Graphs

Use graphs to plot data generated by model simulations. The software supports three basic types of graphs: time series plots (X, Y, Z over time, as shown in the example below), scatter plots (X vs. Y), and bar graphs.

Regardless of the type of graph, you can choose to plot the output from a single simulation run, or to display a comparative plot, where the results from multiple simulation runs appear on the same graph.

You can also create a sketchable graph, which allows you or a model user to "sketch out" the expected performance for a single variable, for comparison against the variable's actual performance over a simulation run. When you create a sketchable graph, the graph displays output for the variable along with the user-created sketch of the graph. For more information about defining and using sketchable graphs, see Sketchables.

Define a graph by selecting the type of graph you want to create, and the variables whose values you want to include in the graph. You can also select options to customize the display of the graph, including scaling options, whether the graph displays a grid in the background, and whether the graph draws curves with thick or thin lines.

Once you've placed a graph on the model, the software allows you to add pages to the graph that you can scroll through. Each page will contain a different graph. The collection of pages is called a graph pad.

You can minimize a graph pad by clicking on the icon in the upper left hand corner of the graph. The graph will minimize and a pad icon will display: . You can rename the pad icon just as you would rename a variable to act as a reminded of the graph or table contents.

To place a graph on the diagram

1. In edit mode, click the graph tool .

2. Click the diagram to place the graph.

   An empty graph appears:

   

3. To define one or more graphs, double-click on the newly placed graph and the Graph Properties Panel will open.

4. Use the options in the Properties panel to define one or more graphs on the newly created graph pad.

To define a graph

1. Select the graph you want to edit. The Graph Properties Panel appear in the Properties panel.

2. Select the type of graph you want to create: Time Series, Scatter, or Bar.

3. Select the variables that you want to graph.

   Tell me how

   Choose a variable in one of the following ways:

   • In the Variable box, begin typing the name of the variable you want to add. A list of matching variables will appear. Click the variable you want, (or arrow to it) and press Enter.
   • Click the Find icon at the top of the Properties panel and begin typing the name of the variable you want to add. A list of matches will appear. Drag the name you want to the Variable box.
   • Ctrl-drag (⌘-drag on Mac) directly from the model to the Variable box.

   Tip: You can also add variables to a graph by Ctrl-dragging them (⌘-dragging them on Mac) from model diagram, or by dragging them from the Find window onto the graph.

4. If you've selected an arrayed variable, the Choose Subscript dialog box opens so that you can select which elements in the array to graph. To graph all elements in a dimension, select the * in the list of elements; otherwise, select the specific element to graph for each dimension.

   Note: There may be many elements in a dimension. A graph containing more than 5 curves is usually hard read.

5. Set the scales for the variables you've chosen. Leave them blank to use the scales set in the variable properties. The graph will use run values if the scales set in the variable properties are also blank.

6. You can add new pages to the graph pad as described in the Graph Properties Panel. As you add and modify pages, the results will be displayed on the model diagram.

   Note: If the model has already been run (and the database file that contains the model data exists in the proper location on your computer), the graph will display the curves for data generated in the last run.

To view exact values on a time series graph

Once one or more simulations have run, the graph displays a curve for the values of each included variable for that run. Although you can estimate variable values at-a-glance by looking at the graph, you can also see exact values for all variables at any point on the graph.

• Click inside the graph, then drag across the graph.

  The selected time appears below the graph and the values for each variable at that time are shown in the legend.

To set the precision format for numbers in graphs

Numbers in graphs get their precision from the variables' precision. To change this, open the Scales and Ranges tab of the Properties panel for the variable you want to change.

You can also override these settings for a specific graph.

Note: The selections you make on the graph for precision, units, and scaling affect the display of the variable in the graph only.

1. In the graph, right-click, then select Format from the menu that appears. Then select Multiple to change a number of variables at once, select the name of the variable you want to change, or select time.

   If you select Multiple the Format Numbers dialog box will open.

   If you select a specific variable the Format Variable dialog box will open.

2. Select the format options you want to apply to the variable or variables on the graph.
3. Click OK.

Variable formatting affects the scales and the values displayed as you drag across the graph.

See Also