Status Indicator

The status indicator is an Interface layer object that you can use to provide information about the status of key outputs in your simulation model.  You can configure a status indicator to display as a simple lamp, or as a speedometer-type gauge.  In either case, the indicator will light up using green, yellow, or a flashing red color to indicate the status of the key output.  As you create the status indicator, you can set a range of values for green, yellow, or red display.  Status Indicators thus are an excellent mechanism for telling users of your models the status of the system at a glance.

 
Surface Operations

To create a Status Indicator, click once to select the icon from the object palette.  Move the cursor to the desired location on the interface layer, and click to deposit the device. Double-click on the object to enter its define dialog.  The default dialog looks something like what you see in Figure 6-73.

 
Dialog Operations

Within the dialog, there are three basic tasks.  First, you need to determine whether to display the indicator as a lamp, or as a speedometer..  Second, you need to assign a variable to the indicator   Finally, you need to configure the device.

Figure 6-73
Status Indicator Dialog Box

 

Lamp vs. Speedometer Display: Within the dialog, your first decision is whether to display the indicator as a lamp or as a speedometer gauge. The default display option for the status indicator is a lamp. The lamp indicator will be displayed as a smallish circle.  The lamp will use color only -- green, yellow, or flashing red -- to report out the status of the assigned variable.  If you uncheck the "Show as Lamp" checkbox within the dialog, the indicator will be displayed as a speedometer-like instrument.  The speedometer shows the magnitude of the assigned variable using both a needle gauge and color.  In our experience, Lamps do an excellent job of letting users know whether there is a problematic behavior in the model.  They also do an excellent job of conserving screen real estate.  Speedometer gauges, on the other hand, provide a bit more data to the user at the cost of a larger amount of screen real estate.  

 

Assigning a variable to the Device: To assign a variable to the status indicator, double-click on its name in the Allowable list.  Or select the variable name and click the >> button. When you do, the variable will be loaded to the selected list.  In addition, as indicated in Figure 6-73, the bottom half of the dialog will become chockablock full of controls and options.  You'll use these controls and options to configure the indicator.

 

Configuring the Indicator:  Once you've determined whether to display the indicator as a Lamp or as a speedometer, and you have assigned a variable to the indicator, you need to configure the it.  There's lots to do here, but fortunately, the basic process is very straightforward.  Here's what you need to do:

As you work through the configuration process for each zone, think carefully about the manner in which zones are associated with model performance.  For example, low cash values might engender "panic."  On the other hand, low levels of toxic waste in groundwater might be a very "green" thing to have while high levels of waste might imply a "panic" display.  In setting up status indicator, context is key!

Figure 6-75
Status Indicator Display Options