Revision as of 18:57, 19 February 2010

An Analytica (*.ana) file may contain a Model, Module, or Library as its top level object. (Any of these objects may, of course, contain subModules.) A Model file, unlike a Linked Module or Library, usually contains settings for various System variables (such as Time and SampleSize) and Preferences, set in the Preferences and other dialogs. When running a Model M1 and you use Add Module... to import a Model file M2, it shows the dialog below (in Analytica 4.2.2 and later). This dialog lets you decide whether you want to retain all the current settings for M1 (answer "Yes") or apply any nondefault settings from M2 (answer "No").

Answering Yes reads in the system variable settings from the imported file, answering no leaves your current system variable settings in tact.

If you are linking (rather than embedding), the model will remember your answer. However, beware that a linked file may be saved if it is dirtied in any way, thus causing the system variables in the file to be replaced. Also, when linking, the checkbox at the bottom appears, giving you the option of converting the top-level object in the file being linked to a linked module. Note that this will cause the system variable settings to be lost when the model is saved.

In general, if you intend a file to be shared between models, don't use a Model class. Change the class of the top-level object to LinkModule or LinkLibrary.

Proposed revised text for dialog

You are importing this model file:

Because this file contains a Model (rather than a simple Module or Library), it also contains nondefault settings for various system variables and preferences, such as Time and Samplesize. When you complete the import, do you want to retain your current settings, or import settings from this file to overwrite your current settings?

[Yes] Please retain my current settings, and import the model file, ignoring its own settings.

[No] Please import the model file including its system settings and preferences, and so overwrite my current settings.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The top-level object in an Analytica (*.ana) file may be a Model object, a Linked Module oblect, or a Linked Library object.  Linked Modules and Linked Libraries are meant to be imported into models and re-used, while a Model is intended to serve as the top-level object.  Model files differ from linked module or linked library files in that in addition to storing the module and contained objects, the Model file also stores system variables (such as [[Time]] and [[SampleSize]]) and preferences.
+An Analytica (*.ana) file may contain a Model, Module, or Library as its top level object. (Any of these objects may, of course, contain subModules.) A&nbsp;Model file, unlike a Linked Module or Library, usually contains settings for various System variables (such as [[Time]] and [[SampleSize]]) and Preferences, set in the Preferences and other dialogs. When running a Model '''M1 '''and you use '''Add Module...''' to import a Model file '''M2''', it shows the dialog below (in Analytica 4.2.2 and later). This dialog lets you decide whether you want to retain all the current settings for '''M1 '''(answer "Yes") or apply any nondefault settings from '''M2 '''(answer "No").<br>
-If you use '''Add Module...''' to add a Model file to an existing model, the system variable settings ([[Time]], [[SampleSize]], and preferences) that are in that file are normally read from the file and replace the current settings.
+[[Image:Add Model as Module.png]]
-In Analytica 4.2.2 and later, you will be asked:
+Answering Yes reads in the system variable settings from the imported file, answering no leaves your current system variable settings in tact.
-[[image:Add Model as Module.png]]
+If you are linking (rather than embedding), the model will remember your answer. However, beware that a linked file may be saved if it is dirtied in any way, thus causing the system variables in the file to be replaced. Also, when linking, the checkbox at the bottom appears, giving you the option of converting the top-level object in the file being linked to a linked module. Note that this will cause the system variable settings to be lost when the model is saved.
-Answering Yes reads in the system variable settings from the imported file, answering no leaves your current system variable settings in tact.
+In general, if you intend a file to be shared between models, don't use a Model class. Change the class of the top-level object to LinkModule or LinkLibrary.
-If you are linking (rather than embedding), the model will remember your answer.  However, beware that a linked file may be saved if it is dirtied in any way, thus causing the system variables in the file to be replaced.  Also, when linking, the checkbox at the bottom appears, giving you the option of converting the top-level object in the file being linked to a linked module.  Note that this will cause the system variable settings to be lost when the model is saved.
-In general, if you intend a file to be shared between models, don't use a Model class.  Change the class of the top-level object to LinkModule or LinkLibrary.
-= See Also =
+== Proposed revised text for dialog ==
-* [[Modules and Libraries]]
+You are importing this model file:
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &lt;model file name&gt;
+Because this file contains a Model (rather than a simple Module or Library), it also contains nondefault settings for various system variables and preferences, such as Time and Samplesize.&nbsp; When you complete the import, do you want to retain your current settings, or import settings from this file to overwrite your current settings?
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Yes] Please retain my current settings, and import the model file, ignoring its own settings.
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [No] Please import the model file including its system settings and preferences, and so overwrite my current settings.
+= See Also  =
+*[[Modules and Libraries]]

Difference between revisions of "Using Add Module... to import a Model file"

Revision as of 18:57, 19 February 2010

Proposed revised text for dialog

See Also