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Thanks for visiting our Simio User's Forum. This forum has been created to: 1) Share information about Simio, 2) Provide a way for users to communicate with each other and with us, and 3) Provide a mechanism for us to to hear your ideas so we can make the best product possible. Guests If you are Guest (visiting without having registered), you are welcome to browse all our public forums, but we request that you first join our Simio Insiders group before you view the private areas or can post on any areas. Simio Insiders I encourage you to become more involved as a Simio Insider. Insiders will have full access to browse and post in an extended set of forums available just for you. You will find more information on this in Forum & Insiders | Simio. There is one more category of membership that is a little harder to achieve. Simio Team Members (employees) are identified as such when we post so you know that we are providing the straight scoop. (This is not to imply by any means that we are always right ) Finally, if you have any other questions about how the forum works, I encourage you to consult the "FAQ" item from the main Forums menu (top center). Again, welcome to the forum. I am always anxious to hear your feedback (positive or negative) and any ideas on how we can improve this forum or our products. Email me anytime using dsturrock at simio.com

A demo model on how to create sub-classed object with moving part, collect stats and show on dashboard. Have fun! ParkingEntryAndExitBoomGates.spfx

Hello, I am trying to use git to track changes when working on Simio projects collaboratively. For this I am saving the project as *.simproj and the resulting file and folder structure looks good. But there are too many time stamp changes that make it difficult to track the "important" changes. For example, I only changed the location of the DefaultEntity in the model and hit save. The resulting changes are shown in the attached screenshot, with 20 files shown as changed. The main changes are related to the time stamp. Is there a way to configure Simio such that fewer files will be affected by each change? Thank you. Annika

Hi Annika, Check out the Support Source Control option in the Project Properties. (Right click the project in the Navigation Window to access Project Properties)

Thanks Devdatta, That's a great contribution.

Simio’s neural network implementation allows the import and export of ONNX files, which ensure that Simio is compatible with many machine learning frameworks. This format is well-documented, and there are many third-party packages and applications that can help you convert machine learning models to/from ONNX, or to open and view ONNX files. The attached document provides a basic summary for several of these packages, including tensorflow-onnx, onnx2pytorch, and Netron. Please note that none of these packages are affiliated with Simio, so any issues or limitations of these packages can be discussed on the package’s GitHub page. ONNX Format Utilities.pdf

People often want to model two or more vehicles or entities moving together. There are a few components to this: 1) Seizing the resource appropriately - can be done in processes, but often best done within the vehicle object to make the modeling easier. Here, a vehicle has 4 properties added to support use of an operator. 2) Animating them moving together - the picture below shows use of a second queue animated on the custom vehicle. 3) In some cases, you also need the "driver" to be shown moving. The Attached Animation Speed illustrated below, accomplishes that. I have attached a model that uses a custom vehicle object to model a wheelchair which is "driven" (pushed) by a person to pick up a patient. *********** FOR VERSION 190 AND EARLIER ************************************* VehicleWithDriver.spfx You could use the same approch, possibly with just animation changes, to model something like a truck or forklift that requires a driver. In fact, I just added a second model to that same project that illustrates use in manufacturing (e.g. a lift truck and driver).VehicleWithDriver.spfx VehicleWithDriver.spfx *********************************************************************************** ************** FOR VERSION 191 AND LATER *********************************** VehicleX3.spfx VehicleWithDriver_VehicleX3_Examples.spfx For more information on the update, see the post below. ***********************************************************************************

This post contains additional files associated with the paper "Agent-base modeling and simulation in Simio" by Thomas Kehl. The additional files include the original paper, an installer for the Simio Agent Library, the Simio Agent Library user extension, and further documentation. These files were created by Thomas Kehl and are not endorsed or supported by Simio LLC. Note also that these files were published with the paper in 2018 and might be out of date. 1585821475_SimioAgentBasedModeling-ThomasKehl.zip

Pls refer to below paper for integrating simio and M/L algorithms. very good read. SIMIO和机器学习算法的整合框架【AI】Aston大学Andrew Greasley博士.pdf

Entities are prioritized in server according to the server Ranking Rule. Check my attached model. I set Entity1 priority to 1, Entity2 priority to 2 and told the server to prioritize the ModelEntity with the highest priority value. You can play with that logic to prioritize everything the way you want. entity priority.spfx

Hi jord41, Simio loads the bound tables once during the initialization in the Simio tables. Data access requires a lot of computing time. (More for writing as reading). I see that you only have 1 column of integer values. My recommendation is that you do not import the table into a Simio table. It's best to create an integer or real state of type vector. Then you use e.g. the Read-Step or the ExcelRead-Step. In conjunction with a timer or the sample example loop of GFurtado you can load the data at intervals. I think that this could be a solution. At least that's how I would do it if I had to work with real-time data. Normally, such real-time data is written to a SQL database by a PLC or something like that. Then you can use the SQL steps anytime in Simio. Best regards Pascal

At some point I would start looking for a SCADA system, write it in Python or anything outside Simio. A Simio Engineer would be better suited to help you, but I still believe you could build this inside Simio (maybe through an API?). I manage to build a very ugly version of this that kinda works. It's not real real-time, because I still need to click on the manual import button (I don't know how to help you with this). I set my source's Arrival Mode to On Event; Create a process with a Decide step that checks if the table received a new value: If it received a new value, trigger SourceEvent; If it didn't, check again a second later. As I said, it's not very elegant, but I hope it inspires you to find the right solution.

Hi all, I met some questions in building the model. It seems a very general quesiton but I didn't find any solution from internet... I'm building a general workflow model. I want to decide the quantity of a server to optimize the workflow. I want to use experiments or optquest to get the 'best' number for each server. If I set the capacity type as Fixed, then I can set the initial capacity as ''referenced property'', then I can use this as control in experiments/optquest. However, I have a work schedule for each server now which means I couldn't set the capacity type as Fixed. And then I couldn't set capacity as ''referenced property''. I don't know how to control this capacity in my experiments/optquest. I know I can change the 'value'(which means the capacity) in workschedule table. But I can not change this number flexible in experiments... Or I don't know how to set this value as ''referenced property'' . Is there anyone who could help me with this? Thanks a lot!

We have an opportunity for an intermediate to advanced modeller to join us for both a Simio and Operational related role. Relocation to Australia/New Zealand is a prerequisite with Visa sponsorship provided. Please note that a minimum contract duration will be in play. Should you be interested, please pm me, or send your resume with contact details to mark@masterschedulingsolutions.com All conversations will be treated as confidential. Mark

Thank you .. this is amazing stuff. By the way, is it possible to import and export Process step as well?

Is there an example or a SimBit which shows how to do this?

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Simio is a simulation modeling framework based on intelligent objects. The intelligent objects are built by modelers and then may be reused in multiple modeling projects. Objects can be stored in libraries and easily shared. A beginning modeler may prefer to use pre-built objects from libraries; however the system is designed to make it easy for even beginning modelers to build their own intelligent objects for use in building hierarchical models. An object might be a machine, robot, airplane, customer, doctor, tank, bus, ship, or any other thing that you might encounter in your system. A model is built by combining objects that represent the physical components of the system. A Simio model looks like the real system. The model logic and animation is built as a single step. An object may be animated to reflect the changing state of the object. For example a forklift truck raises and lowers its lift, a robot opens and closes its gripper, and a battle tank turns its turret. The animated model provides a moving picture of the system in operation. Objects are built using the concepts of object orientation. However unlike other object oriented simulation systems, the process of building an object is very simple and completely graphical. There is no need to write programming code to create new objects. The activity of building an object in Simio is identical to the activity of building a model – in fact there is no difference between an object and a model. This concept is referred to as the equivalence principle and is central to the design of Simio. Whenever you build a model it is by definition an object that can be instantiated into another model. For example, if you combine two machines and a robot into a model of a work cell, the work cell model is itself an object that can then be instantiated any number of times into other models. The work cell is an object just like the machines and robot are objects. In Simio there is no way to separate the idea of building a model from the concept of building an object. Every model that is built in Simio is automatically a building block that can be used in building higher level models.

You are correct. When they are moving to pickup the cost is not considered. Easy way to verify is to change the velocity of the vehicle to a really high value. You'll get the 1440 as expected. I would probably not use Costs directly. Instead, I would create a Process on Run Ending. Search through the population of vehicles and save the values accordingly, like: vehicle.resourcestate.TotalTime(0)*2 -> would give you 2 USD per hour on a given state, in this case state 0 (idle). vehicle.resourcestate.TotalTime(1)*2 -> would give you 2 USD per hour on a given state, in this case state 1 (busy). If you need to see these values separated, you would need a matrix to save these values depending on the number of the vehicles. Or, you subclass the vehicle and create a vector where each element of the vector would save each cost. Else, you just keep adding to a variable for each vehicle on the system. There is probably another way manipulating the cost inside the process of the vehicles, or using a monitor verifying resourcestates changes on a subclassed vehicle.

Hi Annika, First, you will need to set up a data table where you are auto-creating the objects. I would recommend subclassing the Server into MyServer like you mentioned. In the data table, add an Object Instance Property column and set Object Type to 'MyServer' and Default Value Instantiation to 'AutoCreateInstance'. Then add two Node Instance Property columns, one that you can list the destination Node and the other where you list the Output Node of the auto-created MyServer. Ensure you set Auto-set Table Row Reference on the column where you list the Output Node of the auto-created MyServer to 'True'. Then on the MyServer, set Entity Destination Type to 'Specific' and Node Name to 'TableName.NodeInstancePropertyName'. You can then right click on the MyServer and select 'Update 'MyServer' Property Defaults From This'. You can then add more MyServers into the data table where you are auto-creating them and they will all route the entities to the correct next Node. Caleb

This light-weight add-in is for importing experiment from .csv file. In order to use that, just unzip the attachment and put the ImportExperiment.dll under the UserExtensions folder of your Simio. For those who want to check the source code, the whole solution is also inside the zip file. This add-in reads control values from you input file and creates scenarios. You can either create a new experiment for your model, or append scenarios to your existing experiment. The number of columns of your .csv file should be the same as the number of controls of your model. For example, if your model has three controls: NumDoctor, NumNurse, NumRoom, then running the add-in with the following input file will give you an experiment with 5 scenarios input.csv: 3, 3, 2 2, 3, 2 1, 3, 1 2, 2, 1 3, 1, 1 ImportExperiment.zip

Here is a simple utility that will export, import and delete artifacts of your model. Here is a screen shot of the available capabilities. The code and DLL have can be found on SImio GitHub. Please find at this link: https://github.com/SimioLLC/ExportImportModelAddIn You will also find install instructions in the ReadMe. Here are the changes that have happend over time: Updated 2023-01-31....Added the ability to select multiple tables for export and delete table data functions. Updated 2022-10-05....Updated the exports to sort the data first my name and then export. This ensures that the data exported is in a consistent order. Updated 2021-12-07....Added the ability to select a table and then remove the data from the selected table. If a table name is not selected, all the tables in the model will have their data removed. Updated 2021-09-20....Added Update Model Properties (CSV). With this new method, you can import model properties into your model. If the file contains 3 fields...First is name, then type and last is default value. The only valid types are real, datetime, Boolean and everything else is string. If the model property already exists, it will only update the default value on the property. Note: The example assumes the field separator is a caret '^'. To change this, you need to change the delimiter field. Updated 2021-09-08....Updated the sequence of the exports, deletes and imports happen. When OK is pressed, first the exports are run, then deletes and finally the imports. With this change, I am able to Export Table to DB, Delete Table Data and Import Table from DB from in a single run. I typically do this when re-mapping auto creates elements. Since the table data need to be removed and recreated before mapping of the elements are correctly mapped. Updated 2021-09-06....Upgraded to .NET 4.7.2. Also, fixed the windows form so it displays correctly. When opened, the form should no longer need to be expanded to see all the options. Updated 2018-11-08....Added Export To CSV, Export To DB and Import From DB. Export To DB will create a table in the SQL Server database with the same table name as the table in Simio. The data columns will be of type nvarchar(max) and the default value will be the same as the default value in the Simio table. It is assumed that Simio desktop will still do the data validation, not the database. This feature is used to save the Simio data into a database so it is backed up and can be shared across users. Each time the Export To DB, if the table already exists, it is dropped, and a new table is created. This ensures that the data schemas match between the Simio model and the SQL Server database. Updated 2017-12-05....Fixed index issue with links import. Updated 2017-09-25....Fixed the import of lists. Updated 2017-07-14....Added the ability to auto generate and auto read files. Previously, the files needed to be created prior to running the add-in. Now, they will create by the export. Also, the import will retrieve the same file generated by the export. These options are available when the "Auto Generate and Read Files" option is selected. Updated 2017-07-13....Added the ability to multi-select options. Now, more than one option can be initiated when the OK button is selected. This will streamline the process of exporting, deleting and importing. This tool is very helpful for testing out your model with various configurations to ensure that runs properly under various object and/or data configuration. Updated 2017-07-11....Now supports exporting and importing of model properties, exporting and importing of table properties and delete table data. Updated 2017-06-22....Now supports exporting and importing of data tables using XML. This is simple way to export all the table data from one model and import the same data into a new model (assuming that the same tables schema exists in the new model). Updated 2017-01-27....Now supports exporting of object types using XML. This can be used with the new Configure Scheduling Resources in Simio 9.150 capabilities to define your own object type properties based on an XML document. Updated 2017-01-23....Now supports exporting and importing objects using XML. When using XML, property units are also exported and imported back in. Updated 2016-10-24....Updated files...Added support for repeating properties.

Hi We are looking for Simio modelling expert to join us at McKinsey in India or Canada office. If interested please reach out to nikesh_shrivastava@mckinsey.com

Yes it helps, Thanks!

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Thanks to you both. Anyway, the approach that I understood the most, it was Mauricio's and I found it really useful.

Sebastian, I don't know if this is what you need, but maybe if you change the paths to connectors and set the 4th server input buffer to 0 it might work. rds. block_test1.spfx

try simproj format ， read it in user manual...basically xml stuff..

Hi All, Are their any tricks available to run experiments at a faster rate. currently I run 9 scenarios with 30 replications and it takes hours to Run. Any suggestion would be helpful. Thanks, Regards, Unmesh

To the best of my knowlegde every process can be enable or disable by using ProcessName.Enabled. You can assign this state variable true at the beginning of the three hour period (not a must but probabily using a timer element) and false at the and of the three hour period. I hope it works?

In order to see the entities accumulated on any path you should first transfer the created entities (which Adam mentioned above) out of the source object. The attached model shows one way of how you can achieve accumulated enities on any path. isThereInputBufferCapa.spfx

You can use seperate servers (each has 1 capacity) each represents individual firms. Create entities (raw products) via a data table where you should also include one column (a node property from object reference property) to represent where the created entity will be processed (as its destination). Then at the output node of the source object set entity destination type property to specific. Then set node name to Table1.NodeInstanceProperty1. The entities will be routed appropriately.

Hello, Would you be able to provide background on your use case? My first response would be no, but I"m curious what your use case is. I believe we should be able to find a solution (perhaps using a function) if you can provide a little background on the use case. Thanks, Jason

Hi George, I know the normal ways, to create an entity from a table are: 1) Use a timer with the date/time table for a trigger for a own process or 2) A source with the arrival table option. If you want to create entities, maybe you can make a loop process like GFurtado with an Read-Step/Excel-Step and then you can use the Create-Step of Simio. Then you can check with an Decide-Step "TimeNow >= value" for example and create your Entity. With this option you can use FastForward too. With an lower delay time it is near the real time. Maybe this could be a solution for your problem. Because, then you dont need a third party tool to click on import. I checked the Simio API and I dont find something about a trigger for the Simio buttons or a button click event, what we can use for the problem. It would be nice, if there is an API to "use" the button click processes. For example, to import one or all tables again. Maybe a professional Simio API developer know more and can write here. Have a nice day! Best regards Pascal

Drag and drop an ModelEntity into the facility layout. Then, select ModelEntity and see "Maximum number in system limit" property under "Population" section of properties window. Set this property as how many entities you desire throughout the simulation run.

I'm not sure, because I never done this course. Maybe something like this?

As far as I know you can not accelerate the speed of an entity on any link? you should use tricky solutions to overcome this difficulty. One of the trick is setting the speed of entities to infinity right after entering node a. then changing the desired speed of path 3 and path 5 to some meaningful values. In the attached model this trick is applied. Note that the assigned values (i.e., Path3.Contents.NumberWaiting) should be replaced by any reasonable values. This assignment is only for illustrative puposes. Note that by this way we made the speed of modelentities limitless but at the same time we limit their speed with the speed of paths. you can do any other tricks as well... One of them maybe changing the type of the modelentities right after entering path 3 and path 5 (say path3_modelentities and path5_modelentities) by creating a copy of the associatedobject. Be sure to destroy the original one. And then whenever you need to increase their speed you should search their population by a search step and then assign appropriate speeds to them individually. These are the ones that come to my mind at the moment, but you can find some better methods by pondering. EntitySpeed4_me.spfx

You can assign each entity an individual ModelEntity.Priority and set your Combiner to only match entities with the same priority. Check my attached model to see an example. Match Priority.spfx

And also, not only do I want to select one randomly, but taking into account one column that would have the weight. For example, 80% of "Type A" that are "Good" goes to "Server_1" and 20% to Server_2. Basically use RandomRow to a table filtering for more than 1 foreign key

For each location where you want to start a time interval (Server 1 and "the very beginning" in your example) you would need to add a state to the ModelEntity (NOT to the model). Then for each place you want to end a time interval (server6, "the very end", and server4 in your example), you would need to add a TallyStatistic element and Tally and observation at the point. For example to record the time between between Server1 and Server6: create a modelentity state named TimeDepartingServer1 assign TimeDepartingServer1 the value of TimeNow when entity departs Server1 create a TallyStatistic element named Server1ToServer6Time record a Tally observation (using node or Tally step) at Server6 recording the value TimeNow-TimeDepartingServer1 to Server1ToServer6Time add a status or floor label using the expression Server1ToServer6Time.Average

You need to re-assign the x and z coords of the node during run time (i.e. Node.Location.X and Node.Location.Z).... Best way to do this is with a table with an object reference property.....

If the entity is created (similar to the Bicycle Assembly example in Simio) using an arrival table where the arrival time is specified in the table, the entity will automatically be assigned the associated row in that table. To assign a row reference to an entity without such logic, you would have to have the entity enter an add-on process when it is created and then use the SetRow step to assign the entity an associated row in a given table. The GlobalCurrentRowNumber you mention above could be used as the RowNumber assigned for the entity within the SetRow step, provided there were no conflicts with relational tables.

you can use a search step in an appropriate process (you can create a new process or use an add-on process where needed). In the search step you should search the queustate of modelentity.batchmember. Here you can set a match condition if required. If you do not want to set a match condition the search step will search the first 9 entities in the batch (I assume that the batch quantity is 30. If it is a different value Math.Ceiling(Combiner.BatchQuantity*0.3) expression will be evaluated and will be round up the next integer. (You can use math.floor function as well.) Then in the assign step set the required statevariable of modelentity to the new value.

Hope the attached model should work for you. Assign state to a specify number of entities.spfx

Is there a way to start/stop timers on a specific entity without creating a bunch of different events? The potential problem I see is that the reset timer event is general and would require a bunch of individual events.

Personally I would use the search block set to search the entity population opposed to the find block. It should also be noted that the Exclusion Expression is evaluated at the start of runtime (if I am not mistaken) hence if this is false, the block will default to false for the entire runtime. Hope this helps.

Create a new project, go to ProjectHome ribbon, click load library button. Then, find and select your own model, simply click open to load it into Simio. You will see your model components (i.e., objects from your own library) at left with the name of your library (custom library).

The Transportation Library provides a collection of objects for modeling cargo transportation using trains, trucks, boats, pipes, and robots. The Tanker object is sub-classed from Vehicle and used to transport discrete and flow entities between node locations. The Tanker has all the same functionality as Vehicle, except it has been extended to have weight and volume limits. In addition to standard discrete pickups and drop offs, the Tanker can also perform continuous flow pickups and drop-offs using a Dock object. The Dock object provides support for flow into and out of entities and vehicles (like a Tanker or HopperCar) supporting flow. The Dock is seized/released by the Tanker/HopperCar during loading/unloading operations at the Dock. The Dock may also follow a Work Schedule. The Pipe object may be used to model continuous flow through a fully filled pipe. In contrast to the FlowConnector the Pipe requires time for the flow material to travel. The Pipe can be used to connect flow between Tanks or between a Dock and a Tank to more accurately model the travel time of material flow from one location to another. This is particularly useful in applications where heavy liquids are transported over long distances through a pipe. The Railcar, Locomotive, and HopperCar objects represent various types of train-related vehicles. Train movements are modeled by defining a track network comprised of ControlNode and Track objects, over which trains move. A train is a linked sequence of RailCars, where the first RailCar in the sequence is a Locomotive. The RailCar can represent a wide range of train cars including freight cars, cabooses, passenger cars, etc. In addition a HopperCar is special RailCar that is provided to support fill/empty operations at a Dock. The HopperCar is a RailCar with the added functionality of a Tanker. The RailCars can be linked together in any order; for example a train might contain two or more Locomotives. The RobotBase, RobotLowerArm, RobotUpperArm, and RobotHand objects are the components used to model a multi-axis robot. The RobotHand is specified as the transporter and the movements of the other robot components are automatically calculated to support the required hand movement. Like all Simio-provided libraries, this library is open so you can look at how it was built, learn from it, and subclass your own objects to improve them. The Transportation Library was created totally by deriving its objects from other Simio objects and then supplementing with Process Logic. No C++, Java, or other user code was required to write or use these objects. And you can also customize the behavior to match your own needs. Unlike our built-in libraries, this is not fully supported (although we can provide some help) and we may not continue enhancing it, particularly if we decide to build this capability into the base Simio products. We are anxious to receive your feedback on this library. Here is a zip file containing the library, documentation, and a few examples. Updated 2014-01-23 - The InputFlow node's Initial Maximum Flow Rate property on the Dock object was not being used to regulate the rate the Tanker was filled. This has been Fixed. The rate the Tanker is filled can now be adjusted using the InputFlow node's Initial Maximum Flow Rate property. Updated 2014-02-17 - Updates to the Tanker and Dock objects Updated 2014-03-17 - Updates to HopperCar and Locomotive behavior when dropping off. Also bug fixes. Updated 2014-03-19 - Bug fixes - Loaded car no longer takes off on its own after loading, but waits to be picked up by the locomotive and The Loaded add-on process now runs after the loading is complete. Updates 2014-04-07 - Added ability to allow a RailCar to request a Locomotive. See example DropPickTrain_DetatchToLoadUnload.spfx Updates 2014-04-17 - Bug Fixes to previous update Updates 2015-03-23 - Bug Fixes to previous update TransportationLibrary.zip

Hi, Can any of these methods be used to write time series data during the simulation run and then at the en of the simulation write it into a database? Thanks, H