AttributeFrom Planimate Knowledge BaseAttribute is a general term used in Planimate® to denote a characteristic that belongs to some component or aspect of a dynamic system model. When you build a model, the Attribute is given a value. Attributes are an essential part of your description of a system model. Objects, individual items, item classes, Sub-systems and the overall system model can have identifiable attributes. The value of an Attribute can remain constant during the course of a model run, or be dynamic. Some Attributes are generally available to the model. This means that their values can be referred to and read by objects. Attributes are listed and edited in various places in your model. You specify your references to them from other locations. The key means of referring to attributes is the Attribute Selection Dialog. The key means of changing attribute values is either via a Routine in a Change Object, or through the binding of an Attribute to an Object.
Portal Attributes
Item Attributes
This uniqueness can be used to further refine the details of how that item behaves within the model, even the behaviour of the model itself. For example, it would be possible to use an attribute to represent the weight of an item and have the weight affect the delays experienced by that item. Other uses include path assignment (routing information) based upon an attribute representing sub-types of items in a Class. Class Attributes
A Class Attribute is an attribute that is SHARED between all items of a particular class. Because the Attribute is a single figure, it is capable of being logged and displayed using a Attribute View. Class Attributes are found in the Item Edit Menu of each Item Class. When this option is selected, a list appears. If the list has no entries, then a single line will appear, prompting you to Add a New Class Attribute. Class Attributes are created and edited in the same manner as other Attributes, with similar dialogs and options. Uses for Class AttributesWhen an attribute applies to EVERY item in one class, then it is much more efficient to keep one common copy of the value, as a Class Attribute. Class Attributes are useful for deriving information about behaviour or results from the group of items as a whole. Class Attributes become group counters or accumulators because only the items of that class can contribute to their own class attribute. Class Attributes are the obvious place that a class can accumulate information on itself. For Example:
A Class Attribute name can be applied to a range of item classes, with each class given a different setting. This enables the Attribute to be generically referenced in the model. Generically Referencing Class AttributesThis enables the Attribute to be generically referenced in the model. Having the ability to generically reference a number of Class's Attributes enables you to cut down on the number of Portal Attributes, Change Objects and Switches you require to control attribute calculations, path selection and model behaviour.
When Class Attributes are referenced in a Distribution Dialog, then they are acting similarly to a standard interaction parameter, in that the attribute only needs to be specified in (and referenced from) one place, and the delay time will vary from class to class. Creating, Editing Class Attributes
Attributes already present are then displayed in a list, along with their initial values. Right Click to select an Item Attribute to be edited or Click the Add Attribute button to create a new Class Attribute. Fields, Settings and ButtonsThese are the fields, settings and buttons that are available when creating or editing Class Attributes.
Planimate® tries to determine the format automatically. eg. typing 100s or 25:32 or 3d will interpret as a time; typing $123.45 will interpret as money; typing values greater than 60 will interpret as a value. Option Settings
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