Export C++ program & executables

When building a model, the generated C++ source code and the compiled library (*.dll or *.so) are stored in temporary files. If you wish to modify the source code, or if you wish to use the model library in another program, you can use the "Export" command on the "File" menu and select the "C++ program & executables" to save these files in a location of your choice.

For details of the exported functions in the compiled library, please contact Simulistics.

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Export model declarations

To save the model in a Prolog-format text file, use the "Export" command on the "File" menu, and select the "Model declarations" item. The default file extension is *.pl (Prolog), but you can enter a file name with a *.sml extension if you wish. This format contains all the information necessary to define the model, and it can be used instead of the usual format. The advantage is that the files are much smaller than usual, and, if you are familiar with the Prolog language, you can edit the file yourself or write programs to reason with it. This is the file format used in versions of Simile prior to v3.0.

You can open models saved in this format, using the usual "Open" command on the "File" menu.

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Export PostScript graphics

To export the diagram in the current window in PostScript graphics format, use the "Export" command on the "File" menu and select the option "PostScript graphics" in the sub-menu that appears. A wide range of other graphics programs and printers can interpret PostScript files. On the Linux and SunOS / Solaris operating systems, this is the only way to print model diagrams. In Microsoft Windows, a separate Print command is available, to use any Windows-compatible printer.

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Model file format

Version 5.0 saves models as 'packages' by default. This was an optional feature in version 4.0 onwards, but had problems because any automatic save of a model would not include the extras that made it a package. This made it easy for the execution parameters and other package information to get lost. With Simile 5.0 and up, if you do not want a model to start running wen you open it, you must close the execution window before saving it.

Version 3.0 uses a new file format for the express purpose of making it quicker and simpler to move large models between multiple computers. In the past, the *.sml (or *.sim) file contained the Prolog-format model declarations. This file contains the minimum required to display, edit and run the model. In order to speed things up however, a number of other files were also created. These include the canvas file (*.cnv ), which contains drawing instructions and the compiled model (*.dll or *.tcl) in C++ or Tcl code. These files were stored in several different locations, including temporary folders and the "sim_bits" folder.

This caused a certain amount of confusion. In particular moving a model from one computer to another, or even from one folder to another, required Simile to re-build its supporting files. This can be a lengthy process.

In v3.0, the *.sml file now contains all the supporting information as well. Although this means it is larger than before, it is not much larger than the total size of all the files it is replacing.

One final point is also important. In order to preserve the benefit of having a plain-text representation of the declarative model, the file format is a simple multi-part MIME that bundles together all these files. This is exactly the format used when sending an email containing attached files. There are many tools available for manipulating multi-part MIME files. For example, to use Outlook Express, simply change the *.sml extension to *.eml

In summary, when you move a model file to a new location it will:

• draw quickly when it is first loaded; and
• build instantly, if it has not changed since it was last built.

To save a model in the old pre-3.0 format, export "Model declarations" as described in the following section.

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Reporting problems

In order to direct our efforts to solving the problems that affect users the most, Simile includes an error reporting tool to send information on problems to Simulistics over the Internet. In order to use the tool, you must have a connection to the Internet, and your model must not be confidential. The data sent to Simulistics includes parts of the model file, as well as information on the logical commands that were being executed at the immediately before the problem. Although we use the data you send only to help improve Simile, we would not wish to receive parts of models that you consider confidential.

All data are collected anonymously. If you wish to receive technical support for a particular problem, please contact us directly.

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