Feature Pack 3 for Studio 8 released

Feature Pack 3 for Powersim Studio 8 is now ready for download.

Download the latest Service Release / Feature Pack for Studio 8 here.

Feature Pack 3 for Studio 8 Modelling tools and Studio 8 End user tools

Feature Pack 3 is launched and we are happy to share a list of numerous new features. The list below will give you an overview impression.

• Dynamic Ranges (Enterprise)
• Database Dataset updates (Enterprise)
• Conceptual changes and Ease of Use
• Statistical functions
• Run Range

Read the full list of Conceptual changes, New Features, Improvements and Bug Fixes.

Download your Feature Pack 3 today* or try out the new features within a new copy of the Studio 8 Demo first.

*You may download Feature Pack if you have a paid SUA. If you do not have SUA, the download will provide you with all improvements and bug fixes. We recommend that you update your software to the latest Service Release.

Dynamic Ranges

Yes, it is true; ranges that adapt automatically to the needs of the end user of a model. There are several new types of ranges added to Studio 8 related to this feature.

You may create a dynamic array and give control over the elements within it to the end user of the model. Please read more details in our previous news article, which also refers to a demonstration video.

If you have a high number of data items, it would make sense to utilize a Dynamic Excel Range (XLRANGE) and read the data from an Excel file. When adding new items to the range in Excel and then saving, the simulation model would be updated with additional elements and their corresponding imported data values.

This functionality will only be available in Studio 8 Enterprise and its companion product Studio 8 Executive.

Conceptual changes and Ease of Use

Using snapshots in model diagrams have caused many users to be confused. Why would the first variable in the diagram always look like the original?

Now this concept is improved by shortcuts and slices, where the user can always decide to show a variable as a shortcut. If the user wants to define a variable partially in one location and partially in another location, this is still possible and will be visualized by Powersim Studio with a slice indicator to show that the variable is defined in two (or more) places.

It will only be possible to change the equation in the variable itself, or if sliced, in any of the variable slices. Variable shortcuts will now only show the equation, not give access to change it there.

All copy and include schemes are updated accordingly, making it easier to keep clean diagrams and to have control of where a variable actually is defined. Also, in relation to this, the 'Include Variable Tool' button now show all variables that is defined in the model but not shown in any diagram.

Database Dataset updates

Enumerated ranges can now be defined as 'Free-text enumeration ranges' allowing for many special characters to be included in the element names. This is particular useful when working with Database Datasets where you no longer have to specify an auto-mapping language.

Several features concerning the Database Dataset have been improved and fixed. When loading or saving large amounts of external data, progress information is shown. Also the connection window shows additional information for database connections. For the list of fixes, please refer to the full feature list.

Statistical functions

Powersim Studio 8 now supports several new statistical functions:

• Normal Cumulative Distribution or Probability Density - NORMDIST. The NORMDIST function calculates the cumulative distribution function or the probability density (mass) function for a normal (Gaussian) distribution. The Cumulative parameter determines which of the two function forms that is used.
• Inverse of the Normal Cumulative Distribution - NORMINV. The NORMINV function returns the inverse of the cumulative normal (Gaussian) distribution for a given probability.
• Triangular Cumulative Distribution or Probability Density - TRIANGULARDIST. The TRIANGULARDIST function calculates the cumulative distribution function or the probability density (mass) function for a triangular distribution. The Cumulative parameter determines which of the two function forms that is used.
• Inverse of the Triangular Cumulative Distribution - TRIANGULARINV. The TRIANGULARINV function returns the inverse of the cumulative triangular distribution for a given probability.

Run Range

If you want to run many simulations and save the result for a couple of key variables by the end of each run, use the new range RUNRANGE. It will then automatically update according to the setting of number of simulations in the Run Control tab of Simulation Settings.

• To run a multi-run simulation, you can define a RUNRANGE which has equally many elements as number of runs set up.
• Apply that range to key variables to save results from each simulation run.Use a chart graph object to analyze the the results and compare values between runs in an easy way.