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Simulation - a guide to the technique

Simulation - a guide to the technique Listen Level of Detail Build Rough & Ready, then Refine it Work closely with your client Verification Warm up time Visual exploration Accuracy of results How much of this do I need?

What is simulation? Building a basic simulation Getting results from your simulation

Simulation key concepts

Simulation key concepts Simulation objects

Simulation objects Start Points Queues Activities End Points Resources

Connecting simulation objects Work items Results collection period Results Run Trials

Getting around

Getting around Ribbon tabs

Home tab Data & Rules tab Insert tab View tab Visual Logic tab Advanced tab File tab

Quick access tools Shortcut keys Simulation drawing tools View tools

Feature reference guides

All features Animation

Animation Non-time-based Animation

Arrivals (Start Point)

Arrivals (Start Point) Arrival Planner Arrival Times from CSV File Constraining Arrivals No Arrivals Start Point Schedule Unlimited Arrivals

Batching

Batching Batch and Collect tutorial

BPMN simulation

BPMN simulation BPMN simulation objects

BPMN simulation objects BPMN Activity BPMN End BPMN Gateway BPMN Start BPMN Sub Process BPMN Swimlane

Importing BPMN Importing XPDL

Charts

Charts Charts from spreadsheets Customizable charts Exporting chart data Histogram Make time graph Pie charts Time graphs

Clock

Clock Warm up period Clock setup tutorial High speed clock

Components

Components Component detailed options Component palette Components and Visual Logic Components with Labels & Distributions Installing Components Unpacking Components

Dialogs

Dialogs Buttons on Dialogs Combo boxes Custom menus Spreadsheets in Dialogs

Distributions

Distributions Probability Profile

Probability Profile Copy/Paste Discrete/Continuous Lock/Unlock percentage of a bar Probability Profile tutorial

Time Dependent Distributions

Time Dependent Distributions Re-sampling Overruns Between Time Slots Time Slot For Time Dependent Distributions

Access Information Store Ask Visual Basic Check Box Average Distribution Bernoulli Distribution Beta Distribution Binomial Distribution Bounded Distribution Combination Distributions Distribution Summary Distribution Viewer Erlang Distribution Exponential Distribution External Distributions Fixed Distribution Gamma Distribution Geometric Distribution Label Based Distributions Log Normal Distribution Named Distributions Negative Binomial Distribution Normal Distribution Pearson V Distribution Pearson VI Distribution Poisson Distribution Rounded Uniform Distribution Time Absolute Distributions Triangular Distribution Uniform Distribution Weibull Distribution

Efficiency

Efficiency Detailed Efficiency Resources on Breakdown Stop Work Immediately

Graphics

Graphics Image sets Using Graphics tutorial

Information Store

Information Store Special Global Data Items Types of Global Data Items

Labels

Using Labels Attaching a Label Labels Control Work Item Images Labels Tutorial Segregate Results Special Labels Deleting Labels

Lean - Value Stream Mapping

Lean - Value Stream Mapping Lean - Lead Time Chart

Overtime

Overtime Overtime Activity Routing In Overtime Results

Preferences

Preferences Continuous Display Distance Files Finance Results Preferences Undo in Simul8

Queue Graphics

Queue Graphics Conditional Queue Graphics

Resources

Resources Find Resource Label Based Resources Pooled Resource Results Pooled Resources Resource Availability Resource Dependent Timing Resource Graphics Resource Individuality Resource Matrix Resource Moves With Work Item Resource Pools within Resource Pools Resource Priorities Resource Results Resource Routing Arrows Resource Schedule Resource Schedules Resource Travel Time Shift Dependent Resources When are Resources Released? When are Resources Required?

Resource Requirements

Resource Requirements Detailed Options Release Resource As Resources Tutorial Using More Resources

Routing

Routing Route Out By Sequence Routing In Routing In by Percentage Routing Out Routing Out By Condition Routing Work Without Routing Arrows

Results

Results Adding Results to the KPI Summary Export to PDF Export to Template KPI History KPI Summary Removing Results from the KPI Summary Results All Dialog Results By Work Type / Group Results Export Results Export to V•I•S•A Results Manager Results Synchronization Interval Save Results as Text Start Point Results Switching off Results Collection Time Interval Results

Shifts

Shifts Shift Behavior Shift Gantt View Shift Pattern Detail

Simul8 COM

Simul8 COM Python and Simul8 COM VBA and Simul8 COM

Simul8 Finance

Simul8 Finance Simul8 Finance Features Currency Symbol Costs and Revenues Activity Finance End Point Finance Financial Input Summary Non-Object Based Costs and Revenues Queue Finance Resource Finance Start Point Finance

Simul8 Process Objects

Simul8 Process Objects Tanks Pipes Process Oven What's Different About Process Objects

SQL

SQL Setting Up a Database Input

Sub-Windows

Sub-Windows Closing a Sub Window Removing Sub Windows Scroll Bars Sub Window Details Sub Windows as Tabs System Menu

Transport

Transport Loader And Unloaders Paths Transport Example Vehicle Results Vehicles

VBA Extension

VBA Extension Error Messages Building your own Visual Basic Simul8 program Current Work Signals from Simul8 to VB VBA Extension Commands

Visual Logic

Visual Logic Commands Debugging Visual Logic How to use the Visual Logic Builder Math Functions Navigating Visual Logic Object Properties Where Can You Use Visual Logic Visual Logic Tutorial Adjust Route in Percent to 100 Beginners’ Tutorial in Visual Logic Copy Local Variables Function Keys running Visual Logic Functions Local Variables Parameters References List Sheet to Cycle Matrix Speed Analysis Syntax Highlighting Time Check VL Visual Logic Command Browser Visual Logic Find Visual Logic Folders Visual Logic Interface Visual Logic Libraries Visual Logic Syntax and Tips

XML

XML Results XML SolutionXML

Change Random Numbers and Run Redo Undo Snap to Grid Snap to Angle Actions Activity Graphics Activity Results Activity Timing Activity Timing By Label Advanced Random Number Control Aligning Objects All Object Status All Work Items Annotations Attach Spreadsheet to Work Item AutoCAD drawings AutoCAD Import Background Image Batch by Condition Batching At Start Point Batching by type Batching In Bending Routing Arrows Buttons On the Simulation Window Calendars Carbon Emissions Change Overs Change Over Time Tutorial Changing Routings Collect/Assemble Work Items Command Line Options Command Script Compare Simulations - Track Changes Conduct Trial Convert To Conveyors Cost by Work Type Ctrl Drag Customizable Buttons Custom Object Properties Custom Reports Cycle Matrix Data Graphics Deleting a route arrow Deleting Objects Disco Import Display+ Documentation Drawing Routing Arrows Duplication Wizard Editing Images End Point Graphics End Point Results Excel Connections Exit Times to CSV File Exit Work Item Type Experiment Builder Export all Google Sheets Connections Export Google Sheets Connection First at Start Time Flip Selected Object Image Google Sheets Connections Go to End of Warm Up Period Go to Simulation Time Grid Groups Halt Simulation at Limit High Level Analytics Panel High Volume Hold Work Here Hot Spots Image Lists Images Import All Google Sheets Connections Import Google Sheets Connection Index with Groups Input Summary Interruptible Invisible Objects Jobs Matrix Label Editor Layers LIFO Links Dialog Lost Work Items Macro Recorder Magnifying Glass Manage Team Changes Memo Merge Simulations Minimum Wait Time Minitab Export Mirror Selected Object Image Monitor Simulation MORE Plot Multi-task Timing Non-Object Based Costs and Revenues Object Contents Object Speed Code Lists Object Titles OptQuest for Simul8 OptQuest FAQs Overview Window Parallel Processing Path Densities Pick and Place Power and Free / Fixed Pitch Conveyors Presentation Mode Prioritize Queue Contents Prioritizing Activities Process Mining Progress Bar Protection Queue Results Queue Visualization Quick Build Quick Launch QuickView Random Numbers Replicate R integration with Simul8 Rotate Selected Object Image Route Drawing Mode Run Later Scenario Manager Scheduled Maintenance SDX Support Sensitivity Analysis for Distributions Share Sharing Your Simulation on the Web Shelf Life Shift Dependent Activities Shift Dependent Conveyors Show Routing Arrows Simul8 Assistant Simul8 Object Explorer Simulation Properties Simulation Speed Options Simulation Window Simulation Window Tabs Sliders Start Point Graphics Start Point Timing Start Up Stat::Fit for Simul8 State Charts State Chart Timing Sub Process Timing Tables Templates Text Box TimeView Timing Orientation Transaction Logs Transaction Log by Area Transaction Log by Object Transaction Log by Resource Travel Time Travel Time Matrix Trial Calculator View Objects of Type Views Visio Visual Data Visual Validation Visual Verification Wait Till Exit Clear Watch Window Work Item Images Work Item Tracking Zoom Paddle

How Do I?

How Do I? Automatically Loading Simulations Calling an External DLL from Simul8 Collect Interval Results Connected Activities Connect Multiple Simulations Copying Objects Creating an Excel Interface Custom Interfaces Debugging My Simulation Importing Data Making Your Own Results Prioritizing Work Speeding Up Your Simulation

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Installation support

Installation support Network License

Common messages during or after NLS installations Network License User Options Roaming or Network Checkout Write Protecting the S8 Directory

Installer Command Line Options All Licenses in Use

Beginner's Tutorial Runs Every Time Can I run Simul8 on my Mac? Can't Find Excel Cannot Find Program Editing Large Images Install Incomplete: Message 77015 My Simulation Runs Too Slowly Online and Desktop synchronization Out of Memory RegError: C0 CFP:218100450 Simul8 Asks You to Activate Every Time You Launch Small Font Size Usage Log Expiry

Simul8 Online

Simul8 Online Accessing Simul8 Online Account Management

Account Management How to purchase a subscription Upgrade from monthly to annual subscription Change email address How to add OptQuest to your credit card subscription How to add OptQuest to your invoiced subscription

Online and Desktop Password Management Troubleshooting Using External Files

Latest Changes
Examples
Glossary
Tutorials

My Simulation Runs Too Slowly

If Simul8 has become very slow at the end of a simulation run or while resetting the clock this is because Windows has placed a large percentage of the data about the simulation run on disk because it ran out of RAM.

Here are some ideas for removing this delay:

Check to make sure you have the recommended System Requirements.
Reduce the number of Simulation Objects that save results information. Typically most simulations only need to collect results on 10% of their objects - Simul8 defaults to collecting results on all objects.
Reduce the length of the Results Collection Period. This is only possible if your simulation is running from longer than is necessary for valid results to be collected.
Increase the Results Synchronization Interval. The default time interval is 5 time units. If your Results Collection Period is long (100's of times this) then you can probably increase this interval substantially and still obtain accurate results. Find out more about this here.
Check more tips for Speeding Up Your Simulation