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Creating User Interfaces Inside SIMUL8

Quite often we want people to be able to use our simulations without having to understand how to build them. For example, we don't want users to have to go into Objects to change properties or in to the Information Store to change the value of a Global Data Item.

One way to do this was looked at in last month's newsletter Excel Interfaces. This newsletter looks at how a similar interface can be built entirely inside SIMUL8.

Custom Dialogs

Custom Dialogs can display SIMUL8 information store data and allow information store data to be easily changed by the user. Custom dialogs allow SIMUL8 to be tailored to the specific needs of a business and can appear individually or as "Wizards" in a series.

They can be designed to allow different methods of user input: - Writing in a field - Check box - Radio Group - Drop down box and if displayed as a wizard, a picture can be inserted, for example a company logo.

Visual Logic can then be used to decide on the actions to be taken depending on the inputs made and buttons pressed. In the example above because "Show Production Profile Data" has been checked the next step will take the user to a spreadsheet where they can amend data.

Custom dialogs can be accessed by the user in many ways:

- As new menu items on the SIMUL8 menu bar (see TOOLS > DIALOGS > SETUP MENU + DIALOG OPTIONS)
- When simulations are opened (see TOOLS > DIALOGS > SETUP MENU + DIALOG OPTIONS)
- Appear on various events driven by Visual Logic using code like above.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are a type of Global Data Item in SIMUL8 but can be used not just as information stores but also as a user interface.

How you format your spreadsheet is very important - it can affect how easy it is for the user to interpret and can add to the overall impression of your simulation.

So, you can combine all the formatting to produce a spreadsheet similar to the one below:

To input the spreadsheet values into your simulation, Visual Logic code can be written in 'On Reset' that reads each spreadsheet value to the relevant place in SIMUL8. For example arrival rates into distributions, percentage splits into probability profiles, etc. See last months newsletter for help on how to do this.

It would be tedious for the user to have to go through the Objects menu on the toolbar each time they wanted to access the spreadsheet, there are several ways to quickly get to them:

- On-screen link
You can have a button on your simulation that opens a spreadsheet when pressed. See our Feb 2002 newsletter.

- From other spreadsheets
Buttons in one spreadsheet can link to another. There is an icon for adding a button to a spreadsheet on the toolbar of Formula One Workbook designer. Activate it using the logic in our Feb 2002 newsletter

- Custom Dialog
Use Visual Logic in a Custom Dialog creation box to open a spreadsheet, like we did above.

- Show Data Sheet button on the main toolbar .
Clicking on this will display the spreadsheet set as Main Sheet. You can use the Visual Logic command 'Set Main Sheet' or right click on any spreadsheet in the information store to choose which spreadsheet is to be the main sheet.

Summary

The user interfaces introduced in this newsletter will help to create a professional looking simulation and more importantly a simulation that can be easily used by anyone, regardless of their previous simulation experience.

If you have any questions generated from, or comments about this newsletter then email