How to Create an Interface

When you need to create an interface for your model. The interface will allow you to change multiple scenario parameter values on the go and see the effects via ProcessModel simulation.

Where to Find the Model Object

The following model object will be used to create an interface to ProcessModel:

• Arrivals \ Create an Interface

Difficulty Level

• Ease of Use: Easy
• Ease of Modification: Moderate

How to Use the Model Object

1. Open Your Model: This model object should ideally be added once the overall model is complete and there are scenario parameters that can be changed using the model object. There must be scenario parameters in the model for this model object to work.
2. Insert the Model Object into Your Model: Locate the appropriate location in your model where you would like to place the model object, move the view to the location and then insert the model object.
3. Open the Excel File: Right click on the Scenario Input Sheet Excel icon and click on the third option from the bottom to open the ScenarioInput vx-x Excel file, where x-x represents the version number of the Excel file.Before using this Excel file for the first time, or after changing your model name, make sure that a manual export of data is done via ProcessModel. From your model, click Tools \ Export Data, click ‘Yes’ to all prompts until the data export file opens, close the data file and then use this Excel file.

   Click Enable Content if prompted

4. Setting up the Interface Worksheet: Once the ScenarioInput vx-x Excel file opens you should land on the Setup worksheet which has only a single button. Clicking the Setup button will initiate a query to ProcessModel, asking for all the scenario parameter names of the currently active model. All the scenario parameter names are then shown on the ScenarioInput worksheet.
   The Setup button only needs to be used once. If you add more scenario parameters to your model, after setting up the Excel file, the Setup would need to be done again. Make sure you backup any changes you may have made to the ScenarioInput worksheet.
5. Setting up the Scenarioinput Worksheet: After the Setup you will automatically be transferred to the ScenarioInput worksheet. The ScenarioInput worksheet will have all your scenario parameters listed in column A, column B will be used to list the values for the relevant scenario parameter.
   1. You can use column C onwards to create the interface on the this sheet. This will contain all of the changes you want to make to the model. Review the examples provided on the sheet to get ideas.
   2. Link the changes made on this sheet (in step 1) to the value column (cell B3 onwards):
   3. Go to cell B3, press delete to remove the code already present in the cell.
   4. Insert an “=” sign, select the field that will be linked, then press Enter.

      Examples are given on the Cheat Sheet tab to show how to combine multiple fields into a single entry, such as creating a distribution.

6. Import Data from the Spreadsheet to ProcessModel: Before clicking the Update button  you may select one of the following 3 options in order instruct ProcessModel what it needs to do.
   1. Import Data: Selecting this option will import the data into ProcessModel after updating the exported Data file from ProcessModel. The Excel file will automatically export data from your model.
   2. Simulate Model: Selecting this option will simulate the model after completing all the actions mentioned in Import Data. Simulation animation will be off.
   3. Animation On: Selecting this option will simulate the model with animation on after completing all the actions mentioned in Import Data.

s_Example#… Example variables for Scenario Import.