On-line and Off-line Analyses
LEGION Simulator enables you to either run new simulations using LEGION Simulator File (*.ora) you exported from LEGION Model Builder, or playback a LEGION Simulation Results File (*.res) previously recorded by LEGION Simulator.
The former method is called 'on-line analysis'; the latter 'off-line analysis'. In both cases you can interrogate your simulations using various Analysis Objects, metrics, Maps and Graphs.
This part of the guide covers the differences of on-line and off-line analysis, creating a LEGION Analysis Project File (*.ana), and basic playback and recording
Subsequent sections deal with Maps, Graphs, Analyses and the Timeline in greater detail.
On-line Analysis
An on-line analysis runs a LEGION simulation using your LEGION Model File (*.lgm) and an associated LEGION Simulator File (*.ora). The model file provides the visual dimension of your model in LEGION Simulator. When you start an on-line analysis session, you are required to open both files.
Off-line Analysis
An off-line analysis plays back a pre-recorded LEGION simulation.
The LEGION Model File (*.lgm) provides information about the model's visual elements and the LEGION Simulation Results File (*.res) contains information about Entity movement. When you start an off-line analysis session, you are required to open both files.
Choosing Between On-line and Off-line Analysis
The advantage of on-line analysis is that it can save you time when sense-checking a model because you can do so quickly without first having to record a LEGION Simulation Results File. However, each time you run an on-line analysis, the behaviour of Entities will be slightly different compared to Entities in a LEGION Simulation Results File which are recorded and therefore fixed.
You should record a LEGION Simulation Results File after you are satisfied that the model logic is robust and there are no more modelling improvements you wish to make. If a video of the simulation is desired, then you are advised to save an accelerated video (*.avi) file at the same time, because large models may take time to play back.
If you decide to do on-line analysis and record LEGION Simulation Results Files and/or video files in one go, this is likely to save a little time because processing is slightly more efficient than running a simulation first and then an off-line analysis. However, running an on-line analysis has the combined memory requirements of simulation and off-line analysis so you should check that your equipment's physical memory limits are not reached-if they are, Windows will start using the swap or 'page' file and the negative impact on performance will more than negate the small initial saving.
In summary:
- If you want to use LEGION Simulator just to record LEGION Simulation Results File outputs, make sure to deactivate Maps and Analyses to optimise performance.
- On-line analysis is most useful for sense-checking and finalising local modelling logic.
- You can save time by recording a LEGION Simulation Results File and/or video file during an on-line analysis session provided you: