...baseSim Simulation
Tools - Delphi Components
The baseSim Simulation Tools
have been designed and implemented as a comprehensive
set of third party Delphi components for the Delphi
development environment. baseSim is now also available
for the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 development
environment (.NET Framework 3.5). This provides for
fully compiled simulation and fast
simulation. The advantages are clear:
 |
 |
Delphi components provide the model development
infrastructure. |
|
|
Delphi has many inherent database connectivity
and charting options. |
|
|
There are thousands of experienced Delphi programmers
world-wide. |
|
|
Delphi programs compile rapidly, producing very
quick and freely-distributable executables. |
baseSim is divided into the following 3 packages (seperate
collections of components)...
baseSim Components (by Category)
Model Management
 |
Model
Manager
(Tbs2ModelManager)
|
Manages the
Model Hierarchy - maintains a flattened list
of Frame Managers.
Also responsible for top-level properties such
as animation.
|
Event Management
Random Number Generation & Statistics
 |
Distribution
Manager
(Tbs2DistributionManager) |
Generates pseudo-random
numbers distributed according to a user selectable
Statistical Distribution. |
The following Statistical Distributions are currently
implemented:
- Uniform
- Normal
- Negative Exponential
|
- Geometric
- Weibull
- Triangle
- Log Normal
|
- Binomial
- Poisson
- Uniform_Int
|
Object Orientation
| |
Frame
Manager
(Tbs2FrameManager) |
Maintains a collection
of baseSim components. Non-visual component which
must be used with a Scene component at run-time
in order for the objects to be seen. |
 |
Template
Manager
(Tbs2TemplateManager) |
Acts as a container
for all the baseSim Simulation Components (they
cannot be place on a 'normal' Form like other Delphi
components). Enables the components to be moved,
scaled, snapped-to-grid etc. |
 |
Template
Panel
(Tbs2TemplatePanel) |
Acts as a container for all
the baseSim Simulation Components (they cannot
be place on a 'normal' Form like other Delphi components).
Enables the components to be moved, scaled, snapped-to-grid
etc. |
 |
Child
Frame
(Tbs2ChildFrame) |
Enables the creation of hierarchical
models in which lower levels can be observed by
double-clicking a Child Frame object in the current
level. |
Material Flow Components
Discrete Event Simulation models can, in general,
be reduced to flows of moving elements that incur process
delays as they visit their destinations. These destinations
can represent either physical locations at which an
activity is to take place (e.g. a machine or a server
position) or a more abstract representation of the
process stage itself (e.g. boil kettle, add milk).
In baseSim, Material Flow Components have been divided
into the following three categories:
Capacity Based Components
Components that can contain (process) one or more
entities, based on a defined numerical capacity.
 |
Process
Flow
(Tbs2ProcessFlow) |
Can hold and process
one or more Moving Elements. Permits a processing
time to be defined, which determines the length
of time the Moving Element will remain in the object. |
 |
Process
Queue 
(Tbs2ProcessQueue) |
Can hold a user-defined
number of Moving Elements. Processes elements in
a linear FIFO manner. |
 |
Process
Sorter
(Tbs2ProcessSorter) |
Can hold a user-defined
number of Moving Elements. The SubNodes may be
sorted within the component, therefore allowing
the them to exit in a managed sequence. |
 |
Process
Store
(Tbs2ProcessStore) |
Can hold a user-defined
number of Moving Elements. The elements are not
processed and must be removed programmatically. |
 |
Process
Source
(Tbs2ProcessSource) |
Generates Moving
Elements at times specified according to a user
defined profile. |
 |
Process
Drain
(Tbs2ProcessDrain) |
Removes Moving
Elements from the simulation. |
Flow Based Components
The following Material Flow Components are available
to all of the above three categories:
 |
Flow
Router
(Tbs2FlowRouter) |
Introduces flexible
routing options in the Material Flow chain. |
 |
Frame
Link
(Tbs2FrameLink) |
Connects Simulation
Components in different Simulation Frames. |
| |
Entity
(Tbs2Entity) |
Represents a Moving
Element. |
| |
Container
(Tbs2Container) |
Represents a Moving
Element that can contain one or more Entities. |
 |
Sub
Node Cache Manager
(Tbs2SubNodeCacheManager) |
Used to cache Moving Elements
rather than destroying them. This reduces the overhead
of creating and destroying memory and therefore
can help to increase the run speeds of the models.
Benefits from the fully compiled simulation. |
Data Components
Data can be stored, manipulated and exported using
the following components:
 |
Data
Queue
(Tbs2DataQueue) |
First-in First-out
2-dimensional list. |
 |
Data
Stack
(Tbs2DataStack) |
Last-in first-out
2-dimensional list. |
 |
Data
Table
(Tbs2DataTable) |
Table structure
able to efficiently handle and store large amounts
of data. |
 |
DB
Data Queue
(Tbs2DBDataQueue) |
Database compatible
First-in First-out 2-dimensional list. |
 |
DB
Data Stack
(Tbs2DBDataStack) |
Database compatible
Last-in first-out 2-dimensional list. |
 |
DB
Data Table
(Tbs2DBDataTable) |
Database compatible
Table structure able to efficiently handle / store
large amounts of data. |
 |
Data
Manager
(Tbs2DataManager) |
Frame
Manager derivative that can be parameterised
to create and load in data into multiple Data
Tables. |
 |
DB
Data Manager
(Tbs2DBDataManager) |
Frame
Manager derivative that can be parameterised
to create and load in data into multiple database Data
Tables. |
 |
DB
Table DataSet
(Tbs2DBTableDataSet) |
Connects a baseSim DB Table
(or descendant) with the suite of standard Delphi
data-aware components. |
In addition baseSim can use the rich array of Database
Access Controls and storage mechanisms available through
Delphi.
Graphics
Other Managers
Miscellaneous
 |
Annotation
(Tbs2Annotation) |
Text Label (with
optional 'bullet point' image) that displays an
annotated hint window when clicked. |
 |
Distribution
Chart
(Tbs2DistributionChart) |
Used to display
the graphical representation of a Statistical Distribution's
density. |
 |
Experiment
View
(Tbs2ExperimentView) |
Displays hierarchical Scenario
and Replication information. |
 |
Frame
View
(Tbs2FrameView) |
Used to browse
the hierarchy of the Simulation Model (e.g. used
by the Model Browser). |
 |
Group
Box
(Tbs2GroupBox) |
Used to group a
number of Simulation Components or to partition
the Sim Panel. |
 |
Label
(Tbs2Label) |
Text Label. |
 |
Point
Grid
(Tbs2PointGrid) |
Used when mapping coordinates
of bit-mapped images. |
 |
Table
Grid
(Tbs2TableGrid) |
Used to display
the tabular information of Queues, Stacks or Tables. |
 |
Time
Display
(Tbs2TimeDisplay) |
Used to display
the 'SimulationTime' type as either decimal days
or as calendar days. |
 |
Variable
(Tbs2Variable) |
Visual Global Variable. |
baseSim Components (by Package)
Standard Package
The baseSim Standard Package contains all the components
necessary to develop powerful, standalone simulation
models. This includes the following components...
Professional Add-on Module
The baseSim Professional 'Add-on' contains extra components
to enhance the power of the baseSim Standard Package.
This includes components to extend connectivity, enhance
model experimentation and improve speed optimisation...
The Professional Package is available as an addition
to the baseSim Standard Package and is subject to an
additional cost.
This is a modular 'add-on' to baseSim Standard
and requires that baseSim Standard has already been
installed on the target computer.
Optimiser Add-on Module
The baseSim Optimiser 'Add-on' contains extra components
to enhance the power of the baseSim Standard Package.
This includes components to enhance model experimentation
capabilities...
The Optimiser Package is available as an addition
to the baseSim Standard Package and is subject to an
additional cost.
This is a modular 'add-on' to baseSim Standard
and requires that baseSim Standard has already been
installed on the target computer.
3DVRML Add-on Module
The baseSim 3DVRML 'Add-on' contains extra components
to enhance the graphical functionality of the baseSim
Standard Package. This combines OpenGL and VRML technology
to provide a 3D replacement interface to the current
2D Scene (or an addition to) and free-format 3D modelling
capabilities...
The 3DVRML Package is available as an addition to
the baseSim Standard Package and is subject to an additional
cost.
This is a modular 'add-on' to baseSim Standard
and requires that baseSim Standard has already been
installed on the target computer.
Application Add-on Module
The baseSim Application 'Add-on' contains extra components
to enhance the power of the baseSim Standard Package.
This includes components to enhance the User Interface...
The Application Package is available as an addition
to the baseSim Standard Package and is subject to an
additional cost.
This is a modular 'add-on' to baseSim Standard
and requires that baseSim Standard has already been
installed on the target computer.
More information on the different User Interfaces
may be viewed in the "Cost
of Ownership" White Paper.
Only
available in the Professional version
of baseSim.
 Only
available in the Optimiser version
of baseSim.
 Only
available in the 3DVRML version
of baseSim.
 Only
available in the Application version
of baseSim.
|
