Visualizing Activities with Simulations

Any of the SysML Activity diagrams in your models  can be simulated using the built-in dynamic model Simulator. This provides a compelling way of visualizing the diagrams and is useful for running demonstrations or walk-throughs with the user and others in the engineering community.

Using the Model Simulator, you can simulate the execution of conceptual model designs containing behavior. When you start a Simulation, the current model Package is analyzed and a dynamic Simulation process spawned to execute the model. As the Simulator analyzes and works with UML constructs directly, there is no requirement to generate intermediary code or compile simulation 'executables'. This results in a very rapid and dynamic simulation environment in which changes can be made and tested very rapidly.

Simulation Window

The Simulation window provides the main interface for starting, stopping and stepping through your Simulation. During execution it displays output relating to the currently executing step and other important information. See the Run Model Simulation Help topic for more information on the toolbar commands.

Note the text entry box just underneath the toolbar. This is the Console input area - here you can type simple JavaScript commands such as: this.count = 4; to dynamically change a Simulation variable named 'count' to 4. In this way you can dynamically influence simulation at run-time.

Breakpoints and Events Window

The Simulation process also makes use of the 'Simulation Breakpoints' tab of the Breakpoints & Markers window ('Simulate > Dynamic Simulation > Breakpoints'). Here you set execution breakpoints on specific elements and messages in a Simulation. See the Simulation Breakpoints Help topic for more details.

Simulation Events Window

The Simulation Events window ('Simulate > Dynamic Simulation > Events') provides tools to manage and execute triggers. Triggers are used to control the execution of StateMachine transitions.