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Compare BPSim Configurations

When you develop a BPSim configuration, you can define a wide range of parameters to set prior to running simulations and observing the effects both of those settings and of changes in selected settings. To facilitate using and managing multiple 'what-if' scenarios, it is recommended that you create copies of the original configuration (as Artifact elements) and make the setting changes in the copies.

A useful facility in creating variations of a configuration is to apply inheritance, whereby the data and parameters you do NOT intend to vary are held in one configuration, and only those parameters that you change are held in another. The 'variable' configuration uses (inherits) the common data held in the base configuration, so you do not have to re-create that common data in the 'variable' configuration.

You can then run simulations on the changed configurations and on the original 'baseline' and compare the simulation reports to see what differences occurred in the run-time variables, and then run and display the comparisons of the configurations to see what changes in parameter settings gave rise to those run-time differences.

By running simulations under the original and copy configurations, comparing the results and the changes that caused the results, and modifying the model accordingly, you can achieve a very high degree of control in streamlining the business process you are developing.

Access

Context Menu

In a diagram or the Browser window | Right-click Business Process Simulation Artifact | Show BPSim Configuration > Review tab > Configuration Summary tab

Configuration Summary Tab

This view initially displays the parameters in the selected configuration that have values and, in the column under the configuration name, the values set for those parameters. If the window is docked you can review the results more easily by dragging the tab off the workspace to become a floating display, and expand the display to full screen size.

To compare two (or more) configurations, click on another BPSim Configuration Artifact element in the Browser window or diagram and either:

  • Drag it onto the report view or
  • Select the 'Show BPSim Configuration' option

You can also click on the Hamburger arrow. icon on the 'Configuration Summary' tab, click on the 'Add BPSim Configuration' option and browse for and select the Artifact element on the 'Select Element' dialog.

The parameter hierarchy now contains any additional parameters in that configuration, and its parameter values display in a column to the left of the original configuration values, with the name of the Artifact in the column header.

You can review and manipulate the information on the report using options available from the toolbar and the right-click context menu.

BPMN Simulation Configuration Summary Options

Option

Description

See also

Hamburger arrow.

Select this toolbar option to display a short menu of options:

  • Add BPSim Configuration - displays the 'Select Element' dialog, through which you can browse for and select another BPSim Artifact and display its parameters next to those already on the page
  • Reload - refresh the display and return column changes to the original widths and positions
  • Clear List - clear the selected Artifacts and their parameters from the display
  • Remove Report <name> - clears the named Artifact and its parameters from the page; one of these options is provided for each Artifact currently shown on the page

bpsim_replay_toolbar_export

Click on this toolbar icon to export the records on this page to a CSV file or XML file. The 'Save As' browser displays, from which you select the location into which to save the file.

Displays two options for filtering the information displayed on the page; the options are enabled when you have two or more configurations shown:

  • Show Only Different Items - select this option to restrict the display to only those parameters where the values differ between the configurations; click on the option again to deselect it
  • Highlight Different Items - (when two or more configurations have different parameter values) displays the differing parameter values in red; this option is disabled if you have already selected the 'Show Only Different Items' option

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