ISYE 6644 — Simulation — Exam 2 Cheat Sheet (Arena)
Module 5: Arena — Templates, Modules, Spreadsheets, Expressions, Class Examples + Core DES concepts
1. Arena Basics & Process-Interaction 3. Advanced Process Template
• Arena models systems as flowcharts using process-interaction: entities flow • Contains the primitive SEIZE, DELAY, RELEASE modules used individually (a
through modules representing the logic they experience. PROCESS module bundles these automatically).
• Template Panel = where you get modules/blocks. Attach more panels: File → • You can build a Seize-Delay-Release sequence with separate Advanced Process
Template Panel → Attach. modules instead of one PROCESS module — same effect.
• Toolbar: Tools has Input Analyzer, OptQuest, AVI Capture, macros. • DELAY can be done from: (a) inside a PROCESS module (Basic Process), (b) a
Arrange/Object/Window help with visualization. DELAY module (Advanced Process), (c) a DELAY block (Blocks template). All three
• Entities = the 'things' flowing (customers, jobs). Attributes = entity-level data. work.
Variables = global data. • Failing to RELEASE a seized resource: the resource stays seized/busy — it does
NOT auto-release or add capacity.
2. Basic Process Template
Modules (top half) 4. Advanced Transfer Template
• CREATE – generates arriving entities (interarrival distribution, entities/arrival, max • Used for STATIONS, ROUTES, and moving entities between stations — needed for
arrivals, first creation time). multi-station systems (manufacturing cells).
• PROCESS – does the work: Delay only, Seize-Delay-Release, Seize-Delay, or Delay- • SEQUENCES: a pre-assigned list of stations an entity visits, in order; can revisit the
Release; can seize >1 resource at once. same station more than once, even with different service-time distributions each
• DISPOSE – removes entity from system (shown as a left-pointing trapezoid). visit.
• DECIDE – 2-way or N-way branch, by chance (probabilistic) or by condition. • SETS: group similar resources/stations/entity types so logic can pick 'next
• BATCH – groups multiple entities into one (temporary or permanent). available' member dynamically.
• SEPARATE – splits a batched entity back into individuals, or duplicates an entity. • TRANSPORTERS & CONVEYORS: model material-handling devices (forklifts, AGVs)
• ASSIGN – gives a new value to an attribute, variable, entity type/picture, etc. and moving belts between stations.
• RECORD – collects statistics (time between records, entity statistics, counters). • The manufacturing-cell example used SEQUENCES to route jobs through the cell.
Spreadsheets (bottom half) 5. Blocks Template (Primitive Blocks)
• Attribute, Entity, Queue, Resource, Variable, Schedule, Set. • Lower-level building blocks: QUEUE, SEIZE, DELAY, RELEASE blocks (more
• Queue spreadsheet HERE (Basic Process) controls queue discipline manual/flexible than Basic/Advanced Process modules).
(FIFO/LIFO/priority) — NOT in Advanced Process panel. • A QUEUE block (Blocks template) can be used to set a maximum queue capacity.
• Schedule spreadsheet defines EITHER resource-capacity schedules (staffing varies • SEIZE can appear in: (i) a PROCESS module, (ii) the Advanced Process template,
by time) OR arrival-rate schedules (nonhomogeneous Poisson arrivals) — Arena (iii) the Blocks (Primitive) template.
supports both, and NHPP arrivals ARE possible.
Module 5: Arena — Templates, Modules, Spreadsheets, Expressions, Class Examples + Core DES concepts
1. Arena Basics & Process-Interaction 3. Advanced Process Template
• Arena models systems as flowcharts using process-interaction: entities flow • Contains the primitive SEIZE, DELAY, RELEASE modules used individually (a
through modules representing the logic they experience. PROCESS module bundles these automatically).
• Template Panel = where you get modules/blocks. Attach more panels: File → • You can build a Seize-Delay-Release sequence with separate Advanced Process
Template Panel → Attach. modules instead of one PROCESS module — same effect.
• Toolbar: Tools has Input Analyzer, OptQuest, AVI Capture, macros. • DELAY can be done from: (a) inside a PROCESS module (Basic Process), (b) a
Arrange/Object/Window help with visualization. DELAY module (Advanced Process), (c) a DELAY block (Blocks template). All three
• Entities = the 'things' flowing (customers, jobs). Attributes = entity-level data. work.
Variables = global data. • Failing to RELEASE a seized resource: the resource stays seized/busy — it does
NOT auto-release or add capacity.
2. Basic Process Template
Modules (top half) 4. Advanced Transfer Template
• CREATE – generates arriving entities (interarrival distribution, entities/arrival, max • Used for STATIONS, ROUTES, and moving entities between stations — needed for
arrivals, first creation time). multi-station systems (manufacturing cells).
• PROCESS – does the work: Delay only, Seize-Delay-Release, Seize-Delay, or Delay- • SEQUENCES: a pre-assigned list of stations an entity visits, in order; can revisit the
Release; can seize >1 resource at once. same station more than once, even with different service-time distributions each
• DISPOSE – removes entity from system (shown as a left-pointing trapezoid). visit.
• DECIDE – 2-way or N-way branch, by chance (probabilistic) or by condition. • SETS: group similar resources/stations/entity types so logic can pick 'next
• BATCH – groups multiple entities into one (temporary or permanent). available' member dynamically.
• SEPARATE – splits a batched entity back into individuals, or duplicates an entity. • TRANSPORTERS & CONVEYORS: model material-handling devices (forklifts, AGVs)
• ASSIGN – gives a new value to an attribute, variable, entity type/picture, etc. and moving belts between stations.
• RECORD – collects statistics (time between records, entity statistics, counters). • The manufacturing-cell example used SEQUENCES to route jobs through the cell.
Spreadsheets (bottom half) 5. Blocks Template (Primitive Blocks)
• Attribute, Entity, Queue, Resource, Variable, Schedule, Set. • Lower-level building blocks: QUEUE, SEIZE, DELAY, RELEASE blocks (more
• Queue spreadsheet HERE (Basic Process) controls queue discipline manual/flexible than Basic/Advanced Process modules).
(FIFO/LIFO/priority) — NOT in Advanced Process panel. • A QUEUE block (Blocks template) can be used to set a maximum queue capacity.
• Schedule spreadsheet defines EITHER resource-capacity schedules (staffing varies • SEIZE can appear in: (i) a PROCESS module, (ii) the Advanced Process template,
by time) OR arrival-rate schedules (nonhomogeneous Poisson arrivals) — Arena (iii) the Blocks (Primitive) template.
supports both, and NHPP arrivals ARE possible.
