Using a Tool

If one wants to use later on a model for real computations one needs a software tool which supports modeling and afterwards allows directly to compute the behavior of the model during a simulation process. Many such tools are today available, some highly specialized, others more general ^3.2. Here I will use one new software tool called OKSIMO := Open Knowledge SImulation MOdeling(see: www.oksimo.org). It is open source software which is dedicated for a very general approach to modeling and simulation across most disciplines. After downloading the sources and extracting the files one can directly start working.

Figure 3.6: The frontpage of OKSIMO after start

After starting the program the frontpage opens (cf. figure 3.6). On the right hand side one can see the actual models which are stored in the local model data base. One can start by opening one of these models. The other option is to start by opening a new file to construct a complete new model. We will do this here and we activate the parameters $POP$ and $ChR$ as input parameters and additionally $POP$ also as output parameter (cf. 3.7).

Figure 3.7: Constructing a new model, here 2 input and 1 outputparameter

To connect these parameters we have in OKSIMO several options. One option is to activate a connection box inside the construction field and fill this box with a mathematical formula based on known mathematical operations (cf. 3.8).

Figure 3.8: Filling the f1-box with a formula

Figure 3.9: Final f1-box filled with formula; but adterwards is the formula no longer visible

Another option to fill the f1-box -which is more recommended- is to construct the content of the f1-box explicitly (cf. 3.10 and then using this construct to fill up the f1-box (cf. 3.11).

Figure 3.10: Explicit construction of the content of the f1-box

Figure 3.11: The f1-box filled with an explicit construction, which is visible when double clicked on the box