Start the Executable File
The whole of the McCann simulation tool software is in one executable file. No installation is needed.
It operates under Microsoft Windows, XP-SP2, SP3 and, I hope, later versions.
All you need to do is unZIP the McSimAPN.ZIP file into some convenient folder (directory).
Then double click on the file name (McSimAPN3.exe) and it will come up, full screen, ready to go in a few milliseconds. You can have several copies running at once if that helps.
Drag and Drop
It also works with "Drag and Drop". Drag the icon for a text file over the icon for McSimAPN3 and it will start up, using the text file as input to define a model. It helps if the text file was one saved by McSimAPN3 or one of the example files!
The parser in McSimAPN looks for designated lines so anything that doesn't look right is ignored. Files can be created using Excel, or even by hand, but it's generally simpler to use the saved files and saved files can be edited in any text editor. See the help file about creating models.
Multiple Models
You can run several copies of McSimAPN at the same time, but it isn't clever enough (yet) to do "cut and paste" from one to another. Sorry!
What you see
The screen starts blank, except for a column of green blocks down the left hand side.
McSimAPN is a block structured modelling tool (intended to be like an analogue computer)
where the blocks are linked together to form a network of dynamic components to simulate
the real world system (prototype) of interest. The more powerful (and expensive) SIMULINK software that comes with MATLAB works this way.
These green blocks make available the internal system parameters that define the running (timing and some scaling) of the simulation. They are apparently "constants" but McSimAPN keeps them updated as the model runs.
Along the bottom of the window is a row of buttons for controlling the simulation and two versions of the simulation clock.
The first clock display is time of day, the second is seconds or whatever you decide are your independent variable units. If it's not seconds, then the time of day clock isn't much use.
Control Buttons
The [Graph?] button lets you chose whether or not to show any graphing of results you have defined. The Graphs block (oscilloscope) is used to provide the links into the model for graphing.
The [RUN] button starts the simulation going or makes it continue. If RUN has been selected the [ENTER} keyboard key will repeat it to create a continuously running process. When running this button becomes a [HOLD] button to freeze (hold) the simulation. I did it this way so that I don't have to move the mouse to do quick stops and starts. It's also like the master toggle control button for some electrical equipment.
The [STEP] button moves the simulation on one time step at a time. If selected the [ENTER} keyboard key will repeat it to create a slow runnig process
The [RESET] button brings everything back to initial conditions as defined in the parameters for relevant blocks. It also invokes a first evaluation of all Algebraic (i.e. instant, non-memmory, not state-variable blocks).
The [Number] button decides how the output values of the blocks will be displayed. One option is to display block numbers as an aid to linking things up, others are integer scaled (e.g. percent) values, decimal or nothing.
The [Anim?] button lets you decide if you want the display animated. Some blocks change appearance as the simulation progresses if animation is on. Default is ON.
The [Grid?] button lets you have a grid on the screen (for layout purposes and it changes the number display to ID numbers for that reason, but you can change it back).
The [Excel Link] button lets you set up a link to an Excel spreadsheet so you can model complex control systems or data loggers. But don't start with such a model; it needs some explanation and care.
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