Editing Process Modules

Open the Process module by double-clicking.

You can change the name of the module by editing the Name field.

Next, the user must specify the Logic of the Process module by choosing the type of Action. There are several Action options available to the user. These are Delay, Seize Delay, Seize Delay Release and Delay Release and appropriately apply to different logic situations (See Arena help for more details). In some cases the user will needs to Add a resource to be seized (however Arena will prompt you to do this).

The user must also define several other properties of the Process module. The Delay type refers to which distribution is to be used to delay a resource and the user can select from five different distributions. Mimimum, Maximum and Most Likely values must also be defined for the distrubtion and the units must be specified. The user must also define the Allocation for the distribution (See Arena help for more details).

Next, the user must choose the type of Action to be taken in the Logic area to be Seize Delay Release. This means that the data will seize the link (so it can be transmitted), there will be a delay while the data is using the link and then the link will be released for other data to use it.

You will also have to Add a resource to be seized. In this case simply define a Link resource and set the Quantity to be 1 (only one link is needed to transmit the data).

Finally, the default Delay Type is triangular so you only need to adjust the Units and Minimum, Value and Maximum. However, you can change the Delay Type and setting it to Expression will enable you to use other distributions to describe the delay.

The attached flash movie shows how to edit Process modules:

You may want to alter the queue animation associated with the Process module by lengthening it (click on the queue and drag its left end - if you hold down the Shift key the able is fixed to horizontal, vertical or 45 degrees diagonal).

-- MichaelOSullivan - 18 Aug 2009