SIMUL8 R7 - What Was New

SIMUL8 Release 7 had some major new developments, including XML file support and Mobile Resources. We are currently on SIMUL8 2008, check out the SIMUL8 2008 feature tour.

Read on for more details on:

Best New Features XML File Support Mobile Resources Round Trip with Visio Quick View Visual Enhancements Better Conveyor Animation Dockable Clock Custom Clock Text Custom Clock Accuracy Zoom to Accuracy Alignment of Arrows Paste Images from Clipboard Precise Keyboard Movement Lock Screen Customizable Titles New Animation Step for WCs Display+ Images in Custom Dialogs Building Productivity Improved Explorer Copy Dialogs Auto Checking of Dialog Answers Auto Display of Travel Times Paste to Screen

Object Enhancements Routing Out for Work Entry Travel Time from Work Entry Conveyor Speed Zero More Accurate Conveyors New Routing In Rules New Option for Label Based Routing Route In by Time in Queue Before Exit Event for WCs MCBF Breakdowns Count Busy Time for Breakdowns More Powerful Groups Draw in Your Components Double Click to Open Objects Visual Logic Enhancements Index Property Auto Referenced Variables Faster Input to Formula Editor File Read/Write Results Unlimited Runs in Trials Export Results Quickly Add All Results to Summary Changeover Result Separate

Other Enhancements Better Handling of Start Up & On Open Dialogs Future Tab on Simulation Monitor Copy SIMUL8 Images to Reports Support for EAI SDX 4.1 Files Increased Number of Reopen Files ask.SIMUL8.com Interactive Buttons & Hyperlinks on Screen Keyboard Function Key Support Buttons on Dialogs Multi Radio Groups on Dialogs Changes in SIMUL8 2006 Changes in SIMUL8 2005 Changes Made in R11 Changes Made in R10 Changes Made in R9

XML file support

To tighten our integration with Microsoft's .net strategy SIMUL8 Corporation has adopted XML as a standard simulation storage file (it can replace the old S8 file type). SIMUL8 XML files store the complete definition of the simulation in a human readable form as well as the the data to run it.

• Appended to reports as a human readable complete definition of exactly what was simulated
• Easily edited in any text editor (to quickly make global changes in a simulation)
• Searched and indexed on your hard disk
• Read by even very simple programs
• Created by your own external programs that can now generate SIMUL8 simulations without the need to have SIMUL8
• Read by other simulation packages (once they support XML)
• Viewed in Internet Explorer (structure by structure to see just the parts you need)
• Stored inside databases and even inside other XML files

When you first see it the changes with XML are minor (you can get started simply by SAVE AS, XML) but the power it brings to integrate with other applications (including your own) is amazing. Its easy to see why Microsoft are backing XML so strongly.

See also SIMUL8 and Microsoft below.

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Mobile Resources

Time and see the resources moving to where the work is. SIMUL8 has always simulated mobile resources, but with Release 7 you can now see the current location of every member of each resource team, control how long they take to reach their work location and see them moving between designated locations.

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Round-Trip With Visio Files

SIMUL8 Corporation and Microsoft Corporation have worked together to closely integrate Visio and SIMUL8.

As both packages* support XML users of Visio and SIMUL8 can work with either package on one file.  Develop any Visio flowchart and save it.  In SIMUL8 open the same file and add simulation data to it, work with it to measure performance, then save it.  Reopen it in Visio and make more changes to it, save it and go back to SIMUL8 - all the Visio and the earlier SIMUL8 changes are still there.  One file, two packages - use the best package for the operation you are performing.

Soon other Microsoft and third party software will support XML and allow seamless movement of data and information between software.

*Requires Visio 2002 Standard, Visio Professional is not required.

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The New Quick View Panel Inspects and Updates the Main Properties

This is a really quick way to get at data - just click an objects and the panel updates with the objects data, change the data and the object is updated instantly.

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Buttons and Hyperlinks on Screen

Any text or image placed on any SIMUL8 simulation window can now be active.  Activate text and images can link to either (1) Any page on the web, your intranet, help or text files on your disk, or (2) to any Visual Logic in your simulation.

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Keyboard Function Key Support

In SIMUL8 Release 7 the top row of the keyboard can be used as a control board to drive your simulation.  Program each function key to change decision rules during the simulation run, or start a run with particular conditions, or breakdown a machine, anything that can be controlled from Visual Logic can now be directly adjusted instantly by your users (even while the simulation is running).

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Buttons on Dialogs

Now SIMUL8 dialogs can contain buttons that can run any Visual Logic in your simulation.
Set up really easy to use menus and options for your clients, customers and users.

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Multiple "Radio Groups" in Each Custom Dialog

There is now no limit to the number of groups of multi-choice check buttons in each dialog.

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Routing Out Dialog for Work Entry Points

The Routing Out dialog available in other active Simulation Objects is now also available in Work Entry points.  This cuts done the need to synthetic work centers to control routing.

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Travel Time Allowed from Work Entry Points

In addition to Routing Out, work entry points now also support definition of time delay before their work reaches the next object.

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Support for Conveyor Speed Zero (stopped)

Setting Conveyor.Speed = 0 was not possible before version 7.  It is now supported both interactively in the conveyer dialog and from Visual Logic.

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More Accurate Conveyors

Some of SIMUL8's conveyor logic has been rewritten to increase accuracy in cases where the conveyor was typically very full.  This (optionally) allows very precise timing of the loading of new items to the conveyor as the conveyor starts to increment forward.

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New Routing In Rules

The "circulate" Routing Out discipline is now available in Routing In also.

Locked routing in is lets Visual Logic determine the only route to use and to automatically switch this around depending on the condition of any states in the simulation.  (Locked is also available in the Routing In dialog for interactive use).

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New Option for Label Based Routing

RouteLabel = 0

Setting the routing label to zero can now be used to block routing out "I'm not ready to send this work item to any destination, wait and try again later".

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Routing In Old/Young Can Use Queue or System Time

By default SIMUL8 uses the time a work item has been in the system to decide which is the oldest or youngest work item in the queue but you can now tell SIMUL8 to look at the time its spent in the queue.

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Before Exit Visual Logic Event

An new Visual Logic Event has been added to Work Center exits to give easier control of where work goes and when it leave the work center.

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Breakdowns on Mean Cycles Between Failure

Breakdowns (Efficiency) can optionally occur by Cycles rather than by time between failures.

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Count Busy Time for Breakdowns

Breakdowns (Efficiency) can now optionally occur by busy time rather

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More Powerful Groups

Each Simulation Object can now be in multiple Groups.

Groups Can now be used to control when a number of work centers can index.

Breakdowns are now supported by Groups of simulation objects

Results data is now available by Groups of simulation objects

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Draw in your Components

Background drawing objects (lines, boxes, graphics, variables) now supported in Components.

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Double Click Simulation Objects to Access their Property Dialogs

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Results Export to automatically send results to a range of applications

This means every experiment you do is logged in one or more applications or data stores for efficient documentation and learning. This interface to MiniTab also allows automated regression of the results variables.



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Quickly add all Results to the SIMUL8 Results Summary Window

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Results for Work Center Changeover Times

This is now computed separately from "Working" time.

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Unlimited Runs per Trial is now the Default

This field could always be unlocked but many user never found the key! - Now we don't impose a limit by default - you might still want to consider the statistical benefits of a very large number of runs!

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Improved SIMUL8 Explorer

The explorer makes it easy to find/inspect/update your simulation objects in large simulations. It can now be kept open floating or docked.

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Copy Dialog Feature

Seems a simple feature, but one of our simulation consultants says this (along with the next feature) will half the time it takes her to build the wizards she puts into some of the powerful interactive simulations we build.

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Automatic Checking of Dialog Answers

Automated testing of ranges increases your productivity because you don't have to write your own code to do it.  "This has had a big impact on the speed we can create large simulations" (a SIMUL8 Solution Provider).

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Automatic Display of Travel Distance and Time

Never again forget that time can be used during travel - SIMUL8 now pops up a reminder for a few seconds so you know the time's included.

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Paste Background Graphics Directly to the Screen

Much faster building of background displays because any image on the clipboard can be placed on the simulation windows with CTRL-V (Edit/Paste).

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Better Animation of Conveyors

The animation of conveyors has been improved to be faster and smoother. So you get flicker free screen updating for conveyors - but still at SIMUL8's amazing speed.

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Dockable Clock

Now manage the position of the familiar SIMUL8 Simulation Clock by floating or docking it where it is best for you.

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Add text to the clock to describe your time measure

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Custom Clock Accuracy

Any number of decimal places when using Count Clock mode

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And quickly zoom using the mouse wheel.

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Improved On-Screen Alignment of Routing Arrows

Now routing arrows are smart so they start and finish in places that relate to the size of image used.

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Paste Images from the Clipboard

Its now much faster to create graphics in images editors you prefer (like Paint Shop Pro or Adobe Photoshop) because SIMUL8 will accept images directly off the clipboard.

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Precise Object Movement with Arrows Keys

Move one or more selected simulation objects single pixel by single pixel precisely to where you want them.  Much easier to refine your display quickly.

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Lock Your Screen Display


No more accidental moving of objects - lock your objects from accident moves - "This feature alone make the upgrade worth buying" (one of the SIMUL8 7 beta testers).

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Customize Location of Simulation Object Title and /or Wrap Titles

A new dialog gives you control over the display of object titles.

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Additional Animation Step Now Available for Work Centers

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Display Plus Lets Visual Logic Write Any Text or Graphics to Simulation Windows and Control Every Detail of the Visual Image

For example: Create custom charts, create custom ways to display processes, warehouses, anything where you want total control over the display!

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Custom Images in Dialogs

Replace the standard SIMUL8 graphic with any image to enhance the look and feel of your simulation's dialogs.

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Index Property

This is a really big breakthrough.  It makes unnecessary all those awkward loops through list of names of objects.  Its like a LABEL on each of your Objects.

When using Visual Logic to copy simulation objects that used Visual Logic was always that, when the logic ran, you did not know what objects called it (without a look up table).

Now, for example, when your On Breakdown Logic is called you can simply reference the general property INDEX to find a reference number for your objects.  The default value for INDEX is the same as the SIMUL8 internal unique ID for the object - but you can change the INDEX property (normally immediately after you copy the objects) to any value useful for your logic.

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Auto Referenced Variables

A second giant leap forward for Visual Logic.

When SIMUL8 Components use Visual Logic (either from their sub-objects or from dialogs) it is complex to write Visual Logic that will work with multiple copies of the same component in the simulation.  Auto Reference Object Variables solve this coding nightmare.  They are automatically set to reference the Simulation Objects relevant to the component that is currently operating. - Reducing to a fraction the time take to build components and increase the occasions when you can easily reuse existing simulation segments.

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Faster Entry of Visual Logic Parameters

Now power users can just type directly expressions rather than using the step by step formula editor (its still available when you need it).

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Direct File Read/Write in Visual Logic

We have added support to SIMUL8's Visual Logic for direct file reading and writing.  This means you can easily read any text file to get data into your simulation, or create any text output logs, results etc.

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Better Handling of Start Up and On-Open Dialogs

SIMUL8 now opens either the Simulation Properties dialog OR the first Custom dialog you specific for On Open display (not both, this has cause end user confusions with previous versions if both options were used).

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Future Tab in Simulation Monitor

See the continuous updating of the Monitor as simulation events are scheduled and executed.

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Copy SIMUL8 Images to Reports

Edit/Copy (CTRL-C) now additionally supports graphics packages and other applications that paste graphics - so its very quick to get images from your simulation into documents.

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Support for EAI SDX 4.1 Files

This AutoCAD plug-in has been changed to use a new file format - the new and old formats are supported by SIMUL8 R7.

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Increased Number of Reopen Files Available

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ask.SIMUL8.com

We are here to help you.  ask.SIMUL8.com (new - on the help menu) along with the existing detailed cafe.SIMUL8.com and the huge range of resources on support.SIMUL8.com are all here to help you get quickly to the benefits of simulation.

ask.SIMUL8.com is our new automated, and continuously updated library of answers to technical questions.  If your question is not answered instantly from the database, it is emailed to a simulation engineer who adds the appropriate answer to the database and email it direct to you.

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