Simulator - defining process instances

Cecilia,

Why don't you just make a loop from your end event to an XOR rule following your start event?

Regards

Ivo

Hi Ivo,

my understanding is that Simulator starts an instance according to the Schedule. Would the XOR rule be able to dictate a Process Instance to start? Or get a Function to start the Process Instance?

- unless I have misunderstood?

Thanks.

Regards,

Cecilia

Well, simulation starts according to the start event(s). In case you have frequency of that start event, this is what rules instances, in case you have a Schedule with process instantiation plan, the time, number of instances and period is taken from there. But in any case it could be started by an event which could show instance of a proceeding activity that has finished. So, in your case, if you put a start time for your starting event and select 1 instance and then follow with an XOR rule (in case of EPC and the appropriate gateway in case of BPMN, I haven't tested that though) and join your end event (s) with this XOR rule then the first instance will be according to the schedule of the start event and every next instance - after any of the end events has occurred.

The only drawback of this solution is that the process will never stop by itself. It will stop when the simulation period has finished. But I think that would be good enough in most of the cases.

Let me know if this helps.

Ivo

thanks, I'll give that a test - will have to draw out a separate testing model as the process logic is quite different with use of XOR rule.

good idea tho, will let you know how I go :)

Hi,

I think this will not work! At least if you are interested in detailed statistics about the processes. You you use a loop which alwways will lead back to the beginning of the process then you will not have different process instances but only one!

As mentioned above you have the possibilty to create instances by

• the frequency attribute
• by a process instantiation

There's no way to start instances depending on the number of running instances.

If you will find such solution then let me know!

Regards

Ralf Werner

hmmm, good point there Ralf. I'll forever be simulating a single one process instance...

Hmm..  Comparing to Toolset simulation, it does seem like functionality has become much more limited, unless I'm missing something?

Hi Cecilia,

Did you find a solution to this problem?  I've just encountered it myself.

Rgds

Dieter

No, I couldn't get around that. My instantiation plan instantiates everything at beginning... I rely on the second Event to get an understanding of when a particular instance begins its execution.

A few tips also. To ensure the Process instance travels from absolute start to absolute finish, you'll need to make sure the Organisation object is 'committed' to the Function at all points, as well as setting the 'priority' for the first Event lower than all other Events. Priority setting is important to ensure the process instance continues the rest of the process from where it left off when the break last interrupted.

what's Toolset simulation?

Hi Cecilia,

Thanks.

Toolset is the "old" ARIS Business Architect equivalent that was based on the Windows platform rather than Java.  I have used that for simulation, but for obvious reasons am migrating across to Business Architect.  Trying to get my old simulations to run in the same way is proving to be a significant challenge, though.

Rgds