Please refer to the Extend manual for complete instructions for using Extend.
• Running a model:
Load a model file using "Open..." in the "File" menu.
If the notebook is used, change parameters and view results there. Otherwise double-click the blocks to open their dialog boxes and change parameters, then run the simulation using the Run menu. The length of time a simulation is run can be changed in the Simulation Setup dialog of the Run menu. Simulations can be stopped with Command-Period (Macintosh) or CTRL-Period (Windows).
To change axis values in a plotter block: click on the axis limit values and titles on the plot pane, or use the autoscale tools at the top of the plot pane.
• Building a model:
Start with a New Model from the File menu. To place a block on your model worksheet, pulldown the Library menu, select Open Library, and find a library to open. Then select a block from the open library and it will be placed on your worksheet. Position the block where appropriate.
Connect blocks by clicking on one of the block's small rectangular output connectors, then drag the mouse to another block's input connector. (Output connectors are darker than input connectors). The block's help button, located in the bottom scrollbar of the block's dialog, explains what each input and output connector means and gives details concerning the block's operation.
To enter text on the worksheet, use the text tool (A) in the toolbar or double-click on the worksheet and type. To delete a block, select the block and choose Clear from the Edit menu or use the backspace or delete key. You can copy/paste blocks from one part of the model to another; copying includes the values entered in the block’s dialog.
Discrete event models must have an Executive block from the Discrete Event library at the far left on the model worksheet.
• Creating Hierarchical Blocks:
Select a group of blocks and choose the Make Selection Hierarchical menu command in the Model menu. This will group blocks into a Hierarchical block which can be opened by double-clicking it. You can also use the New Hierarchical Block command in the Model menu to create an empty hierarchical block.
• Modifying Hierarchical Block Icons:
Option-double-click (Macintosh) or ALT-double-click (Windows) the hierarchical block to modify its icon or add connectors.
• Creating or Modifying Blocks:
Blocks are created using two windows: a dialog window and a structure window. The dialog window is where a block's dialog box is created. The structure window is where a block's icon and on-line help is created, and where the behavior of the block is programmed.
To access an existing block’s dialog and structure windows, select the block and use the “Open Block Structure” command in the define menu or option-double-click (Macintosh) or ALT-double-click (Windows) the block. You may also choose Open Library Window at the top of a library menu, then double-click the block in the library window. To build a new block, use the Build New Block command in the Define menu.
When editing a block's dialog window, clicking once on a dialog item selects it for re-sizing or moving. Double-clicking on the item opens it for editing its type and its script variable name. Variable names can be used in the script to input and output values from and to the dialog box. To get new dialog items, use the Define menu.
Pictures for a block's icon can be pasted into the icon pane within the Structure window.
For more information about creating or modifying blocks, see the "ModL Language" and other ModL help topics, and/or Option-double-click (Macintosh) or ALT-double-click (Windows) on some Extend blocks to see how their behavior was scripted.
