Converters

Purpose: The converter serves a utilitarian role in the software. It holds values for constants, defines external inputs to the model, calculates algebraic relationships, and serves as the repository for graphical functions. In general, it converts inputs into outputs. Hence, the name "converter."

 
Selection and Placement:

 
Surface Operations:
Figure 4-18 details surface operations which may be performed on a converter.

Figure 4-18
Converter Surface Operations

 
Mapping Dialog Operations
: When you open a converter in the Mapping mode, you'll enter its Mapping dialog. Figure 4-19 details the operations within this dialog.

Figure 4-19
Converter Dialog - Mapping Mode

 
Modeling Dialog Operations:
In the modeling mode, the converter dialog provides a wealth of additional capabilities. Figure 4-20 shows the converter modeling dialog when inputs have been drawn.

Figure 4-20

Converter Dialog - Modeling Mode - Inputs Drawn to Converter

 
Summer Converter:

The Summer Converter dialog is only available when there are no inputs drawn into the converter.  The summer converter enables you to add together a set of model variables, without the need of drawing inputs to the converter. This special converter type can be exceedingly helpful when you are creating summary report indices and the like. See Figure 4-21.

Figure 4-21
Summer Converter Dialog - No Inputs

 
Special Note:
Graphical Functions

The Become Graph button at the lower left of the dialog enables you to define the converter as a graphical function. Graphical functions also may be defined from within a flow dialog. A graphical function is a sketch of a relationship between some input (which itself can be an algebraic relationship defined from the Required Inputs list and/or Builtins list) and an output. Once the input has been defined in the equation box, a click on Become Graph leads you to the graphical function define dialog.

Your tasks within the graphical function dialog are straightforward:

Figure 4-22
Graphical Function Dialog

Notes:

Figure 4-23
Graphical Function in Discontinuous Mode

See Also