Very Large Models and Exporting Complex Data

Hi,

The more I use Flexsim, the more impressed with it I become , however the data access capability and the 32-bit memory access ceiling are serious limitations as model size and complexity grows .

The main issue with the data access is that only one database and one text file can be open at any single time. Most complex models are already reading from multiple tables within a database to run the simulation, and therefore the issue of where to write the developed data arises.

While text files can be used, since only one file can be open at a time, then exporting data to text files quickly creates very complex file structures (e.g. for every date, a line is needed to write data from a single operation, many operations leads to many lines per date, many dates leads to massive files), that need a dedicated post processor. Brandon Peterson has shown the way to manage this with the following post http://www.flexsim.com/community/for...read.php?t=577

Is there any chance of developing the capability to have two databases open (i.e. one for input data and one for output data)?

Alternatively can you develop the capability to have many text files open (e.g. >10), so that each one is then a csv table?

Finally, is there some chance in the future to develop a 64-bit version, so the memory limitation goes away?

I think Flexsim is excellent software, which is well-designed, but developing the capability to write to two databases or many text files would really open it up to much larger models, running for much longer times (e.g. hourly basis for twenty years).

Keep up the good work.

Thanks

Brett

Flexsim is very well suited to be linked with a C++ DLL. That gives you unlimited possibilities. For instance with writing to different files, you can simply create an array (or vector) with pointers to the different files and keep these open until you stop or reset your model.

For databases it should be about as easy but maybe the express edition might miss some base functionality for that.

Originally Posted by brett forbes

Finally, is there some chance in the future to develop a 64-bit version, so the memory limitation goes away?

Yes. The next version of FlexSim will be available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Originally Posted by Steven Hamoen

Flexsim is very well suited to be linked with a C++ DLL. That gives you unlimited possibilities. For instance with writing to different files, you can simply create an array (or vector) with pointers to the different files and keep these open until you stop or reset your model.

For databases it should be about as easy but maybe the express edition might miss some base functionality for that.

Hi Steven,

Thanks for your excellent suggestion about writing to different files with an array of different file pointers and a C++ DLL.

Is there any chance someone could write a detailed post showing how to accomplish this?
Unfortunately, it is a bit advanced for my meagre skills.

It sounds like an excellent suggestion, and makes me wish I was a better, more experienced programmer.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Brett

Start with connecting to a dll:
http://www.flexsim.com/community/for...read.php?t=382

Once you have achieved that come back and we can point you to the file stuff (or post an example)

Originally Posted by brett forbes

Hi Steven,
Unfortunately, it is a bit advanced for my meagre skills.

It sounds like an excellent suggestion, and makes me wish I was a better, more experienced programmer.

Unfortunately the only way to get more experienced and advanced is practice

Hi Steven,

Thanks for the pointer.

I'd actually opened that post right after reading your reply, and am planning on giving it a go.

I hope to get back to you at some stage.

Thanks again

Brett

Hi there all,

I still would like to learn more about about writing to different files with an array of different file pointers and a C++ DLL if there is anyone up to teach?
I have sucessfully linked a dll now with a timeprocessor example I found in other post but I still not sure how to proceed with arrays and pointers...

Thanks