Design/CPN is a graphical computer tool supporting the practical use of CP-nets. The tool supports the construction, simulation, and functional and performance analysis of CPN models. The tool is used by more than four hundred organisations in forty different countries - including one hundred commercial companies. It is available free of charge, also for commercial use.
This paper provides a comprehensive road map to the practical use of CP-nets and the Design/CPN tool. We give an informal introduction to the basic concepts and ideas underlying CP-nets. The key components and facilities of the Design/CPN tool are presented and their use illustrated. The paper is self-contained and does not assume any prior knowledge of Petri nets and CP-nets nor any experience with the Design/CPN tool.
Keywords: Introduction to CP-nets, Simulation, State spaces, Occurrence graphs, CP-nets with time, Hierarchical CP-nets, Tool support, Application, General.