Lab 1
Lab 1
• Start Arena
• Load, explore, run an existing model
Basically the same model as for the hand simulation in
Chapter 2
Browse dialogs and menus
Run the model
Look at results
• Construct the same model from scratch
• Tour menus, toolbars, drawing, printing
• Help system
• Options for running and control
Behavior of Arena
• Arena is a true Windows application
Appearance, operation, functions, are standard
Interoperability with other software (MS Office, CAD)
Interact, communicate with other software (Chapter 10)
• Assume you already know basics of Windows:
Disks, files, folders, paths
Mousing, keyboarding
Resizing, moving, maximizing, minimizing windows
Menu operations
Ctrl, Alt, Shift keys
Cut, copy, paste
Filling out dialog fields
Starting Up
• Installing Arena – Appendix E
• Locate icon or shortcut; double-click
Or, Start > Programs > Rockwell Software > Arena 7.0 >
Arena 7.01
Licensed vs. Academic, Evaluation mode
• See File, View, Tools, Help menus
Other menus present if a model file is open
• Toolbars with buttons
Unless a model file is open, only New model file, Open
model file, Template Attach/Detach, Context Help (click it,
then click on buttons or menu items)
• Tooltips – roll over toolbar buttons for names
• Quitting Arena: File > Exit or Alt+F4 or top right
button
Slide 3 of 61
Opening an Existing Model
• File > Open … or button Why the .doe default
extension to Arena model
Navigate to desired disk/directory filenames?
Click > Open or double-click Model 03-01.doe
Book models: Rockwell Software\Arena 7.0\Book Examples
More examples: Rockwell Software\Arena 7.0\Examples
• Model window (usually on right side of Arena
window)
Where model is built
Resize, maximize, minimize, scroll/pan, zoom
Can have multiple model windows open at once
• Cut, Copy, Paste within Arena, and between
Arena and other applications (when sensible)
Slide 4 of 61
Flowchart and Spreadsheet Views
• Model window split into two views
Flowchart view
– Graphics
– Process flowchart
– Animation, drawing
– Edit things by double-clicking on them, get into a dialog
Spreadsheet view
– Displays model data directly
– Can edit, add, delete data in spreadsheet view
– Displays all similar kinds of modeling elements at once
Many model parameters can be edited in either view
Horizontal splitter bar to apportion the two views
View > Split Screen (or push ) to see both flowchart and
spreadsheet views (otherwise, get just flowchart view)
Slide 5 of 61
Project Bar
• Usually down the left edge of Arena window
• Hosts panels with modeling building blocks:
modules
Both flowchart and spreadsheet modules
• Displays one panel at a time
Switch to different panels via horizontal buttons
Panels for Basic Process, Reports (after running), Navigate
(to different views within a model or to different hierarchical
submodels), … others can be attached (Template Attach
button ) for different modeling levels, specialties
• Usually docked to left edge but can move, float
• Hide it via View > Project Bar or its own small
Slide 6 of 61
Status Bar
• At very bottom of Arena window
• Displays various information sensitive to status
Coordinates of cursor in “worldspace”
Simulation clock value, replication number being executed,
number of replications to be done, when simulation is
running
• Hide by clearing (unchecking) View > Status Bar
Slide 7 of 61
Moving Around, Up, Down
in Flowchart View of Model Window
• Underlying world space for model
(x, y) coordinates, arbitrary units (thousands in each
direction)
• Pan with scroll bars, arrow keys
To navigate via
• Zoom in (down): or + key keyboard, the model
window must be
• Zoom out (up): or – key active ... click in it.
Slide 10 of 61
Data Modules
• Set values, conditions, etc. for whole model
No entity flow, no connections
• Basic Process panel data module types:
Entity, Queue, Resource, Variable, Schedule, Set
• Other panels – many other kinds
• Icons in Project Bar look like little spreadsheets
• To use a data module, select it (single-click) in
the Project Bar, edit in spreadsheet view
Can edit via dialog – double-click in leftmost column
Double-click where indicated to add new row
Right-click on row, column to do different things
• Only one instance of each kind of data module in
a model
But each one can have many entries (rows)
Slide 11 of 61
Relations Among Modules
• Flowchart and data modules are related via
names for objects
Queues, Resources, Entity types, Variables … others
• Arena keeps internal lists of different kinds of
names
Presents existing lists to you where appropriate
Helps you remember names, protects you from typos
• All names you make up in a model must be
unique across the model, even across different
types of modules
Slide 12 of 61
Internal Model Documentation
• Data Tips on modules, graphics – hover mouse
over object to see
Default part – generic info on object (name, type)
User-defined part – right-click on object, select Properties,
enter text under Property Description
Toggle display of Data tips via View > Data Tips
• Project Description – Run > Setup > Project
Parameters, enter text under Project Description
• Model Documentation Report – Tools > Model
Documentation Report
Generates HTML file with model details (can choose which
kinds of details to include)
Slide 13 of 61
Browsing Through Model 3-1
• Open Model 03-01.mod (in Book Examples
folder)
• Three flowchart modules (Create, Process,
Dispose)
• Entries in three data modules (Entity, Queue,
Resource)
• Animation objects
Resource animation
Two plots
Some (passive) labels, artwork
Slide 14 of 61
The Create Flowchart Module
• “Birth” node for entities
• Gave this instance of the Create-type module the
Name Part Arrives to System
If we had other Create modules (we don’t) they’d all have
different Names
• Double-click on module to open property dialog:
Slide 15 of 61
The Create Flowchart Module (cont’d.)
• Name – for module (type it in, overriding default)
• Entity Type – enter a descriptive name
Can have multiple Entity Types with distinct names
• Time Between Arrivals area
Specify nature of the time separating consecutive arrivals
Type – pull-down list with several options
Value – depends on Type … for Random (Expo) is mean
Units – time units for Value
• Entities per Arrival – constant, random variable,
very general “Expression” (more later …)
• Max Arrivals – choke off arrivals (from this
source) after this many entities
• First Creation – time of first arrival (need not be 0)
Slide 16 of 61
Editing Flowchart Modules in the
Spreadsheet View
• Alternative to dialog for each instance of a
module type
• See all instances of a module type at once
Convenient for seeing, editing lots of things at once
• Selecting a module in either flowchart or
spreadsheet view also selects it in the other view
• Click, double-click fields to view, edit
• Right-click in row to Edit via Dialog, define a user
Data Tip (via Properties)
• Right-click in expression fields to get Expression
Builder for help in constructing complex
expressions with Arena variables (more later …)
Slide 17 of 61
The Entity Data Module
• A data module, so edit in spreadsheet view only
• View, edit aspects of different Types of entities in
your model (we have just one Type, Part)
• Pull-down lists activated as you select fields
• Our only edit – Initial Picture for animation
We picked Picture.Blue Ball from the default list
Slide 18 of 61
The Process Flowchart Module
• Represents the machine, including the resource,
queue, and entity delay time (processing)
• Enter Name – Drilling Center
• Type – picked Standard to define logic here
rather than in a submodel (more later …)
• Report Statistics check box at bottom
To get utilizations, queue lengths, queue waiting times, etc.
Slide 19 of 61
The Process Flowchart Module (cont’d.)
• Logic area – what happens to entities here
Action
– Seize Delay Release – entity Seizes some number of units of a Resource
(maybe after a wait in queue), Delay itself there for the processing time,
then Release the units of the Resource it had Seized – we chose this option
– Could just Delay entity (red traffic light) – no Resources or queueing
– Could also Seize Delay (no Release … Release downstream)
– Could also Delay Release (if Resource had been Seized upstream)
– Priority for seizing – lower numbers mean higher priority
– Different Action choices could allow stringing together several Process
modules for modeling flexibility
Resources – define Resource(s) to be seized, released
– Double-click on row to open subdialog
– Define Resource Name, Quantity of units to be Seized/Released here
– Several Resources present (Add) – entities must first Seize all
Slide 20 of 61
The Process Flowchart Module (cont’d.)
• Delay Type – choice of probability distributions,
constant or general Expression (more later …)
• Units – time units for the delay (don’t ignore)
• Allocation – how to “charge” delay in costing
(more later …)
• Prompts on next line – change depending on
choice of Delay Type – specify numerical
parameters involved
• Can also edit in spreadsheet view
Subdialogs (e.g., Resource here) become secondary
spreadsheets that pop up, must be closed
Slide 21 of 61
The Resource Data Module
• Defining the Drilling Center Resource in the
Process module automatically creates an entry
(row) for it in the Resource data module
• Can edit it here for more options
Type – could vary capacity via a Schedule instead of
having a fixed Capacity
– Would define the Schedule via Schedule data module … more later
Failures – could cause resource to fail according to some
pattern
– Define this pattern via Failure data module (Advanced Process
panel) … more later
Slide 22 of 61
The Queue Data Module
• Specify aspects of the queues in the model
We only have one, named Drilling Center.Queue
(the default name given the Process name)
• Type – specifies queue discipline or ranking rule
If Lowest or Highest Attribute Value, then another field
appears where you specify which attribute
• Shared – it this queue will be shared among
several resources (more later …)
• Report Statistics – check to get automatic
collection and reporting of queue length, time in
queue
Slide 23 of 61
Animating Resources and Queues
• Got queue animation automatically by
specifying a Seize in the Process module
Entity pictures (blue balls) will line up here in animation
• Don’t get Resource animation automatically
To add it, use Resource button in Animate toolbar … get
Resource Picture Placement dialog
– Identifier – link to Resource name in pull-down list
– Specify different pictures for Idle, Busy state
For pre-defined artwork, Open a picture library (.plb filename extension)
Scroll up/down on right, select (single-click) a picture on right, select Idle or Busy
state on left, then to copy the picture
Slide 24 of 61
The Dispose Flowchart Module
• Represents entities leaving model boundaries
• Name the module
• Decide on Record Entity Statistics (average and
maximum time in system of entities exiting here,
costing information)
Slide 25 of 61
Connecting Flowchart Modules
• Establishes the (fixed) sequence of flowchart
modules through which entities will flow
• To make a connection
Click Connect button (or Object > Connect)
Cursor changes to cross hairs
Click on exit point from source module, then entry point
on destination module
Make intermediate clicks for non-straight line in segments
• Object menu toggles
Auto-Connect – automatically connect entry point of newly
placed module from exit point of selected module
Smart Connect – force segments to horizontal/vertical
Animate Connectors – show entities moving along
connectors (zero time for statistics collection)
Slide 26 of 61
Dynamic Plots
• Trace variables, queues as simulation runs – a
kind of “data animation”
• Disappear after run is ended (to keep, must save
data, postprocess via Output Analyzer — later)
• Plot button from Animate toolbar… “Add” for
Expression to plot (help via Expression Builder … later)
Min/Max y-axis values (initially guesses, maybe revise)
– Arena can do this automatically and dynamically in Plot dialog
Number of “corners” to show (# History Points) at a time
Stepped option (for piecewise-constant curves)
Colors
• In Plot dialog – Time Range (x axis), cosmetics,
automatic scaling options
• Drop plot in via crosshairs (resize, move later)
Slide 27 of 61
Dressing Things Up
• Add drawing objects from Draw toolbar
Similar to other drawing, CAD packages
Object-oriented drawing tools (layers, etc.), not just a
painting tool
• Add Text to annotate things
Control font, size, color, orientation
Slide 28 of 61
Setting the Run Conditions
• Run > Setup menu dialog – five tabs
Project Parameters – Title, your name, output statistics,
Project Description
Replication Parameters
– Number of Replications
– Initialization options Between Replications
– Start Date/Time to associate with start of simulation
– Warm-up Period (when statistics are cleared)
– Length of Replication (and Time Units)
– Base Time Units (output measures, internal computations)
– Hours per “Day” (convenience for 16-hour days, etc.)
– Terminating Condition (complex stopping rules)
Other tabs for animation speed, run conditions, reporting
Terminating your simulation:
You must specify – part of modeling
Arena has no default termination
If you don’t specify termination, Arena will usually keep running forever
Slide 29 of 61
Running It
• Plain-vanilla run: Click from Standard toolbar
(like audio/video players)
First time or after changes: Check
Enters run mode — can move around but not edit
Speed up (> on keyboard) or slow down (<) animation
display
When done, asked if you want to see summary reports
Click to get out of run mode (can’t edit until you do)
Can pause run with or Esc key
• Other run control, viewing, checking options
Slide 30 of 61
Viewing the Reports
• Click Yes in the Arena box at the end of the run
Opens up a new reports window (separate from model
window) inside the Arena window
Project Bar shows Reports panel, with different reports
(each one would be a new window)
Remember to close all reports windows before future runs
• Default installation shows Category Overview
report – summarizes many things about the run
Reports have “page” to browse ( and )
Also, “table contents” tree at left for quick jumps via ,
• Times are in Base Time Units for the model
Slide 31 of 61
Viewing the Reports – Examples
• Entity → Time → Total Time → Part:
Avg. time in system was 6.4397 min., max was 12.6185
• Resource → Usage → Instantaneous Utilization →
Drill Press:
Utilization was 0.9171 (busy 91.71% of the time)
• Process → Other → Number In → Drilling Center:
During the run, 7 parts entered the Drilling Center
• Process → Other → Number Out → Drilling Center:
5 entities left the Drilling Center (so were produced)
• Entity → Time → Wait Time → Part:
Avg. wait time in all queues was 3.0340 min. (counts only
entities that left the system, but Queue → Time → Waiting
Time → Drilling Center.Queue counts all entities that left
this queue, so can differ)
• Entity → Other → Wip → Part:
Average Work in Process was 1.7060, max WIP was 4
Slide 32 of 61
Types of Statistics Reported
• Many output statistics are one of three types:
Tally – avg., max, min of a discrete list of numbers
– Used for discrete-time output processes like waiting times in queue,
total times in system
Time-persistent – time-average, max, min of a plot of
something where the x-axis is continuous time
– Used for continuous-time output processes like queue lengths, WIP,
server-busy functions (for utilizations)
Counter – accumulated sums of something, usually just
nose counts of how many times something happened
– Often used to count entities passing through a point in the model
Slide 33 of 61
More on Reports and their Files
• Reports we just saw – based on a MS Access
database that Arena writes as it runs
Can be saved and viewed later
Viewing within Arena done via Crystal Reports to query the
Access database
• Arena also produces a plain-text summary report
(.out filename extension)
Was in previous versions of Arena, underlying SIMAN
simulation language
Fairly cryptic, but gives quick view of lots of output data
• Get multiple reports for multiple replications
• “Half Width” columns – for confidence intervals
on outputs in long-run simulations … more later
Slide 34 of 61
Build It Yourself
• Build the same model from scratch – see book for
more detail
• Handy user-interface tricks:
Right-click in an empty spot in flowchart view – small box of
options, including Repeat Last Action … useful in repetitive
editing like placing lots of the same module type
Ctrl+D or Ins key – duplicates whatever’s selected in
flowchart view, offsetting it a bit … usually drag elsewhere
and edit
• Open a new (blank) model window – name it, save
it, maybe maximize it
• Attach modeling panels you’ll need to Project Bar
if they’re not there
Slide 35 of 61
Build It Yourself (cont’d.)
• Place and connect flowchart modules
• Edit flowchart and data modules as needed
Experiment with Expression Builder – right-click in
expression field
• Add plots, animation, artwork
• Add named views (? key or View > Named Views)
Name, hot key (case-sensitive) – useful in big models
• Edit Run > Setup dialog
• “Displays” in text
Compact way of saying what needs to be done in a dialog
Omits Arena defaults
Shows completed dialogs
Slide 36 of 61
Display for the Create Module
Slide 37 of 61
Display for the Process Module
Slide 38 of 61
Display for the Dispose Module
Slide 39 of 61
Display for the Queue-Length Plot
Slide 40 of 61
Expression Builder for Queue-Length-
Plot Expression
Slide 41 of 61
More on Menus – File Menu
• Model-file management
• Template attach/detach
• DXF import (from CAD packages), Visio import
• Color palettes
• Printing
• E-mail open model file
• Recent models
• Exit from Arena
Slide 42 of 61
Edit Menu
• Undo/Redo
• Cut/Copy/Paste
• Paste Link (create OLE link)
• Duplicate, Delete selection
• Select/Deselect All
• Entity Pictures – change content, definition of
pictures presented in Entity data module
• Calendar Schedules – specify complex time
patterns in hierarchies (weeks are made of days,
which are made of shifts, etc.), exceptions
(holidays), view composite net effect
Slide 43 of 61
Edit Menu (cont’d.)
• Find – searches all modules and animation
objects for a text string … useful for finding
wrong names, typos after an error message from
Arena
• Properties – display internal Arena object
properties
• Links – to link to other files (spreadsheets,
sounds, etc.)
• Insert New Object – from other applications (e.g.,
graphics)
• Object – edit object imported from another
application
Slide 44 of 61
View Menu
• Zooming – discussed before
• Zoom Factor – step size when zooming
• Views – canned Arena views of flowchart view
• Named Views – define, change, use views
• Grid/Snap/Grid Settings – control grid, snapping
• Page breaks – shows page breaks if printed
• Data Tips – toggles display of Data Tips
• Layers – which objects show up in which mode
• Split Screen – toggle for viewing both flowchart
and spreadsheet views, or just one of them
• Toolbars – decide which toolbars show up
• Project/Status Bar – toggle to show up or not
Slide 45 of 61
Tools Menu
• Separate applications for modeling, analysis
Arena Symbol Factory – large collection of graphics in
categories, use to create graphical symbols for animation
Input Analyzer – fit probability distributions for input, using
field-collected data
Process Analyzer – run, compare many “scenarios” at once
– Also Output Analyzer … not on menus ... start from Start menu
• Special “editions” of Arena (FactoryAnalyzer,
Contact Center) – depends on licensing
• Model Documentation Report – generate HTML
file with many details of this model
Slide 46 of 61
Tools Menu (cont’d.)
• Import/Export model to/from Database – bring in,
save model details to Excel or Access
• OptQuest for Arena – separate application that
“takes over” running of the model to search for
an optimal scenario
• Macro – create Visual Basic macros (mini
programs), VB editor ... more in Chapter 10
• Options – control many aspects of how Arena
works, looks
Slide 47 of 61
Arrange Menu
• For modeling, graphics objects – first select
object(s)
• Bring object to Front, Send it to Back — for
“stacking” effects
• Group, Ungroup
• Flip around Vertical, Horizontal line
• Rotate object (90° clockwise)
• Align objects on top, bottom, left, or right edges
• Distribute objects evenly (horizontally, vertically)
• Flowchart Alignment – arrange flowchart modules
(horizontally, vertically)
• Snap to Grid the selected object(s)
• Change Snap Point on object that gets snapped
Slide 48 of 61
Object Menu
• Connect tool – changes cursor to cross hairs
• Auto-Connect newly placed module to selected
module – toggle on/off
• Smart Connect – new connections in
horizontal/vertical segments rather than one
diagonal segment – toggle on/off
• Animate Connectors – to show entities moving
(at infinite speed for statistics collection)
• Submodel – define and manage hierarchical
submodels (see Chapter 5)
Slide 49 of 61
Run Menu
• Setup – control model run conditions
• Entries to run, check, pause, step through
• Alternatives to watch execution, view results (or
errors)
• Control how run goes and is displayed
• Most capabilities on Run or Run Interaction
Toolbar, and will be described a bit later in detail
• Access the “code” in the underlying SIMAN
simulation language
Slide 50 of 61
Window Menu
• Cascade, Tile multiple open model windows
• Arrange Icons for any minimized model windows
• Use system Background Color — use Windows
colors rather than Arena settings
• List of open model windows
Slide 51 of 61
Help Menu
• One of several ways to get into Help system
• Arena Help Topics – TOC, Index, Search
• What’s This? – adds ? to cursor, then click on
things for brief description
• Release notes – recent changes, requirements
• Arena SMART Files – subject-based index to
many small (but complete) models that illustrate
specific modeling techniques
Slide 52 of 61
Help Menu (cont’d.)
• List of attached modeling panels – select to get
Help on that one
• Product Manuals – detailed documents on Arena
components
• Web links to product support (must be online ...)
• Product support/training
• Copy protection information for commercial,
research, and lab versions
• About Arena... – version number, etc.
Slide 53 of 61
More on Toolbars
• Collections of buttons for “frequent” operations
Most are duplication of menu entries
Standard, Draw, Animate, Integration, View, Arrange, Run
Interaction, Record Macro, Animate Transfer, Professional
• View > Toolbars (or right-click in a toolbar area)
to decide which ones show up, which to hide
• Toolbars can be torn off (“floating” palettes), or
“docked” to an edge of screen
• Arena remembers your Toolbar configuration for
next time
• View > Toolbars > Customize to alter how
toolbars and buttons are displayed
• See text for run-through description of toolbars
and buttons
Slide 54 of 61
More on Drawing
• Draw via toolbar buttons only (no menus):
Curve
• Box, Polygon, Ellipse (fill, line, shade)
• Text (font, size, style)
• Colors for Lines, Fill, Text, Window Background
• Line Style, Fill Pattern
• By far best way to learn: just play around
Slide 55 of 61
Printing
• Print all or parts of flowchart view of active model
window – supports color
• Usual Print, Print Preview, Print Setup (File menu)
• Could consume many pages … also prints named
views separately
Print Preview, select only what you want for printing
• View > Page Breaks to show how pages will break
• Alternative to printing directly from Arena:
PrintScreen key — sends screen to clipboard,
paste into another application
Alt+PrintScreen — sends only active window to clipboard
Could first pass through a paint application to crop, etc.
Slide 56 of 61
Help!
• Extensive, comprehensive online system –
including complete (electronic) manuals
• Interlinked via hypertext for cross referencing
• Multiple entry points, including Help menu
(described above), links to websites
• button for context-sensitive help
• button in most dialogs
• button (What’s This?) for info on items
• Tooltips – roll over things, get little sticky note
• Examples folder inside Arena 7.0 folder
• SMARTs library – small models illustrating points
– subject index via Help > Arena Smart Files
Slide 57 of 61
More on Running Models
• Run Menu; Standard & Run Interaction toolbars
• Run > Setup – many options to control the run
These are attached to the model, and are not global
• Run > Go – run simulation “normally”
(depends on selections from Run > Run Control
and Tools > Options > Run Control)
• Run > Step – one “step” at a time (verify,
debug)
• Run > Fast-Forward – disable animation
(faster)
• Run > Pause (or Esc key) – freeze run, resume
with Go
• Run > Start Over – go back to beginning of
simulation
Slide 58 of 61
More on Running Models (cont’d.)
• Run > End – get out of run mode
• Run > Check Model – like compiling
• Run > Review Errors – for most recent Check
• Run > Run Control > Command – bring up
interactive command-line window to control run
• Run > Run Control > Break – set times,
conditions to interrupt for checks, illustration
• Run > Run Control > Watch – bring up a
window to watch a variable or expression during
run
Slide 59 of 61
More on Running Models (cont’d.)
• Run > Run Control > Break on Module –
set/clear break when an entity enters or resumes
activity on a module
• Run > Run Control > Highlight Active Module –
highlight the flowchart module being executed
• Run > Run Control > Batch Run (No Animation) –
run model with no animation … this is even faster
than Fast-Forward … usually used for
“production runs” for statistical analysis
• Run > SIMAN – view or write the model (.mod)
and experiment (.exp) files for the underlying
SIMAN model
Slide 60 of 61