Actions (Interface)

Actions are commands that change settings, navigate, control simulation, or otherwise manage the user interface. They are specified as part of the definition of a Button (Interface).

Run will run the model using the specified simulation speed. If the model is paused, it will resume the model; otherwise, it will start a new run. In presentation mode, or with a published model, if Stella Live is on, Run will stop it. If the model is already running, this command is inactive.

Run then Stella Live will run the model and then start Stella Live (more precisely leave it in Stella Live so the next input change will trigger a run). The run will animate, and the first Stella Live run will be a new run after the animated run. This is the same as the way the run button on the Run Toolbar works.

Pause will pause a running model. If the model isn't running, this command is inactive.

Resume will resume the running model (the same as Run). This command is only active when the model is paused.

Stop will stop the current run. This command is only active when a model is running or paused. This command isn't active when Stella Live is on.

Start Stella Live turns Stella Live on. Any changes made to inputs will cause a new simulation to occur. If the model is paused, this command will stop it.

Stop Stella Live turns Stella Live off. This command is only active when Stella Live has been started using the Start Stella Live action.

Simulate in Ballistic Mode will run the model to the end. If the model is paused, the simulation will continue from the paused time; otherwise, a new run will be started. Any simulation speed or pause interval set in the model will be ignored (simulation events will still cause a pause).

Advance Time in Ballistic Mode will run the model for the amount of time specified in Time, resuming or starting a new run the same as the previous action. Any simulation speed or pause interval set in the model will be ignored (simulation events will still cause a pause). This action isn't active in Stella Live.

• Time specifies how much to advance the simulation.

Start New Run will create a new run and set it to the beginning. This is active except during the time that a run is executing. If Stella Live has been started, it will be stopped.

Restore All Devices restores both inputs and outputs, as described below. Only active when both restore inputs and restore outputs are active.

Restore All Inputs sets all variables that have been interactively controlled back to their model values (or their imported values, if you're using import sheets). This is inactive during a run, but active while paused and in Stella Live. Any continued simulation, whether new or resumed, will use the restored values. In Stella Live, this will trigger a new simulation, if anything is changed.

Restore All Outputs deletes all runs that haven't been explicitly saved, and clears graphs and tables of those results. In published models or Presentation mode, this will also stop Stella Live, if it's active.

Restore a Variable sets a specific variable back to the model value (or its imported value). This is inactive during a run, but active while paused and in Stella Live. Any continued simulation, whether new or resumed, will use the restored value. In Stella Live, this will trigger a new simulation, if anything is changed.

• Variable specifies which variable to restore the value for. Type in a name, and autocomplete will fill in the name (the Find window is not available on the interface).

Import Now (Desktop Only) executes an import of the specified on demand link. The link has to be set up in the Import Data dialog box, and must be marked on demand (which means it must have the Set parameters behavior). When the user clicks on the button, the import will occur. This action is only taken on desktop software. If the model is published, nothing happens when an Import Now action is taken.

• File [Sheet] Specifies which import link to execute. The filename is the one set in the import dialog.

Export Now (Desktop Only) executes an export of the specified on demand link. The link has to be set up in the Export Data dialog box, and must be marked on demand. When the user clicks on the button, the export will occur. This action is only taken on desktop software. If the model is published, nothing happens when an Export Now action is taken..

• File [Sheet] Specifies which export link to execute. The filename is the one set in the export dialog.

Import Data first queries for an import file, then imports the content of that file. You do not need to set up import links in advance to use this. The imported values will be used as interactive controls (this is different from the Import Data dialog which treats imported values as a different class of control).

Note You can only import variables that appear in graphs, tables or other input or output objects on a published interface. You can add a table to the model layer with all the variables you want to import.

Note Import Data is the opposite of Import Now in the sense that Import Data creates a temporary control for the imported value while Import Now overwrites the model equation.

Note The import file must be a csv (or tab delimited) file. Excel files are not supported.

Export Data will export the results of the current run for the variables specified. The user will be queried for a file to save the results to (a csv file). This works the same on both the desktop and when published.

• Export Vertical, if checked, will export values with time running down and a different variable in each column. If this is not checked, time will run across with a different variable in each row.
• You must list all of the variables you want to export. To add to the list use the button and select a variable from the Find dialog. To remove an item from the list, click on the item and click on .

Export Parameter Values will export the parameters that have been set using controls (or that have been set through an import). Constant values will be exported as a number, while graphicals will be exported as x,y pairs. Resetting controls (with Reset After active) will be exported at their current value (they will not reset). Time varying controls that have been imported will not be saved.

• Export Vertical, if checked, will export values with variables running across the first row. If this is not checked, each row will contain a variable and its value.

Set Variable sets a variable to a specific value. That value will be retained until another action or control changes it, it is reset, or inputs are restored.

• Variable specifies which variable to set a value for. Type in a variable, and autocomplete will fill in the name (the Find window is not available on the interface).
• Value specifies the value you want to set the variable to.
• Reset After determines whether the value entered by the user will be reset to a specified value, or simply left at the value set by the user during the remainder of the simulation.
  • Never, the default, leaves the value at what the user set, until the user changes it or a restore inputs command is executed.
  • Every DT uses the value from the user for a single DT, then resets it to the specified value. This is useful for one time decision points, where model structure is used to capture the persistence of the change.
  • Every time unit uses the value until one time unit passes, then resets it. This is commonly used in models that have a pause interval of one, as it allows the user to reenter decisions or use a default.
  • End of simulation resets to the specified value for the next simulation run. This allows a fresh start for each simulation run made.

• Reset to value specifies the value to reset the input to. It's only used if Reset After isn't set to Never. Typically, this is the same as the model equation, though it doesn't have to be.

  Note You can select a module as the variables. If you do this and the model is set to be run by module, then setting it to a nonzero value will turn the module on, and a 0 value will turn it off. This change can be made before beginning a run, or while a run is paused. If the model is not set to be run by module the action will have no effect. The reset values are ignored for modules.

Navigate to Page switches to a different page on the interface.

•  Page lets you select which page. Choose:
  • Home Page to navigate to the page you've designated as the home page. If you later change this designation, the button will take you to your new choice.
  • Previous Page to move to the previous page, as displayed in the Pages Panel (Interface). If you reorder the pages, it'll use the new sequence to navigate. If there's no previous page, nothing will happen.
  • Next Page to move to the next page, as displayed in the Pages Panel (Interface). If you reorder the pages, it'll use the new sequence to navigate. If there's no next page, nothing will happen.
  • Last Page Visited to move to the last page the user was on. If this is the first page the user has visited, nothing will happen.
  • A specific named page to move to that page. All the pages in the interface will be displayed. Choose by name, but it will be remembered by reference even if you rename the page.

Navigate to Story switches to a Story.

• Story lets you choose which story to navigate to.
• Page lets you specify which page. Normally, this would be the first, but you can also reenter a story at a later page.

HTML Link lets you specify a web page to navigate to. The web page will open in a new browser window or tab, depending on the way a user has set up their browsing preferences. Note that, in the publication window, these links won't be displayed, as there's only a single window or tab allowed. You'll need to open the model in a web browser to see the behavior. In Explore or Presentation mode, clicking on a link will open it in your default web browser.

Note While it is possible to use local file references as links, these will not work unless the file is present on the computer of the person using the model or published interface.

Multiplayer Actions

The following button actions are applicable only for multiplayer games. When used outside the context of a multiplayer game, Ready to Advance is the same as Advance Time in Ballistic Mode, with advancement time set to 1. Ready to Start is the same as New Run. The two cancel buttons have no effect.

• Ready to Advance signals that the player is ready to advance the game. Once all players click on Ready to Advance, the simulation will advance, so the next round of play can begin.
• Cancel Ready to Advance will cancel the ready to advance state. This can be used as long as at least one of the other players has not clicked Ready to Advance. Whichever message reaches the server first will determine what happens when one player signals ready to advance and another cancels at the same time.
• Ready to Start signals that the player is ready to start a new run. Once all players signal this, a new run will be started (just as the New Run button would do for a single user interface).
• Cancel Ready to Start will cancel the ready to start state. This can be used as long as at least one of the other players has not clicked Ready to Start. Whichever message reaches the server first will determine what happens when one player signals ready to start and another cancels at the same time.

Note When used outside the context of a multiplayer game, Ready to Advance is the same as Advance Time in Ballistic Mode, with advancement time set to 1. Ready to Start is the same as New Run. The two cancel buttons have no effect.

• Import from File allows you to select the sound file that you would like played. You can import any file that is supported by browsers, the most common being mp3, ogg, wav, and mp4. If you use sound, publish and try it with different browsers to see that it will play. File extensions do not always guarantee the internal format of audio files.

Set Placeholder will set the current selection for a variable you select from Placeholders.

Use the button to select the placeholder you want to set the value for. Once you have selected variable, the dropdown for Value will list the possible selections for the placeholder. Used in this way it is possible to change the values displayed in graphs and the variables to which input controls are attached.

Set Wildcard will set the current element on a dimension you select and will be applied to any variables specified using Wildcards.

Click on the Dimension dropdown to select which dimension you want this to change. All of the dimensions in the model are listed in the dropdown.

Select the Element you want to set for the selected dimension. Now anything specified using a wildcard as in var[?] where var is arrayed by Dimension 1 will be as if var[Element 2] had been specified.