Simplify changes to all areas of your model by creating a ProcessModel custom interface. This article walks you through the process and provides a template to make your work easy.
Why create a ProcessModel custom interface?
For latest instructions, checkout How to Create an Interface.All of the reasons that follow are really about providing a simple way of making changes to many parts of a complex model. The changes can all be made in one place and put into a format the user will understand. Below are the reasons we have used a ProcessModel custom interface:
- Use a model as a sales support tool, even when the operator lacks training in ProcessModel.
- Do repeated analysis to the same model, where the changes are complex.
- Allow managers to experiment with a “Sand Box” model without any ProcessModel training.
- Isolate the guts of a model so the end user can’t destroy detailed logic.
- Make changes to multiple levels of a hierarchical model.
- Change complex formulas or distributions by making the entry form understandable.
How difficult is it to Build a ProcessModel Custom Interface?
You don’t have to know VBA and you don’t even have to be good at Excel to create an interface. A simple ProcessModel custom interface can be developed in about three minutes. That means you can take several factors needing adjustment, link them to ProcessModel and show the interface working in under three minutes! Does this sound like an exaggeration? It’s not. We timed it. We did all of the hard work by creating Excel template used to control the process. You just have to use our template (which is free to registered users). See how it’s done and get all the tools you need in the remainder of this article.
Why is a ProcessModel Custom interface Important?
Make a distribution easily changeable by anyone. For example, if a percentage changed for 5 known entries, you could develop a simple table that would only allow the percentages to change while showing the total of all percentages entered. The values could be turned into the D5 distribution automatically. ProcessModel would see the distribution but the user would only see the table. The example below shows the percentage samples requiring a known amount of time to test. The percentages change for each customer but the times are fixed.
D5(20,3.1,20,6,20,7.8,13,9.3,27,10.8)
ProcessModel D5 distribution to be imported.
The distribution shown above is not difficult to create, but could be a possible source of errors, frustration and delay if the changes were to be made many times. The table is very simple to understand and can easily be error proofed. For example in Excel, the percentages can be checked continuously and turn red if the sum is not 100. The export can even be stopped if the user ignores the the warning.
Implement Error checking. Mass imports will be pushed to ProcessModel irrespective of validity. If the entries are incorrectly formatted then you could introduce errors into many parts of your model in a fraction of a second. Error checking allows every entry to be verified before moving to the import stage. This also provides an opportunity to make sure entries are within reasonable guideline. Excel has all the tools necessary to error check entries. If you get stuck, give us a call we have loads of experience in error proofing entries.
Add menus and dependent entries. All features available in Excel can be used to create menus that only appear when certain selections are made. These Excel features can add “intelligence” to the ProcessModel custom interface.
Steps to Create a ProcessModel Custom Interface
There are a lot of steps and pictures included below. Many of the steps are done on any model. They have been included here so that you have a walk through from start to finish.
Create a validated and verified model.
Save this model to a “fresh” Directory. It is important to create a home for your model, export file and interface so as to not confuse the linking process with other files. The easiest way to do this is to create a new directory and place all the files you will need into this new directory.
Place the ProcessModel Custom Interface Template in the same directory as the model.
This file is supplied free of charge in the model object library (under Arrivals \ Create an Interface) and is ready to use without requiring any VBA changes. If you don’t have access to update the model objects, contact support and ask for the ProcessModel Custom Interface Template.
Insert scenario parameters and replace the field values of all entries needing changes.
Scenario parameters are used because they are simply “text replacements” in the model. Scenario parameters can be used to change almost anything, from run length to activity time or from action logic to quantity of resources. You can set attributes and variables and much more. This use of scenario parameters means we can simplify the transfer process for you. If you are not familiar with adding a scenario parameter, the steps are included below:
Create a scenario parameter.
Replace a field value with the scenario parameter name.
Export the model to Excel and Copy the scenario names and values.
From the Tools menu select Export Data. Save time and avoid overwriting data by deselecting all areas of export. Scenarios will export by default.
Select OK and the information will export and open Excel. From Excel, select the scenarios tab.
Select all the cells containing scenario names and values and copy (Control + C).
Open the ProcessModel Customer Interface Template and paste the columns in the temp1 tab
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