summary
CHAPTER 11 More Advanced Model Building
Defining a More Complex Generate Activity
Defining Schedules for a Generate Activity
Adding a Periodic Schedule
Adding a Calendar Schedule
Adding a Weekly Schedule
Defining Cyclical Schedules
Defining Specific Entity Generation Events in a File
Adding a Spreadsheet Schedule
Adding an External Schedule
Generate Activity Summary
Resource Downtime
Local Resource Downtime
Global Resource Downtime
Defining Downtime Schedules of Resources
Creating a Downtime Schedule
Defining a Random Downtime
Defining a Weekly Downtime
Defining a Usage Downtime
Modifying a Downtime Schedule
Event Logs
Defining Time Stamps
Entry and Exit Event Logs to Processes/Activities
Passing Time Stamps Between Entities
Differences Between Time Stamps and Recorder Objects
Recorders
CHAPTER 12 Advanced Data Analysis
An Introduction to Data Analysis and Modeling
Introduction
Standard Statistical Indicators
Why Statistical Simulation Experiments?
Mean-Value Analysis
The Importance of Experimental Data
SIMPROCESS Statistical Distributions
CHAPTER 13 SIMPROCESS Database
Committing Results to the Database
System, Design, and Scenario
Database Table Relationships
Database Queries
Forms (Graphs) and Reports
Launch Database Application
SIMPROCESS and Other Databases
CHAPTER 14 Experiment Manager
Defining Experiments
Running Experiments
Starting Experiments
Experiment Operation
Interacting With Experiments
Generating Standard Reports From Experiments
CHAPTER 15 OptQuest for SIMPROCESS
Overview of OptQuest for SIMPROCESS
Elements of an OptQuest Optimization
Using OptQuest: An Overview
Optimization Setup
Preparing for Optimization
Defining An Optimization
Saving Optimization Settings
Running an Optimization
OptQuest for SIMPROCESS Interface
Optimization Solution Options
Tips and Suggestions
Search Methodology
Factors that affect search performance
OptQuest Demonstration Models
Purchasing Model
Inventory Model
CHAPTER 16 SIMPROCESS Dashboards
Defining Dashboards
Dashboard Layout
Dashboard Graphs
Dashboard Menus
Assigning Dashboards
Adding a Dashboard Assignment
Editing and Removing a Dashboard Assignment
Displaying Dashboards
APPENDIX A Importing Version 2.2.1 Models
Import Procedures
Preparing Your Model For Import
Duplicate Names (2.2.1 and 2.2.2)
Special Characters
Required Fields
Graphics
Graphical Import Results
Activity/Process Location
Connectors And Pads
Specially Drawn Connectors
Text Blocks, Static Labels, and Dynamic Labels
Properties Import Results
Import Troubleshooting
Importing Document Files
APPENDIX B Activity Summary Table
APPENDIX C SIMPROCESS File Structure
Installation Directory
SPSYSTEM Directory
SPUser Directory
models Directory
metamodel Directory
endorsed Directory
jre Directory
ext Directory
dashboardserver Directory
timeserver Directory
dispatcher Directory
APPENDIX D Statistical Distributions
Uniform Distribution
Normal Distribution
Triangular Distribution
Exponential Distribution
Gamma Distribution
Beta Distribution
Erlang Distribution
Weibull Distribution
Lognormal Distribution
Poisson Distribution
Hyper Exponential Distribution
Uniform Integer Distribution
Geometric Distribution
Pareto Distribution
Binomial Distribution
Negative Binomial Distribution
Inverse Gaussian Distribution
Inverted Weibull
Johnson SB Distribution
Johnson SU Distribution
Log-Logistic Distribution
Log-Laplace Distribution
Pearson Type V Distribution
Pearson Type VI Distribution
Random Walk Distribution
Empirical Distribution
APPENDIX E Statistical Tools Glossary
Absolute Deviation
Alpha
Alternate Hypothesis
Cdf
c2 goodness of fit test
Confidence Interval
Continuous Domain
Data Set
Degrees of Freedom
Dof
Enumeration Domain
Goodness of fit test
IID
Image Editor
Integer-valued Domain
KS
KS goodness of fit test
Kurtosis
Maximum Likelihood Estimate
Mean
MLE
Mode
Model Element
Pdf
Performance Measure.
Percentiles
Quartile Range
Range
Real-valued Domain
Residuals
Sample Domain
Skewness
Standard Deviation
Standard Error
Variance
APPENDIX F SIMPROCESS System Attributes and Methods
System Attributes
SIMPROCESS System Methods
System Method Examples
Method Alert and Beep:
Method Confirm, DrawRealSample, MINOF, MAXOF, and REALTOSTR:
Method ChangeColor:
Method ShowSystemAttributes and ShowUserAttributes:
Method SimTime:
Method OUTPUT and STATUS:
Method UpdateDashboardLabel:
Method UpdateDynamicLabel:
Methods OpenFile, CloseFile, ReadFromFile, and WriteToFile:
Method READ:
Method HALT:
Method RemoteCall:
Method ExternalCall:
Method ActivateGenerate:
Methods ReleaseEntity, Gate, GetEntity, EntityExists:
Methods CreateArray, GetArrayValue, SetArrayValue:
Method SOAPCall
Methods CreateMap, PutInMap, GetFromMap, RemoveFromMap, ClearMap, GetMapKey, GetMapSize:
SIMPROCESS Color Table
APPENDIX G External Event Files
General Rules for Event Files
Event Record Description
Syntax
Parameters
Examples
APPENDIX H Simulation Results File
Format of the Simulation Results File
Owner Type
Owner Name
Name
Stat Type
Replication
Minimum
Maximum
Sum
Sum of Squares
Count
Average
Std Deviation
Statistic Types
APPENDIX I UML Interfaces
Exporting to UML
Rose Use Cases
APPENDIX J Running Models Without GUI
Available Options
Setting Options on Command Line
Setting Options Using Properties File
