Equation Tab

In the Model window, use the Equation tab to specify the equation or initial value for a selected building block. The Equation tab is for assigning units to a building block and selecting options and parameters that affect the building block's equation. (See Getting Started Online for differences in online editing).

To view the Equation tab, click the at the bottom of the Properties panel. For more information about using the Properties panel, see Using the Properties panel.

Options

The options available in this section depend on the type of building block you select. See Equation Tab as List for specific capabilities related to summing converters and placeholders.

Required Inputs

This displays a list of all inputs that must be used in the equation for the selected variable. Required inputs are anything connected to the selected variable using connectors. This list only appears if the selected variable is a flow or converter.

Note: This list doesn't appear for Summing Converters or stocks, which can take any inputs.

Tips: You can also see a list of all allowable inputs for the selected variable (including required inputs) by using the Find window. You can then drag a listed input from the Find window into the Equation box. You can also drag a required input variable from the model diagram into the Equation box. For more information, see Finding Variables in Models.

Builtins

This displays a list of builtins that you can include in the equation for the selected building block.

Note: Regarding converters, this list doesn't appear for summing converters, which create their equations automatically.

Tip: By default, the list displays all builtins in alphabetical order. To make it easier to find a specific builtin, select a category in the box at the top of the Builtins list.

Inputs

This is the list of variables whose values will be added for the selected summing converter.

Note: This box only appears when a summing converter is selected on the model diagram.

Note: Inputs to summing converters must be in the same module that the summing converter is in. If you select a variable in a different module and drag it into the list nothing will happen. To bring in something from another module you will need to create a cross level ghost for it.

Operators/Calculator

Use the buttons in the Operators and Calculator sections to insert numbers and operators into the equation for the building block.

Note: The full calculator is only available when you're viewing the Equation tab for a stock, or when the Properties panel is sufficiently wide. For other variables, and when the Properties panel is at its default width, only the Operators section is available.

Tip: You can also insert operators and numbers into the equation by typing them.

Tips: To transpose arrays in an equation, you can use the apostrophe (') as a transposition operator. For example, to transpose the array A[X, Y] as A[Y, X] in an equation, you can type A'. The apostrophe operator doesn't appear as a button in the Operator section. You have to type it.

If you're defining an equation for an arrayed variable that has more than one dimension with the same name, use the @ operator instead of the dimension name to refer to a particular instance of the dimension. Use @1 for the first use of the dimension, @2 for the second use of the dimension, etc. See Specialized Array Manipulation.

Parameters

The options available in this section depend on the type of building block you select. For most (such as capacity) you can leave the entry blank to leave that parameter inactive.

Tip: For parameters where you can specify a model variable or expression as a value, you can type the variable's name in the parameter box, or drag a variable from the Find window.

Optional Parameters

There are a number of optional parameter available for some variable types. These are contained in an expandable group in order to minimize clutter.

To view the optional parameters click on the triangle at the left. There are two optional parameters that are used by Conveyors, Queues, and Ovens as well as Non-negative Stocks when using the Cycle Time integration technique.

Init Attribute specifies the attribute value that will be used to initialize the stock. This can be an expression, or an arrayed variable with a single * dimension.

Init Cycle Time specifies the cycle time value that will be used to initialize the stock. This can be an expression, or an arrayed variable with a single * dimension.

These optional parameters, and their use, is described more completely in Initializing Discrete Stocks.

There are additional optional parameters for some variable types.

Causes Uses

Use the Causes Uses button () to navigate to causes and uses of the current variable. See Causes Uses.

Equation

Use this box to specify the initial value or equation for the selected building block. The initial value specified here is used only at the start of a simulation run.

Note: The name and icon for the selected building block appear just above the Equation box.

The method for defining the initial value and equation depends on the type of building block you select. The following general procedures apply to defining equations for all types of building blocks. For information on defining equations for a specific type of building block, click the appropriate link below.

Note: You can also generate initial and subsequent values for variables, via a link from an Excel or .CSV file, by using the data import features. For more information, see Importing and Exporting Data.

Active and Initial Equations

By default, the active and initial equations for flows and converters are the same (stocks only have initial equations). To overcome initialization Troubleshooting Circularitiesit can be convenient to specify different initial and active equations. To do this simply click on the small A at the top right of the equation area:

The A will change to an I (for initial) and display a relatively long note:

The initial equation is like the equation for a stock. There is no fixed set of inputs, though typically initial equations are simplified versions of the active equation. The initial equation is used only to set the initial values for stocks. Once all the stocks are initialized, while still at the initial time, the active equation for the variable will be used (see How model equations are solved). If the equation is blank, the active equation will be used during initialization.

Apply To All

This check box appears if the selected variable has been defined as an arrayed variable.

For more information about specifying equations for arrays, see Creating Arrayed Variables. You can also open the Arrayed Equation editing dialog by clicking on the button.

Units

Use the options in this section to assign and manage units of measure.

Note: You can't assign or change units for a variable whose units are defined by other variables. For example, the unit of measure for a flow attached to a stock is defined by the stock's unit of measure. In this case, the flow's units are displayed in the Units box, but you can't edit them directly; to change the flow's units, change the stock's units.

If you're enforcing unit consistency, when you click at the bottom of the tab to apply your changes, the software will perform a unit consistency check on the equation.

For more information, see Assigning Units to Variables, Creating and Deleting Units, and Checking Unit Consistency.

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