Data table helper

The data table helper is a tool for
tabulating the results of a simulation run. You can use it if you want to
inspect the simulation results in more detail than you can on a graph, or
if you want to export the results, as a data file in comma-separated value
(CSV) format, to data presentation or analysis software, e.g. Microsoft
Excel.

You can specify as many model variables as
you want. Any of the variables can be nested in multiple-instance
submodels to any depth, in which case each instance of the submodel will be
allocated one column. Columns can be removed, if desired, after the
simulation has completed. The precision (number of decimal places) to
which the numbers are displayed can be increased or decreased before each
run of the simulation.

Note that for very large arrays of values this tool can run quite
slowly, because it is oriented towards interactive display. It can be
improved by turning off updating at every display time (this option is
available in the properties dialogue). If you want to save very large data
sets, or time series from long runs, it may be quicker to use the snapshot tool.

Clearing the display

To remove all the tabulated data, click on
the button. This preserves
the column headings, but removes all the rows of data.

Arranging the layout

The layout of the table is controlled
using the Table properties dialogue box. This allows the user to designate
which dimensions of the data to use as row and column headings. For
example, time can be used as either a row or column heading, and element
names and element indices can be used similarly. It is also possible to
exclude time from the table, tabulating current values only.

Choosing column headings

The elements to be tabulated are selected
as column headings. The procedure for choosing column headings is as
follows:

• to add a column(s), click on the
  button. An instruction is
  posted, to click on the element to be tabulated. The element can be chosen
  from the model diagram or from the model explorer.

• to remove a column(s), click on the
  button. An instruction is
  posted, to click on the column headings to be removed. The first click
  indicates the start of the range of columns to be removed, the second click
  indicates the end of the range. If the same column is selected twice, only
  that column is removed.

Altering precision

By default, all variables are tabulated
with four decimal places of precision. This can be increased or decreased
as desired, but only before each run of the simulation. The procedure for
changing precision is as follows:

• to increase the precision to which
  the numbers are displayed, click on the button. This increases the precision by one order of
  magnitude.

• to decrease the precision to which
  the numbers are displayed, click on the button. This decreases the precision by one order of
  magnitude.

Standard scientific notation is used
automatically where appropriate. This uses the same number of significant
figure as the decimal display.

In: Contents >> Running models >> Working with helpers