Simulation Environment Goes to V4

By DE Editors

Flexsim Software Products, Inc. (Orem, UT) says that version 4 of itsFlexsim simulation environment for Windows is more powerful yet easierto use than its predecessors. Flexsim, an object-oriented simulationenvironment, is tailored for modeling, analyzing, visualizing, andoptimizing discrete-event and continuous flow processes such thosefound in as manufacturing or material handling.

Flexsim enables you to build your simulations with input data fromExcel or any standard database application and run them natively in aninteractive 3D environment. You create models graphically, using dragand drop conventions. You can output your results for analysis, and youcan view 3D charts and graphs from within your simulation.

Flexsim incorporates a C++ IDE and compiler into a graphical modelingenvironment. C++ can be used directly in defining model logic andcompiled right in the Flexsim application, which has the effect ofeliminating DLL as well as the complex linking of user definedvariables.

Within in Flexsim, all model-building resources are objects, whetherthey are products, models, tables, records, libraries, the graphicaluser interface (GUI), or even the application itself. Objects caninherit attributes and behavior from other objects, contain otherobjects, create and destroy objects, move objects into and out of eachother, and even self-destruct.

Flexsim comes with a library of ready-to-use objects that you use tomodel real-world objects, processes, and systems. You can modify thelibrary with the built-in object editor or customize with your objects.

Flexsim animations are OpenGL, and all graphics are industry-standard3DS, DXF, WRL, or STL objects. Results can be exported via DDE, ODBC,and Windows Sockets. Flexsim links to any ODBC database (like Oracle orAccess™) and common data structures (like text, Excel, or Word™ files).

You can download a demo copy of Flexsim 4 or request a CD from the company’s websiteafter you have entered a valid e-mail address. For further details, goto Flexsim Software.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.