Past Topics >>

The Analytica User Group is a way for Analytica users to support each other by sharing tips and function libraries. It includes a webinar series with tutorials and demonstrations on key Analytica features.

Webinar Series

There is usually an Analytica user webinar each week, presented by a user from Lumina or elsewhere. Webinars include demonstrations and tutorials on key issues for Analytica users, sometimes on how to use existing features more effectively, and sometimes on features of new or upcoming releases.

Webinars are interactive, using Citrix Gotomeeting to share screens and a phone teleconference. Questions, comments, and tangents are welcome. Webinars are a great place to learn more about Analytica and other related topics. Seats are limited. To sign up for a particular webinar, see "How to Attend" below. Presentations may last anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes (with an estimate provided upfront).

Lumina often records User Group webinars, including audio and screensharing, and makes them available so that those who couldn't make it at the original time can view them later.

Schedule of Upcoming Webinars

Due to vacation schedules, there will be no User Group webinar from now until 17 July 2008

Using the Check attribute to validate inputs and results

Due to technical difficulties on 19 June, some internal scheduling confusions on 26 June, and vacation schedules this webinar has once again been postponed, now until 17 June 2008. We appologize for any inconvenience.

Date and Time: 17 July 2008 10:00 Pacific Daylight Time

Presenter: Lonnie Chrisman, Lumina Decision Systems

Abstract

The check attribute provides a way to validate inputs and computed results. When users of your model are entering data, this can provide immediate feedback when they enter values that are out of range or inconsistent. When applied to computed results, it can help catch inconsistencies, which can help reduce error rates and accidental introduction of errors later.

In this talk, I'll demonstrate how to define a check validation for a variable, and how to turn on the check attribute visible so that it is visible in the object window. I'll demonstrate how the failed check alert messages can be customized. And perhaps most interestingly, how the check can be used in edit tables for cell-by-cell validation, so that out-of-range inputs are flagged with a red background, and alert balloons pop-up when out-of-range inputs are entered. Cell-by-cell validation when certain restrictions on the check expression are followed, which I'll discuss.

How to Attend

To attend, you need to sign up by contacting Lumina at webinars@lumina.com or (650) 212-1212. Attendence is limited to 15 people, so don't sign up unless you sincerely intend to attend. Also, sign up at least a day prior, since the webinar may be cancelled if there are few pre-registered participants.

These Webinars are FREE to users who have an up-to-date annual maintenance subscription (MTS). If you are unsure, check with mailto:sales@lumina. For those without MTS, an attendence fee of US$100 is charged.

How to be a Presenter

Being a presenter at an Analytica webinar provides an opportunity to make others in the Analytica community aware of your successes or capabilities. Consultants may find this an opportunity for exposure to others with particular modeling needs. Also, if you are an Analytica aficionado, this is a great opportunity to help others.

If you would like to be a presenter, submit your proposed topic to webinars@lumina.com and possible presentation times (include the time zone). We will schedule the GotoMeeting conference (you do not need a gotoMeeting subscription yourself) and we will make you presenter during the session, allowing you to share your screen while you talk. You will most likely make use of Power Point and a running Analytica during your presentation.

Archive of Past Topics

Visit the Archive of Past Topics for abstracts, example models, and recordings of previous Analytica User Group webinars. Previous topics that have been presented include:

The Dynamic Function
Logistic Regression
Creating Control Panels
Statistical Functions
Creating Scatter Plots
Using Regression
New Functions for Reading Directly from an Excel File
Advanced Tornado Charts -- when inputs are Array-Valued
Using the Analytica Decision Engine (ADE) from ASP.NET
OLE Linking
Tornado Charts
Correlated and Multivariate Distributions
Assessment of Probability Distributions
Graph Style Templates
Sneak preview of Analytica Web Publisher
Querying an OLAP server
Querying an ODBC relational database
Self-Indexes, Lists and Implicit Dimensions
Flattening and Unflattening of Arrays
Introduction to Arrays and Array Abstraction
Local Indexes
The Iterate Function
The Reference and Dereference Operators
Modeling Utility Tariffs in Analytica
Modeling Energy Efficiency in Large Data Centers
Calling External Applications
Introduction to Linear and Quadratic Programming
Non-Linear Optimization
Writing User-Defined Functions
Modeling Markov Processes in Analytica
Manipulating Dates in Analytica
Button Scripting
Statistical Functions in Analytica 4.0
Manipulating Indexes and Arrays in Analytica Expressions
Edit Table Enhancements in Analytica 4.0
Handles and Meta-Inference

Potential future topics

If you would like to see a webinar on a given topic, please feel free to add it here. If you see a topic listed and would like to be a presenter, let us know.

Importance Sampling. Global sample weighting and use of extended statistic functions in 4.0.

Creating graphs of multi-dimensional data.

An in-depth look at graph style settings.

Producing graphs from ADE: Including how to serve graphs from web pages.

Intracacies of the Domain attribute

Mastering Array Abstraction

Writing User-Defined Distribution functions.

Sampling and Distributions - new 4.0 additions/extensions. Also, writing custom User-Defined Distribution Functions.

Getting data into Analytica.

DetermTables

Large-scale sampling. Techniques when memory limitations constrain sampleSize.

Creating User-Defined functions. Review of Function Parameter Qualifiers.

Understanding Evaluation Contexts

Bayesian Inference

Sensitivity Analysis.

Dynamic Programming

Approximate and Stochastic Dynamic Programming

User Survey Results

During the first week of September, we sent out a survey to people who had attended webinars so far. Please continue providing us with feedback. Here is some feedback to date:

Level of difficult and speed:

So far, of those who answered this question, 25% say "a bit too easy", 25% say "too hard/fast", and 50% say "just right".

Topics requested for future webinars:

How to run multiple iterations, e.g. 100 iterations with uncertainty sample of 1000.

Sampling for rare events.

Using the lognormal function.

Financial modeling

New array functionality (subtables, choices in tables)

Optimizer !!!

Dynamic models (twice requested)

Choice of distributions

Re-sampling and radomize methods and uncertainty sample size

Tricks for sensitivity analysis

Input and output nodes

Importance analysis

The Analytica Wiki

The Analytica Wiki contains many resources, including in-depth reference materials, relevant articles, example models, tutorials, etc., to help users master Analytica and find what they need. Even better, Analytica users can contribute! You can upload your own models, articles, expand on or correct materials that are there, etc., for the benefit of the entire Analytica community.