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Run a simulation

Create a simulation project, run it, and keep the results.

Prerequisites​

  • Simulation enabled for the platform — it's on by default; see Simulation.
  • Creating a simulation project, editing simulation properties, and saving results require a license that can create and edit web diagrams — see the license capability matrix. Running an existing project and exporting its results to a file work for anyone who can open it.
  • A network that allows WebSocket connections.

Steps​

Create a simulation project​

Start from scratch:

  1. In the repository tree, go to the folder that should hold the project.
  2. Select Add object and choose the type Simulation Project. The project is created with an empty diagram inside it — open the diagram and draw the process.

Or start from an existing diagram:

  1. Open the diagram and make sure it's checked in — the simulation copies the last checked-in version, so changes made since the last check-in don't carry over.
  2. Select Main Menu and choose Create Simulation Project. A new project named after the diagram is created, holding a copy of it.

The diagram's Main Menu with the Create Simulation Project command.

Define the simulation behavior​

  1. In the project's diagram, click Properties in the simulator toolbar. The Simulation Properties window opens.
    • With nothing selected, it shows model-level properties — run length, resources, variables, schedules, scenarios. See Simulation properties.
    • With a shape selected, it shows that shape's properties — generator, task duration, required resources, outputs. See Simulation shape properties.
    • With a connector line selected, you can give the transition a duration.
  2. Make sure at least one shape generates cases — select the shape where work enters the process, and on the Generator tab turn on Generate Here.

Fix problems​

If the model has invalid parameters, the Simulation Problems dialog lists them, and a Problems button appears in the simulator toolbar to reopen it.

The Simulation Problems dialog listing an error from the last simulation run.

  • Items with a red error icon stop the simulation — you can't run while current errors exist.
  • Items with a yellow warning icon let the run proceed but can produce unexpected results.
  • Most items carry a navigation icon or link that takes you to the affected shape or property. Some model-wide ones (for example, no active generators in a process) have nothing to navigate to.
  • The Current tab lists problems in the model right now; the Last Simulation tab lists what the previous run reported.

Run the simulation​

Click Run in the simulator toolbar. The run executes for the time or case count set on the Run Setup tab, and the Simulation Statistics window opens with the results.

To run every defined scenario in one go, use Run all scenarios — see Simulation properties.

Watch it in trace mode​

Click Run in traceTrace The ordered sequence of activities executed for a single case. Grouping cases by identical traces produces variants. mode to watch cases move through the diagram instead of jumping straight to results.

A simulation running in trace mode, with playback controls and the speed slider in the toolbar.

  • Play, Pause, Step, Stop, and Finish control playback; the Speed slider runs from slow to fast.
  • The CasesCase A single instance of a process — for example, one customer order, invoice, or support ticket. An event log groups events by case ID. and Resources panels show what each case and resource is doing at the current moment.
  • To pause automatically when a case reaches a shape, set a pausepoint on that shape.

Save or export the results​

When a run finishes, the Simulation Statistics window offers:

  • Save Results Object — saves the run as a Simulation Results object inside the simulation project, named whatever you enter (with an optional summary). Saved runs are what the project comparison view reads.
  • Export results — downloads the statistics as an Excel or JSON file. All statistics are always included, regardless of which columns are visible.
  • Export case log — available when Log cases was on for the run; downloads per-case activityActivity A named step in a process (e.g. "Approve Invoice"). Each event in an event log records one activity occurrence for one case. data as Excel or JSONL, ready for analysis in a spreadsheet or Process MiningProcess Mining A discipline that uses event data recorded by enterprise systems to discover, monitor, and improve real business processes — revealing how work actually flows rather than how it was designed..
tip

CaseCase A single instance of a process — for example, one customer order, invoice, or support ticket. An event log groups events by case ID. identifiers change when a case splits into a family. For case-log analysis that needs one stable ID per original case, create a CaseCase A single instance of a process — for example, one customer order, invoice, or support ticket. An event log groups events by case ID.-scope variable (for example CaseID) and assign it at the generator shape from a Model-scope counter you increment on each generated case.

A variable assignment that stamps each generated case with a unique CaseID.

Compare runs​

  1. Save the runs you want to compare into the project.
  2. Open the Simulation Project object. Its Simulation Project tab lists every saved run with key statistics, and Add Statistic lets you add columns.
  3. Pick the run to measure against in the Baseline Run dropdown. Each other run shows its percentage change from the baseline, colored green or red with an up or down arrow. Hover over a column header and open its menu (three vertical dots) to tell the comparison whether higher or lower values are better. The same menu changes the decimal places or removes the statistic.
  4. Select Compare with baseline run on a run to see what changed in the diagram between the two runs, or Download comparison table to export the comparison.

The Simulation Project tab comparing saved runs against the baseline run.

Verify​

  • The run finishes and the Simulation Statistics window shows case counts and times on its Processes and Activities tabs.
  • A saved run appears as a Simulation Results object inside the simulation project, and on the project's Simulation Project tab.

Troubleshooting​