If your Player file can be run, the Run Control toolbar will be active (i.e., it will not be grayed out) when you open the model:
The Run Control toolbar allows you to run, monitor, pause and step through the simulation in a controlled manner.
Pressing the Run button on the Run Control toolbar (second button from the left) starts a simulation:
Prior to running, the status bar (at the bottom of the window) is blue. Once the simulation is started, the status bar changes color (to pink) and "Running" is displayed on the left side of the bar:
Next to "Running", an estimate of the progress of the simulation (in terms of what fraction is currently complete) is displayed. The progress is displayed both as a percentage, and as a progress bar (on the right side of the status bar).
While the model is running, several buttons in the Run Control toolbar change: Run (the second button from the left) changes to Pause, and Reset (the first button from the left) changes to Stop):
The Pause button pauses the simulation. While a model is paused, you can view results, navigate through the model (if it is browsable), and modify inputs using the input controls. When a model is paused, the second button from the left changes back to Run:
When a model is paused, pressing the Run button resumes (restarts) the simulation from the point at which it was paused.
Pressing the Stop button at any time while a model is running (or paused), immediately aborts the simulation. If some Monte Carlo realizations have been completed when you abort, you will be prompted for whether you wish to save the results of the completed realizations, or discard them. If you choose to save the results, the completed realizations will be available for viewing.
The slider on the right-side of the Run Control toolbar can be used to artificially slow down a simulation. This is useful, for example, when viewing simple animations in a Dashboard in a model that otherwise would run very quickly.
Warning: By default, the slider is all the way to the right (Fast). If you want the simulation to run as quickly as possible, make sure that the slider stays in this position. If you move it to the left, the simulation will take longer!
The two buttons to the immediate left of the speed control slider allow you to step through a simulation one timestep or one realization A single model run within a Monte Carlo simulation. It represents one possible path the system could follow through time. at a time:
: Simulate one timestep
: Simulate one realization
If you press the button for simulating one timestep, the Player will complete the next timestep and then pause. If you press the button for simulating one realization, the Player will complete the next realization and then pause.
A small dialog will alert you when the simulation is complete. Click the OK button in this dialog (the only button) to view the results. After a simulation is complete, the model will be placed in Result Mode. The status bar turns green and "Results" is displayed on the left side:
After a simulation is complete, and the model contains results, the Player will not allow you to change any of the inputs via the input controls. In order to change inputs, you must first reset the model by pressing the Reset button (first button from the left):
You can also reset the model by pressing F4. This clears all of the results and allows you to change input controls and start a new simulation. Pressing any of the other buttons in the Run Control toolbar also resets the model (and starts a new simulation).