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

Querying an OLAP server

Date and Time: Thursday, February 14, 2008, 10:00 - 11:00 Pacific Standard Time
(Note: Schedule change from an earlier posting. This is now back to the usual Thursday time. )

Presenter: Lonnie Chrisman, Lumina Decision Systems

Abstract

In this session, I'll show how the MdxQuery function can be used to extract multi-dimensional arrays from an On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) server. In particular, during this talk we'll query Microsoft Analysis Services using MDX. In this talk, I'll introduce some basics regarding OLAP and Analysis Services, discuss the differences between multi-dimensional arrays in OLAP and Analytica, cover the basics of the MDX query language, show how to form a connection string for MdxQuery, and import data. I'll also show how hierarchical dimensions can be handled once you get your data to Analytica.

Note: Use of the features demonstrated in this webinar require the Analytica Enterprise or Optimizer edition, or the Analytica Power Player. They are also available in ADE.

Sneak preview of Analytica Web Publisher

Date and Time: Thursday, February 21, 2008, 10:00 - 11:00 Pacific Standard Time

Presenter: Max Henrion, Lumina Decision Systems

Abstract

In this week's webinar, Max Henrion, Lumina's CEO, will provide a sneak preview of the Analytica Web Publisher. AWP offers a way to make Analytica models easily accessible to anyone with a web browser. Users can open a model, view diagrams and objects, change input variables, and view results as tables and graphs. Users will also be able to save changed models, to revisit them in later sessions. Model builders can upload models into AWP directly from their desktop. Usually, AWP directories are password protected, so only authorized users can view and use models. But, we also plan to make a free AWP directory available for people who want to share their models openly.

AWP is nearing release for alpha testing. We will welcome your comments and hearing how you might envisage using AWP.

This webinar will not be recorded, so only those who attend live will be able to watch it.

Graph Style Templates

Date and Time: Thursday, February 28, 2008, 10:00 - 11:00 Pacific Standard Time

Presenter: Lonnie Chrisman, Lumina Decision Systems

Abstract

Graph style template provide a convenient and versitile way to bundle graph setup options so that they can be reused when viewing other result graphs. For example, if you've discovered a set of colors, fonts and layout that the perfect pizzazz, you can bundle that into a template where you can quickly select it for any graph. In this talk, I'll introduce how templates can be used and how you can create and re-use your own. I'll show the basics of using existing templates, previewing what templates will look like, and applying a given template to a single result or to your entire model. We'll also see how to create your own templates, and in the process I'll discuss what settings can be controlled from within a template. I'll discuss how graph setup options are a combination of global settings, template settings, and graph-specific overrides. I'll show how to place templates into libraries (thus allowing you to have template libraries that can be readily re-used in different models), and even show how to control a few settings using templates that aren't selectable from the Graph Setup UI. I'll also touch on how different graph setting are associated with different aspects of a graph, ultimately determining how the graph adapts to changes in uncertainty view or pivots.

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:

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
Using Regression
Creating Scatter Plots
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.

Rapid review of features new to Analytica 4.0.

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

Topics in Regression: Using the Regression function in flexible ways, such as infering VARMA models, DFTs, etc. Estimating secondary statistics (i.e., uncertainty in the parameters) and modeling the full uncertainty in resulting model predictions (the RegressionDist function, etc).

Logistic Regression: Quick intro to logistic regression (generalized regression), including Probit_Regression, Logistic_Regression, Poisson_Regression, etc. Using these to fit probability estimates in Analyica, Analyica Optimizer experience, exploring result with new graphing features.

New 4.0 graphing features general overview

Creating graphs of multi-dimensional data.

Graph Style Templates: Creating libraries of style templates, including some behind-the-scenes settings.

An in-depth look at graph style settings.

MdxQuery - Interacting with Microsoft Analysis Services or other OLAP servers.

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

Implementing iterative algorithms. Convergence algorithms using Iterate. Use of While..Do. Recursive functions, slice assignment, etc.

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

Correlated and multi-dimensional distributions

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.

The Analytica Forum

The Analytica Forum is a message board where users can post questions to the Analytica community, or view what others have posted. Many materials of general interest have been posted there (however, we hope to eventually update the Wiki to reflect all this material, where it can be more conveniently organized). The forum is maintained indepedently by an enthusiastic Analytica user. Our thanks to to Mike for all his efforts!