The Simulate Tab

The simulate tab allows you to simulate your schedule. The tab includes standard animation style controls that enable you to set the simulation to any date within your schedule. Objects attached to each Task are hidden or highlighted as specified by the Task Type appearance definitions on the Configure tab.

Playing back a simulation

1. You can use the slide bar to quickly move forwards and backwards through the simulation. Full left is at the beginning and full right is at the end. The date box below the playback controls shows the point in time through the simulation. You can click on the drop down icon (to the right of the date) to display a calendar, from which you can select a date to 'jump' to.

2. Use the playback controls to step and play forwards and backwards through the animation:

   • Rewind will rewind the simulation back to the beginning.

   • Step Back will step back a single step size (see >Setting the step size for more information).

   • Reverse Play will play the simulation backwards.

   • Pause will pause the simulation at the time you press it at. You can then look around and interrogate the model, or step forwards and backwards through the simulation. To continue playing from where you paused, just press Play again.

   • Stop will stop the simulation playing and rewind back to the beginning.

   • Play will play the simulation from the currently selected time.

   • Step Forwards will step forwards a single step size (see >Setting the step size for more information).

   • Forward will fast forward the simulation to the end.

The simulate tab also shows all Active Tasks at the current simulation time and how close to completion they are (Progress , displayed as a percentage). The Status of each active tasks is also displayed as an icon. For simulations where Planned and Actual dates are available, the status provides a visual representation as to whether there is any variance between the planned and actual dates. See >TimeLiner task status for a definition of each status icon.

The Comments control bar can be used to view any comments attached to an active task (see the section called "Commenting" in the chapter called "Reviewing" in the JetStream Roamer book for more information on commenting).

While the simulate tab is in use, by default the current simulation date is overlayed on the main window. The information displayed can be customized using the Overlay Text Dialog accessed using the Settings button.

You can use a pre-recorded animation (created in JetStream Roamer) to dynamically change the viewpoint during simulation. See the Simulation Settings section for more information.