Define project-wide global variables
and variables that change over the timeline of your project, and use
these variables in calculators. These variables can be applied across
the model. For example, you can define the price per unit for a product
by using the project variables.
Procedure
- On the Variables tab, use the command
line or the Add variable button.
- Specify a name for the variable. You can define complex
project variables as you create complex calculations in the calculator.
- Select a type for the variable and a value.
- Fixed: Specify the actual value for the variable. For example,
Price = 600
- Normal: Specify a mean value and its standard deviation. For
example, costPerUserProject = N(100,10)
- Triangular: Specify a low, likely and high value. For example,
numUsersProject = T(1000,1500,2000)
- Formula: Specify a function of other values that are already
defined. For example, costProject = numUsersProject * costPerUserProject
- To use any of these variables, on the Calculator tab
and within a calculator tape, refer to the names of the variables.
For example:
numUsersLocal = T(300,350,400)
costPerUserLocal = N(50,2)
costLocal = numUsersLocal * costPerUserProject
costTotal = costLocal + costProject
Note: Within
a tape, if you define a local variable with the same name as a variable,
the local variable masks the variable.
- Click Run Simulation. The distribution
of all random variables is sampled and found through Monte Carlo simulation.
- To save the variable as the default variable for all elements
that you create, click Save as Default. If a default variable is already present, the existing variable
is overwritten by the new default variable. Default variables are
applied to new elements only.
- Click OK.