Running models : Single window run time environment

The single-window Model Run Environment

Controlling a simulation and displaying results is performed within the Model Run Environment (MRE). The single-window MRE provides flexible self-contained access to all the controls needed to perform a simulation and to display the results.

It is divided into a number of sections. In the upper left corner is the "Run Control". In the lower left corner is a tabbed panel containing the model "Explorer". On the right hand side are four notebook pages, which can each contain one or more "helpers". Helpers are used to display the behaviour of a model whilst it is running, for example, a graph of a variable, or a data table. Helpers are also used to provide data for the model, for example, using "Input sliders".

To add a helper to a page, select the required helper from the "Add" menu. The three most commonly used helpers can be selected using these buttons on the tool bar:

the plotter;

the data table; and

the Input sliders.

The pages can be divided vertically or horizontally, to allow more than one helper to be display on each page, and pages can be added or removed. Once one or more helpers have been added to the pages, and are arranged as you wish, the configuration can be saved to a file, for use the next time the same model is built.

To save the current configuration of helpers, chose the "Save configuration…" item on the "File" menu, or use the save button on the tool bar.
To load a previously saved configuration of helpers, chose the "Load configuration…" item on the "File" menu, or use the open button on the tool bar.
A new configuration can be selected, to remove all the currently displayed helpers.

Arranging pages, and panes

	Add notebook	Creates a new notebook, initially with four pages, in the current pane

	Add notebook page	Adds a page to the notebook containing the current pane

	Divide pane vertically or horizontally	Splits a pane into two new ones separated by a sash which can be dragged

Adding helpers

	Add plotter

	Add table

	Add sliders

	Add other helper

Manipulating layout

	Copy display to clipboard	Copies helper window to Simile's clipboard; also copies its graphics to system clipboard for pasting into other graphical applications

	Cut display to clipboard	As above but also removes helper window from the pane

	Paste display from clipboard	Inserts a copy of the helper window from the clipboard to the current pane, with the same setup

	Delete display or helper	Removes helper window from pane, or deletes pane if it is already empty

	Print display contents	Prints the graphics of the helper in the current pane

Saving and restoring configurations

	New configuration	Sets MRE to its initial state of one notebook with four empty pages

	Open configuration	Loads a previously saved configuration. Model components referred to by the helpers in the configuration should exist in the current model.

	Save configuration	Saves a configuration for reloading later, or for inclusion in a model package.

In: Contents >> Running models

Running models : Working with visualisation tools : Save and restore

Helper configurations

You will probably be working with a particular model over a period of time, testing it, modifying it and exploring its behaviour. Often, you will want to have the same displays each time you run a simulation. Simile enables you to save a particular configuration of helpers in a file, and re-load them on a subsequent occasion.

Helper configurations

Each configuration can contain one or more instances of one or more types of helper, each instance linked up to particular variables in the model. You can have several configurations for the same model. You can also use the same configuration for different models - perhaps slightly different versions of one model - so long as the variable names are the same. For this reason, configurations are stored in separate files, and not in the file used to save the model itself.

New configuration

Any existing helpers are closed and removed by selecting a new configuration. It is only necessary to name the configuration when saving it, in which case any suitable name and directory can be chosen in the usual way.

Save configuration

The procedure for saving configurations differs, depending on whether the single or multiple-window run time environment is selected.

in the single-window run time environment, save configurations using the "Save configuration" item on the "File" menu; or
in the multiple-windows run time environment, save configurations using the "Save" item in the "IOTools" menu.

Load configuration

The procedure for loading configurations differs, depending on whether the single or multiple-window run time environment is selected.

in the single-window run time environment, load configurations using the "Load configuration" item on the "File" menu; or
in the multiple-windows run time environment, load configurations using the "Load" item in the "IOTools" menu.

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