Set up a parameter table to control the behavior of model objects

Set up a parameter table to input, edit, and store variables that control the behavior of objects in your model.


00:03

Parameter tables enable you to systematically input, edit, and store variables that control the behavior of objects in your FlexSim model.

00:12

This might include the processing time for a machine, the arrival rate of customers, or the number of workers present in a model.

00:21

In this example, FlexSim is open to an already created model.

00:26

By default, each model contains a parameter table, which can be accessed from the Toolbox.

00:33

Under Model Parameter Tables, click Parameters.

00:38

To view the Model and Parameters panes side-by-side, click the Parameters tab and drag to the right to dock it next to the Properties pane.

00:48

You can add additional Parameters tables from the Toolbox

00:51

by right-clicking Model Parameter Tables and selecting Add Model Parameter Table.

00:56

In this case, use the default table shown.

01:01

Each row in the table represents one parameter.

01:05

You can easily adjust the number of parameters by clicking the up and down arrows.

01:10

In this example, add two parameter rows.

01:15

Keep in mind that every Parameter Name must be unique across all parameter tables within your model.

01:21

In this example, Parameter1 will be used to control the location of Processor1.

01:27

First, click in the Value column, then expand the drop-down to access the Value Properties.

01:35

Here, the Type is set to Continuous, since the value is setting a location,

01:41

but you can expand the drop-down to select another Type.

01:45

For example, you might use Binary for a parameter with an on or off setting.

01:51

In this case, set the Lower Bound to 7, and the Upper Bound to 13.

01:58

To set the object reference, click the Reference Sampler.

02:03

Then, in the Model, click Processor1 and select Properties.

02:11

Since there is no option for location in this menu, select SetupTime, which can be edited in the Value Properties.

02:19

To change this parameter to a location, next to On Set , click Add/Edit this Trigger’s Operations, and set the Property to “Location.X”.

02:31

Close the Value Properties.

02:34

When the model is Reset, you can see that Processor1 shifts because the Parameter1 value is set to 7.

02:42

Adjust the Value for this parameter to 12, then Reset and Run the simulation to see the location shift again.

02:50

For now, set the Parameter1 Value to 10.

02:55

Next, follow the same steps to set Parameter2 as the location of Processor2, with a Lower Bound of 17, and an Upper Bound of 23.

03:06

Again, adjust the On Set trigger operation Property to “Location.X”.

03:13

Then, in the Table, set the Value of Parameter2 to 20.

03:18

Reset the Model, and the location for both Processors adjusts accordingly.

03:24

In the Parameter Table,

03:26

Display Units and Description are optional fields that help you to organize and quickly reference the Parameters that you set up.

03:33

In this case, type a Description for Parameter1, such as “The X location of Processor 1”, and then set the Display Units to “meters”.

03:44

Next, set the Reference for Parameter3 to Dispatcher1 and select Delete and Copy Out Objects.

03:53

This allows you to change the number of objects that are attached to Dispatcher1.

03:58

In the Value Properties, set the Type to Integer, and keep the defaults for the Upper and Lower Bounds.

04:07

In the Parameter Table, set the Value of Parameter3 to 5.

04:12

Reset the Model, and notice that the Dispatcher now has five operators attached to it.

04:18

Additionally, you can use parameter tables in conjunction with the Experimenter tool

04:23

to test different variables and evaluate their impact on model performance.

Video transcript

00:03

Parameter tables enable you to systematically input, edit, and store variables that control the behavior of objects in your FlexSim model.

00:12

This might include the processing time for a machine, the arrival rate of customers, or the number of workers present in a model.

00:21

In this example, FlexSim is open to an already created model.

00:26

By default, each model contains a parameter table, which can be accessed from the Toolbox.

00:33

Under Model Parameter Tables, click Parameters.

00:38

To view the Model and Parameters panes side-by-side, click the Parameters tab and drag to the right to dock it next to the Properties pane.

00:48

You can add additional Parameters tables from the Toolbox

00:51

by right-clicking Model Parameter Tables and selecting Add Model Parameter Table.

00:56

In this case, use the default table shown.

01:01

Each row in the table represents one parameter.

01:05

You can easily adjust the number of parameters by clicking the up and down arrows.

01:10

In this example, add two parameter rows.

01:15

Keep in mind that every Parameter Name must be unique across all parameter tables within your model.

01:21

In this example, Parameter1 will be used to control the location of Processor1.

01:27

First, click in the Value column, then expand the drop-down to access the Value Properties.

01:35

Here, the Type is set to Continuous, since the value is setting a location,

01:41

but you can expand the drop-down to select another Type.

01:45

For example, you might use Binary for a parameter with an on or off setting.

01:51

In this case, set the Lower Bound to 7, and the Upper Bound to 13.

01:58

To set the object reference, click the Reference Sampler.

02:03

Then, in the Model, click Processor1 and select Properties.

02:11

Since there is no option for location in this menu, select SetupTime, which can be edited in the Value Properties.

02:19

To change this parameter to a location, next to On Set , click Add/Edit this Trigger’s Operations, and set the Property to “Location.X”.

02:31

Close the Value Properties.

02:34

When the model is Reset, you can see that Processor1 shifts because the Parameter1 value is set to 7.

02:42

Adjust the Value for this parameter to 12, then Reset and Run the simulation to see the location shift again.

02:50

For now, set the Parameter1 Value to 10.

02:55

Next, follow the same steps to set Parameter2 as the location of Processor2, with a Lower Bound of 17, and an Upper Bound of 23.

03:06

Again, adjust the On Set trigger operation Property to “Location.X”.

03:13

Then, in the Table, set the Value of Parameter2 to 20.

03:18

Reset the Model, and the location for both Processors adjusts accordingly.

03:24

In the Parameter Table,

03:26

Display Units and Description are optional fields that help you to organize and quickly reference the Parameters that you set up.

03:33

In this case, type a Description for Parameter1, such as “The X location of Processor 1”, and then set the Display Units to “meters”.

03:44

Next, set the Reference for Parameter3 to Dispatcher1 and select Delete and Copy Out Objects.

03:53

This allows you to change the number of objects that are attached to Dispatcher1.

03:58

In the Value Properties, set the Type to Integer, and keep the defaults for the Upper and Lower Bounds.

04:07

In the Parameter Table, set the Value of Parameter3 to 5.

04:12

Reset the Model, and notice that the Dispatcher now has five operators attached to it.

04:18

Additionally, you can use parameter tables in conjunction with the Experimenter tool

04:23

to test different variables and evaluate their impact on model performance.

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