Location Graphics

A location may have any one or more of the following graphics selected from the Location Graphics window.

Counter A counter representing the current number of entities at a location. The options available with counters are explained next.

Gauge A vertical or horizontal sliding bar showing the location's current contents during the simulation (shown as a percentage of the capacity). This graph will be updated constantly as a simulation runs. The options available with gauges are explained below.

Tank A vertical or horizontal sliding bar showing the continuous flow of liquids and other substances into and out of tanks or similar vessels. This continuous modeling capability can be combined with discrete-event simulation to model the exchange between continuous material and discrete entities such as when a liquid is placed in containers.

Conveyor/Queue A symbol representing a conveyor or a queue. To create joints in a conveyor or queue, click on the conveyor or queue with the right mouse button. Drag the joints to achieve the desired shape. Right click on a joint to delete it. The options available with conveyors and queues are described next.

Label Any text used to describe a location. The label is initially synchronized with the name of the location and changes whenever the location name is changed. The name, size, and color of the text may be edited by double clicking on the label or selecting it and clicking on the edit button (see Text Tool). Once the name on a label is edited, it will no longer be automatically changed when the location name is changed.

Status Light A circle that changes color during the simulation to show the location’s status. For a single capacity location, the states displayed are idle/empty, in operation, blocked, down, waiting, and in setup. For multi-capacity locations, the displayed states are up (operational) and down (off-shift, on break, disabled).

Entity Spot An assignable spot on the layout where the entity or entities will appear while at the location. While an entity is at a location, the entity’s alignment spot (defined in the Graphic editor) will appear exactly on top of the location's entity spot, allowing the two graphics to align exactly as desired. A multi-capacity location will use as many entity spots as defined (in the order defined) up to the capacity of the location. Entities in excess of entity spots will continue to pile up on the last entity spot defined.

Region A boundary used to represent a location's area. A region may be placed in the layout over an imported background such as an AutoCAD drawing to represent a machine or other location. This technique allows elements in the imported background to work as locations.

Library graphic Any of the graphics appearing in the library graphic menu. Use the scroll bar to view all available graphics. Library graphics may be created or modified through the Graphic Editor. The name for the graphic, the default name of any location created with that graphic, can be saved in the Graphic Editor (see Naming a Graphic).

How to edit a graphic already on the layout:

• Double click on the graphic.

or...

1. Select the graphic.

2. Click on the Edit button inside the Location Graphics window.

or...

1. Right-click on the graphic in the layout.

2. Select Edit Graphic from the menu.

Please note

Location graphics notes:

1. Location graphics are painted on the layout in the order of the location list and, for any given location having multiple graphics, in the order that the graphic was added to the layout.

2. A location may include any of the above graphics and symbols. However, a location can have no more than one counter, one gauge, one tank, one queue, one status light, or one region.

3. Clicking on a layout graphic with no edit table on the screen displays the name of the element (location, etc.) represented by the graphic. With any edit table showing, hold down the CTRL key while clicking on the graphic to display the location name.