=============================================================================== Release Notes --- FlexTerm 2.7.1 (December 28, 2016) --- * Added ctcommand exportShipServices to export all ship services to a user specified file. * Added ctcommand exportShipSchedule to export ship schedule to a user specified file. * Added Rotate on NetworkNode checkbox in RTG GUI. * Fixed issues of ctcommand newcontainertype and Import Containertype Table in CT Excel import. * Fixed an issue of large increase in gatetruck arrivals. * Fixed issue of wrong container location on truck when loading with WheeledBlock. * Fixed a unit setting issue. * Fixed a Railcar well draw issue. * Fixed wrong scaled background image size in Berth Planner. * Fixed missing setup and waitingPlatform crane states in Statistics. * Fixed issue on exporting %working of Cranes incorrectly in Statistics. * Fixed Rail Planner Train Schedule GUI issue when having too many train types. * Fixed wrong containermovedirect() example in FlexTerm command helper. --- FlexTerm 2.7.0 (June 1, 2016) --- * Fixed a few statistics calculation issues for berth, yard resource, and quay cranes when using warmup time. * Fixed a bug that causes resource group unable to dispatch idle gantry crane to a specific bay using the API command resourcegroupop(). * Fixed a bug that causes berth planner to generate incorrect number of weekly records if a ship arrives a time 0. * Fixed a bug in truck gang’s default pooling dispatch algorithm that causes truck to load incorrect number of containers during twin load operation. --- FlexTerm 2.7 Beta (March 31, 2016) --- 1. Upgrade engine to FlexSim 7.7.4 2. Improvements for RMG sequence APIs a. Added a new macro RMG_SEQ_STAT_SET_SEQ_BLOCK for command rssequencestat() to set the block in RMG sequence. b. Added a new macro RMG_INSTR_STAT_BLOCK for command rsinstructionstat() to query the block in an instruction. c. Added a new macro RMG_INSTR_STAT_LAND_TIME for command rsinstructionstat() to query the land time in an instruction. d. Added a new parameter in command rspickupinblock() to be able to set the post delay time for an in-block pickup instruction. e. Added a new parameter in command rsdropoffinblock() to be able to set the block where the container is dropped to in an in-block drop off instruction. f. Added a new parameter in command rsmove() to be set the block in a move instruction. g. Fixed issues of using rspickupinblock() and rsdropoffinblock() to move container between different blocks. h. Fixed a bug when copy instructions. i. Fixed a bug that may randomly crash the program in the twin RMGs collision avoidance logic. 3. New features for modeling twin RMGs configuration a. Added a default twin RMGs collision avoidance logic. b. Added API commands: twinrmgsaddblockinfo(), twinrmgsclearmovementstrategydata(), twinrmgsinitcollisionavoidanceparameters(), twinrmgsmovementstrategy(), and twinrmgsresetmovementstrategydata(). 4. Improvements for transfer area a. Added capability for one transfer area slot to hold one 40’ container, one 20’ container, or two 20’ container for twin lifts. b. Fixed a bug that causes wrong location for a strad to drop off containers in a transfer area when it performs twin-20’ discharge operation. c. Fixed a bug that causes a deadlock when reserve transfer area slots. d. Improved drawing performance for tranfer area slots. 5. Improvements for straddle carrier a. Added the capacity to allow user to modify strad’s spreader lift height. b. Added a spreader lift threshold to allow user to control the timing of strad moving before the spreader is fully lifted. c. Added the spreader drop percent parameter to split strad’s load/unload time to be two parts: spreader hoisting down time and spreader fine positioning time. d. Added the spreader lift speed parameter to control spreader lifting speed. e. Added a spreader switch delay to model the scenario when one strad drops off two 20’ containers to different blocks or picks up two 20’ containers from different blocks when it performs twin lifts. f. Fixed a bug that causes a gantry crane to grab a container from a strad when the container is still under the strad’s spreader. g. Fixed a bug that causes a strad to put a container onto transfer area without hoisting down its spreader. h. Fixed a strad kinematics calculation issue that may cause strad acceleration change during model running. i. Fixed issues that causes a strad to move without lifting its spreader after it finishes a load or unload task when perform dual transactions. j. Fixed issues that cause strads to not align with TA slot properly when a container is picked up from or dropped off to a TA slot. k. Fixed a bug in strad’s kinematics calculation that causes a non-repeatable issue. 6. Improvements for strad gang a. Changed the parameter “Maximum Buffer at Quay” to define the number of transfer slots instead of the number of containers. b. Added a feature in strad gang to switch if it is working with transfer area or not. c. Improved the default dispatching logic to allow strads that are performing twin-lifts to be dispatched to the same or different blocks for discharge or load operations. d. Fixed a bug that causes deadlock issue at the ground transfer zone under a quay crane when the crane is performing dual cycling. e. Fixed an issue that causes strad gang stop working when performing twin lifts. 7. New features for ground transfer slots under quay cranes a. Added ground transfer points for quay cranes and dual trolley cranes when they are working with strad. b. Transfer point can be added and removed. c. Transfer point location can be set relative to the crane/’s coordinate space. 8. API commands a. Added a new API command removecontaineridfromlistinorder(). b. Added a new ctcommand with name "newblock" for creating yard block, wheel block or rail block. c. Modified ctcommand with name "newquaycrane" so that it can be used to create both quay crane and dual trolley crane. 9. GUI updates a. Updated GUI for strad gang. b. Removed tab “Trolley and Hoist” for quay cranes and dual trolley cranes. Add a tab “Miscellaneous” that contains new ground transfer point editor for quay cranes and dual trolley cranes. c. Added GUI for straddle carrier. 10. Miscellaneous Bug fixings a. Fixed an issue of wrong locations and rotations of twin 20’ containers when the containers are under spreader, on the ground or transfer slot. b. Fixed a bug in setting a quay crane’s waiting state. c. Fixed a bug causing the land time to be 0 when a gantry crane does real digging based on speed. d. Fixed a bug in restoring a container in yard blocks when using real digging. e. Fixed a bug in a container’s custom attribute that makes proper container placement rule failed to match. f. Fixed a repeatability issue when using dual trolley cranes. g. Fixed an issue causing wrong initial rotations of gang truck bombcarts. h. Fixed an issue causing a gantry crane’s spreader to move to wrong location in transfer area slot when strads perform twin 20’ load operation. i. Fixed a model non-repeatable issue caused by quay crane gantry moves. 11. Others a. Improved drawing performance for yard block info icons. b. Added update scripts to allow upgrade existing FlexTerm 2 models to FlexTerm 2.7. --- FlexTerm 2.5.0 (January 12, 2016) --- * Added a OnStateChange trigger for single trolley and dual trolley quay cranes. * Set the default model start time to be beginning of the week so that it is consistent with the internal time setting of FlexTerm. * Fixed an issue of exporting yard statistics if use Excel and CSV export. * Fixed an issue that a background image did not display properly in Berth Planner's Berth Layout * Fixed an issue throwing exceptions due to container objects not restored properly when cranes are performing direct moves. * Fixed an issue of twin 20' operation when using the default weighted pooling algorithm. * Fixed an issue that an input file under the same directory as the model cannot be imported using Model Import. * Fixed an issue that a large numbers of quay cranes cannot be created in Berth Planner because crane's gap is set too big in Berth Layout. --- FlexTerm 2.5.0 Beta (September 18, 2015) --- * Upgraded to FlexSim 7.5.4 engine. This engine includes numerous improvements and bug fixes and several new modules such as Conveyor, AGV, and AStar. Please refer to https://www.flexsim.com/community/forum/showthread.php?t=2970 or FlexSim User Manual for a list of features and bug fixes. * Added a feature to TopLoader so that it can directly move containers from one yard block to another. * Added a "setup" state for Quay Crane to track Quay Crane's setup time. * Fixed a gate statistics collection issue when a truck arrives at a block to pick up a container but the container is not moved into the block yet. * Fixed a display issue for containers that are placed in wheel blocks or rail blocks. * Fixed a bug when a dual trolley crane's movement is interrupted. * Fixed a bug for a gantry crane to move containers between yard blocks. * Fixed a bug where a container is not restored properly when using the real digging option. * Fixed an issue with straddle carriers discharging or loading twin 20' containers. * Fixed a memory leak issue when using rail blocks. * Fixed a bug where multiple vessel services may be generated on top of each other incorrectly. * Fixed a bug when adding new objects in the container terminal statistics GUI. * Fixed a bug where the Strad Gang will add trucks when all strads in the gang have been deleted. --- FlexTerm 2.0.1 (September 25, 2014) --- * Fixed limited bucket issue with Berth Planner. * Improved accuracy of quay crane gross productivity calculations. * Fixed a bug with dual trolley crane mesh building which was corrupting the experimenter execution. * Other minor improvements and bug fixes. --- FlexTerm 2.0.0 (July 10, 2014) --- * Upgraded to FlexSim 7.1.4 engine. * Added FlexTerm API command ctresetstats(). This will reset all statistics of all objects in the model. * Added FlexTerm API command ctupdatestats(). This will update all statistics of all objects in the model. * Added FlexTerm custom performance measure quick generation. * Updated Container Texture(with doors). * Upgraded RMG sequence API commands. * Upgraded yard stack/unstack trigger. User has the flexibility to ignore default truck operations to customize the stacking/unstacking processes. * Added GateToYard custom action trigger. User has full control of gate truck stacking/unstacking processes. * Updated Yard Planner GUI to display block names, crosshair, and other information in Blocks and Areas tab. * Added support for warmup time in Experimenter. FlexTerm statistics will be reset at the warmup time during Experimenter runs. * Fixed gantry crane 3d model issues when switching between different types of gantry cranes. * Updated Rail planner to issue a warning if the defined train length is longer than the total track length, which will cause a dead lock. * Fixed gantry crane gross productivity and net productivity excel and csv export bug. * Fixed getshiprecordstat() user command bug. * Fixed sketch up 3D model loading bug. * Fixed issues of containers that are not restored properly when the container to be picked up is moved due to digging. * Updated user manual. * Updated API command manual. --- FlexTerm 2.0.0 Beta (May 5, 2014) --- * Updated to FlexSim 7.0 engine to have features such as docked window, sampler, better code editor and debugger, supporting more 3D models, improved 3D rendering, improved FlexScript speed, additional FlexSim object library, better dashboard design, etc. Please refer to http://www.flexsim.com/community/forum/showthread.php?t=2657 for a full list of FlexSim 7 features. * Support 64 bit OS. This allows large models to use more than 4GB memory. * Better graphics, for example: Shader rendering Improve different equipment types of container display in block Wheel block and rail block can display different equipment types of container New yard block and rail block texture Improve container texture Upgrade draw code to mesh * Rail planner can generate load only and discharge only train * Updated GUI to FlexSim 7.0 standards * Added quick properties for commonly used attributes of container terminal objects * Statistics window can be docked * CAD background drawing can be used in Berth Planner * Updated user manual * Back compatibility with FlexTerm 1.0 models and FlexTerm CT 3.3 * Various bug fixing such as Fixed a container placement custom search bug Fixed a rail planner reset track date bug Fixed a rail planner container generation bug Fixed a planner custom code cannot be saved bug Fixed a yard move bug Fixed a strad gang enter transfer area bug --- FlexTerm 1.0.0 (November 6, 2013) --- * New way to generate container profiles and to include more attributes such as equipment types, empty and reefer containers, container height and weight as well as the ability of generating user-defined container attributes. * Provide a way in container profile to generate container population based on the proportion specified. The proportion can be inputted based on the dependency specified among container attributes. * New way to filter containers in Berth Planner, Yard Planner, Gate Planner, and Rail Planner to have Container Profile better using container attributes. * Added trigger and set of functions to GantryCrane to allow users to control stacking crane movements, for example allowing user to model conflicts between stacking resources such as Twin RMGs as used in automated container terminal * Added a feature to allow user to select user defined container placement strategies when doing real digging (also called reshuffling). This allows user to implement for example reshuffling containers to a different bay as used in an RMG/ASC terminal. * Added a trigger to ship-to-shore crane to give user control of assigning any crane to serve a particular vessel, for example allowing user to simulate Mobile Harbor cranes. * Added capability of simulating dual trolley quay cranes and collect dual trolley crane state statistics. * Added a feature in Berth Planner to allow user to change twin lift percentages, both for load and discharge. * Added the SideLoader object. * Added new default track work strategy for Rail Planner with the ability to working on both single and double-stacked rail cars. * Graphic improvements to show different type of containers such as refer, tank, and open-top. * Added state statistics for Quay Cranes and redefined their net and gross productivities. * Added state statistics for trucks. * New GUI for yard moves. * Back compatibility with FlexSim CT 3.3 models. * Updated user manual. * Updated command help. * Various GUI improvements. * Various bug fixing. * Updated FlexSim CT to use FlexSim engine 6.0.2. --- FlexSim CT 3.3.0 (February 15, 2012) --- * Gave the Rail Planner the ability to be a non-data-driver * Added Rail Planner UI * Added the step-by-step rail planner tutorial and detailed rail planner documentation * Fixed various bugs and made minor adjustments to the command APIs * Synchronized with FlexSim 6's model units mechanism * Compiled the CT library into the FlexSim 6.0.0 release, which includes the changes listed below --- FlexSim 6.0.0 beta 1 (February 2, 2012) --- * Enhanced the experimenter to use multiple cores. * Added a new web browser GUI widget. * Added a new Dashboard window with HTML5 canvas statistics graphs. * Redesigned the experimenter interface to integrate the new statistics objects. * Added new experiment variable options "number of objects in group" and "number of task executers." * Developed web accessibility: Opening, configuring, running, and viewing models over the web (using a web browser or handheld device). * Added a new AutoCAD dwg importer. * Added model units and conversion windows. When building a new model, a screen will ask you what model units you will be using. When updating an old model, a screen will ask you what model units were used to build the old model. These settings are stored in the Tools folder of the model. * Modified the picklist and trigger gui widgets to be easier to use. * Created a new node datatype (DATATYPE_BUNDLE) for storing large amount of information efficiently (see documentation of bundle commands). * Implemented a way to package media (3d shapes and bitmaps) into the model file so that you only need to distribute one file instead of a whole directory of files. * Added an embedded command documentation window that can be opened by highlighting a command and pressing F1 in the code window or tree view. * Added a Flexscript call stack to the debugger. * Added a step-in function for Flexscript user commands and nodefunctions in the debugger. * Added a logic builder interface for writing Flexscript logic without writing code. (You can change the default editor back to Code by unchecking 'File > Global Preferences > Environment > Use Logic Builder by Default'.) * Enhanced the flexibility of pull logic and added a new pullitem() command for use in the Pull Strategy trigger. * Improved templates to allow for popup gui windows on pick list options. * Added a mechanism for multiple state profiles. * Changed tables to always show the headers despite scrolling. * Fixed a bug that was messing up the save operation when out of memory. * Toggled the large-address-aware switch so that FlexSim can allocate more memory. * Added floor() and ceil() commands. * Added a switch for hashing the node's subnodes' names for quick lookup. * Added a right-click menu option in the Labels tab so that labels' values are set on reset. This option is checked by default. * Other various fixes from the development list. ****backwards compatibility note: the following changes may slightly change the way updated models behave**** * Fixed a critical bug in curved network length calculations. * Fixed issues with gettenetnode() and distancetotravel() on TEs that use "do not travel offsets and block network space." * Made a change to distancetotravel() to base the "back-to-node" distance on the center of the object instead of the object's location. * Changed pulling to no longer override the send-to. Now both send-to and pull must check out to transfer a flowitem. * Changed receiveitem() so that it doesn't behave as if it were pulling. * Made the Rack's OnEntry trigger fire before evaluating the dwell time. * Explicitly set the processor float rounding mode for consistent results in compatibility mode. --- Flexsim CT 3.0.2 (March 2011) --- * Fixed an exception on the gang when a guy is told to travel home but the gang isn't connected to any cranes * Fixed a bug on the transferarea that was not allowing trucks to enter when the last truck exited * Fixed a bug that was causing an error when dispatches were the last row of the berth planner * Fixed some divide-by-zero errors in the Stats gui * Fixed a bug with cranes having incorrect rotations on the berth layout tab when there is a background object * Compiled the CT library into the Flexsim 5.1.2 release, which includes the changes listed below --- Flexsim 5.1.2 (February 2011) --- * Fixed a bug with pallets not correctly setting items' locations * Added code to execute the open model scripts when a model is double-clicked * Fixed a bug on autocompletion for empirical() commands * Added a gridz attribute to the perspective view so that it snaps vertically with the gridsize * Fixed a bug that was making the multicode window open tabs after the first with the template edit open * Modified the Breakdowns page so that it doesn't reorder the MTBFMTTR or TimeTable's couplings when you Apply the Properties window * Fixed a bug that caused fileopen() to crash in C++ * Fixed some more command overloads to compile properly in C++. * New version of ExpertFit with working help documentation. * Fixed some issues in Flexsim Chart. * Fixed a glitch in the Model Settings window. * Fixed a bug in the Animator that caused it to crash when adding keyframes to the Crane object. --- Flexsim 5.1.0 (January 2011) --- * added a File > Model Settings option that allows you to change model settings or add password encryption to the model * added text compression to model, library, and tree files (model file sizes will be much smaller now) * added a "modules" features for program developers (undocumented currently) * added new listener functionality and listenerinfo() command * enabled more features (such as the tree view) for the student version * modified the educational watermark to be less intrusive * fixed the calltip and auto completion issue on left-side monitors * changed Excel browse buttons to show xlsx files * changed Find/Replace in Tree so that you can specify VIEW:/ as the search node to search the entire view tree * fixed a bug on lifo, batching queues * fixed an issue with variable binding * fixed a bug with the excel single table import when using both row and column headers * fixed a bug with the MTEI that wasn't allowing you to specify the entire path to the node in the "tablelocation" without specifying the "tablename" (this fix allows you to navigate to a table node at first level of object data properly) * added hiding for surrogates into the "Hide shape and contents at a distance" pick option * upgraded the licensing system to Flexnet Publisher 11.9 * made it possible for offset tasks to use a navigator (must be implemented on the TE, though, so it's not automatic right now) * fixed some bugs in the socket command parameters * other minor fixes from the development list =============================================================================== Installation There is no upgrader from Flexsim CT 3.x to FlexTerm 1.x. FlexTerm 1.x installs in its own directory. There is no upgrader from Flexsim CT 2.x to Flexsim CT 3.x. Flexsim CT 3 installs in its own directory, so you can safely install Flexsim CT 3.x on a system concurrently with Flexsim CT 2.x. ie. Flexsim CT 3 can coexist with Flexsim CT 2. When installing Flexsim CT 3.x, any previous CT 3.x installations will be automatically uninstalled before the new installation proceeds. Only Flexsim program files are affected. This means that any models, libraries, or other personal files located in Flexsim CT directories will be unaffected by the uninstall-reinstall process. =============================================================================== Installation Instructions 1. Extract the installer file from the .zip archive to a temporary location. You will get a single .exe file. 2. To install the program, double click the installation .exe. The installation will begin. Follow the installation instructions. You may need to press the Allow button on Windows 7 and Vista to run the installer. 3. After installation is complete, double click the FlexTerm icon to start the program. =============================================================================== License Activation 1. From within Flexsim, go to Help>License Activation. The License Activation window will open. 2. In the License Activation Window, on the Activate tab, you will need your activation IDs. You can look up your activation IDs at our website: http://www.flexsim.com/account/. You can only submit one activation ID at a time. 3. Enter the activation ID and press the "Activate" button to submit each activation ID to the activation server. Wait for a complete response before sending the next ID. 3. Flexsim should now be fully licensed according to your license type (standard, educational, or runtime) and product. 4. Call Flexsim Technical Support at (801)-224-6914 with questions or problems, or visit http://www.flexsim.com/support/ for email support. =============================================================================== Upgrading Models Models built with Flexsim CT 3.x will continue to work in FlexTerm 1.x. Models built with Flexsim CT 2.x will continue to work in Flexsim CT 3.x. In FlexTerm the flexscript parser is much stricter on the number of parameters you pass into commands as well as the type of the parameters. So in updating your older version models, be prepared to get a lot of warnings (this is a feature). However, if you find an instance where you are sure you're passing the correct parameters, but the documentation/check is wrong, please let us know at http://www.flexterm.com/index.php/support/. =============================================================================== Visual C++ A compiler is not required to use FlexTerm. However, if you would like to write C++ code in your models, you will need to obtain and install Microsoft's free Visual C++ Express Edition, available on their website: http://www.microsoft.com/express/Downloads/ If you already have a full-featured development suite, FlexTerm is compatible with Visual Studio 2005 and later.