Parametric Model - How to Build Complex Model?

[Mr.Scott]

Hi - I am working on building a simulation to understand what the total processing time will be for N processes that run, some of which will be parallel and some dependency driven.  I would like to have a parametric model for each process and one that chains all of the processes together.  I know how to create individual parametric models.  But, how do you link constraint blocks to one another or the outputs of one to another's input?

I tried creating a property (of a constraint block) per a process in 1 diagram but that would not be manageable given the # of processes and different inputs.  Is there a good resource (cookbook, tutorial) that explains how to setup complex parametric models?

[Mr.Scott]

A little more detail.  I am trying to create a simulation of a series of batch jobs that will run nightly.  some jobs will be scheduled for a specific time; others will be dependency driven (1 or more dependencies).  The goal is for the simulation to (a) identify the critical path of the jobs, (b) the duration for each job and (c) the duration for all jobs.

Here is what I have done thus far:
(1) Created a <<constraintBlock>> JobConstraint (in the Library/ConstraintBlocks' package with the following properties:
    (a) startTime
    (b) volume
    (c) throughputPerSec
    (d) duration
    (e) endTime
(2) Added a formula to compute 'duration' and 'endTime'
      duration=volume/throughput
      endTime = startTime + duration;
(3) Created a 'BlockDefinition' diagram
      Created a constraintBlock job1
      Created a parametric diagram for jobs 1 with a property of JobConstraint
      Created a properties to define input and output values.
      Run a simulation outputting the simulation

I have created a <<Block>> with a property for volume and throughput and set default values to these properties.  I tried dropping the block onto the parametric diagram and connecting the block's property to the job1.property (ex. BlockA.volume --> job1.volume).  If I run simuation, the default value of BlockA.volume is not passed into the contraint block.  I have the option to set a value for BlockA.volume in the simulation window and it still doesn't work.  Has anyone got this to work?

[Gary]

I have seen parametric diagrams simulated, so I know it can be done. The one demonstrated to me was created by Phil Chudley showing a ballistics example. He posts on here so he should be able to help you.

Gary