External Distributions

External distributions allow SIMUL8 to collect timing information from other WINDOWS packages, rather than simply using build-it statistical distributions. There are two types of external distributions: Excel and Visual Basic.

Sometimes it is useful to use real data in simulation simulations rather than use statistical distributions that emulate the real data.

One way to do this is to place the data in a spreadsheet and have SIMUL8 draw the data across into the simulation simulation as it needs it.

One way to do this you can set up an “External Distribution”.

Click NEW in any Distribution Panel, then click EXTERNAL and the NEXT button.

Choose EXCEL and fill in the name of your spreadsheet and the the location (e.g. R2C3 for Row 2 Column 3) where your data starts.

The data can be a column or a row or can be just a single cell.

If data is a column or row SIMUL8 looks for where the data ends by detecting a cell that DOES NOT contain a number. SIMUL8 repeats the data if the simulation requires more data than SIMUL8 finds.

Use this distribution anywhere were a random distribution could otherwise be used.

This is provided for backwards compatibility only. SIMUL8 COM is the new method you should use.

• Using Visual Logic to read and set data in excel
• Visual Basic extension