Design/CPN Online

How to use the new simulation engine

This page describes how to install and use the new simulation engine now available for Design/CPN.

The new simulation engine is used for automatic simulations, i.e fast simulations with no visual feedback of the token game. Manual simulations and generation of occurrence graphs are still done by means of the old simulation engine which remains part of the Design/CPN tool.

How to install

As working installation of Design/CPN version 4.0.3 is required to use the new simulator. In the following <cpn> will refer to the installation directory, and <arch> to the installation platform (one of linux, solaris, hpux and irix).
  1. Change the current directory to <cpn>
  2. Move the new simulator archive to <cpn>: 
             mv DesignCPN-NewSim-4.0.3-<arch>.tar.Z <cpn>
  3. Unpack the archives: 
             uncompress DesignCPN-NewSim-4.0.3-<arch>.tar.Z
         tar xvof DesignCPN-NewSim-4.0.3-<arch>.tar
    This will create the following files: 
             cpn.newsim.ML.<arch>
         README.newsim (this file)

How to use

To enable the new simulation engine, the tool has to be started with the -newsim argument: 
   <cpn>/cpn -newsim
To switch to the new simulation engine, two steps are required:
  1. In the 'ML Configuration Options' dialog, available from the 'Set' menu, change the ML image to <cpn>cpn.newsim.ML
  2. Select the 'Enter NewSim' entry from the 'File' menu.
Now the tool will switch to the new simulation engine, making it possible to do automatic simulations from the 'Sim' menu.

NOTE: Entering the new simulator is a one-way switch. When returning to the editor, the diagram will be closed discarding any unsaved changes.

How to report problems

Bugs and problems in the new simulator are reported the same way as with the regular version, i.e. by filling out a bug report form or by emailing Design/CPN Support. Either way, please clearly state that the problem regards the new simulator.

Known problems

  • Incorrect ML image
    When entering the new simulator with the ML image set to a image of the old simulation engine, the tool will either hang or crash.

  • Automatic simulations can't be stopped
    The entry 'Stop' in the 'Sim' menu is currently without effect. A simulation will only stop when there are no more enabled transitions or a stop criteria is satisfied.
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