SimVoi 306 Example
SimVoi 306 Example
file:///var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_7/349354933.xlsx Model
A B C D E F G H I J
1 Software Decision Analysis
2
SimVoi Overview
Before using SimVoi, you build a model in an Excel worksheet with input cells for
uncertain assumptions, an output value cell, and formulas that describe how the
output value depends on the input assumptions.
Next you use SimVoi's random number generator functions to provide values for
your model's uncontrollable, uncertain inputs.
Then you use SimVoi to run a simulation. SimVoi repeatedly samples the uncertain
inputs, collects the model's input and output values, and summarizes the values
in tables and charts.
SimVoi's results summarize the uncertainty about the output value that depends
upon the uncertain inputs.
Value of information measures how much you should be willing to pay to resolve
the uncertainty about each input variable.
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SimVoi Help
SimVoi Features
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SimVoi Help
Random Numbers
You can use these functions as inputs to your model by typing the function name
and arguments in a worksheet cell.
Or, choose (ribbon) Formulas > fx Insert Function > (category) User Defined, and
select the appropriate function from the list box.
RANDBINOMIAL(trials,probability_s)
RANDBIVARNORMAL(mean1,stdev1,mean2,stdev2,correl12)
RANDCUMULATIVE(value_cumul)
RANDDISCRETE(value_discrete)
RANDEXPONENTIAL(lambda)
RANDINTEGER(bottom,top)
RANDLOGNORMAL(Mean,StDev)
RANDNORMAL(mean,standard_dev)
RANDPOISSON(mean)
RANDSAMPLE(population)
RANDTRIANGULAR(minimum,most_likely,maximum)
RANDTRUNCBIVARNORMAL(mean1,stdev1,mean2,stdev2,
correl12,min1,max1,min2,max2)
RANDTRUNCNORMAL(Mean,StDev,MinValue,MaxValue)
RANDUNIFORM(minimum,maximum)
After you verify that the functions are working properly, you may want to
substitute SimVoi's FAST functions.
SimVoi's FAST functions have minimal error checking and therefore run faster.
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SimVoi Help
For Windows Excel, hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys, and press the V key.
For Macintosh Excel, hold down the Option and Command keys, and press the V
key.
Select the Output Value Cell edit box, and point to a single cell on your worksheet
or type a cell reference.
The Output Value Cell of your model must contain a formula that depends, usually
indirectly, on the model inputs determined by the random number generator
functions.
Information Cells
Select the Information Cell(s) edit box, and specify cells on your worksheet that
are uncertain inputs or other cells you want to monitor.
To select multiple cells, select the first cell or contiguous range of cells, and then
hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Macintosh) while you select
the other cells or ranges of cells.
All cells and ranges you select in the Information Cell(s) edit box must be on the
same worksheet.
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SimVoi Help
You can select non-adjacent cells by typing cell and range references separated by
commas, but it is easier to use the keyboard and mouse together.
Optionally, to show only the edit box so that it is easier to navigate on the
worksheet, click the small box containing a dash at the far right end of the edit
box.
Click on the first cell you want to select with the mouse pointer to make it the
active cell, or click and drag to select a range.
Press and hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Macintosh) on the
keyboard.
Click on another cell you want to select without releasing the Ctrl key or
Command key, or click and drag to select another range.
Once all the desired cells or ranges are selected, release the Ctrl key or Command
key.
Do not click anywhere else with the mouse pointer once you release the Ctrl key
or Command key until you are completely finished making the multiple selections.
If you optionally had hidden the SimVoi dialog box by clicking the small box
containing a dash at the far right end of the edit box, click the small box again to
restore the SimVoi dialog box.
Number of Trials
For Monte Carlo simulation without value of information, type the desired number
of trials. Enter only digits without commas or other punctuation.
If the workbook file type is XLSX, the maximum number of trials is 1,048,574.
If the workbook file type is XLS, the maximum number of trials is 65,534.
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SimVoi Help
Value of Information
For example, if you specify 100 brackets and 100 trials per bracket, SimVoi will
use 10,000 trials for the Monte Carlo simulation.
When you enter the number of brackets and trials per bracket, enter only digits
without commas or other punctuation.
Bivariate Charts
If you specify one or more Information Cells and check the box for Bivariate
Charts, SimVoi will create tables showing r and r-squared for each pair of
variables, using the total number of trials.
SimVoi also creates bivariate XY scatter charts for each pair of variables. These
charts may be easier to interpret if you use 500 points, for example, instead of
10,000 points.
When you type the number, enter only digits without commas or other
punctuation.
Cumulative Charts
If you check the box for Cumulative Charts, SimVoi will create a cumulative
relative frequency chart for each variable, in addition to the usual histogram chart
and summary measures.
The histogram is based on the frequency distribution of the total number of trials.
If you want to minimize the workbook file size, you may specify a smaller number
of points for the cumulative distribution.
When you type the number, enter only digits without commas or other
punctuation.
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SimVoi Help
The Random Number Seed edit box allows you to set the seed for SimVoi's random
number generator functions.
If you do specify a seed, enter only digits without commas or other punctuation.
Decimal values for SimVoi's uniform random number generator are calculated by
dividing a uniformly distributed random integer by 2147483647, i.e., 2^31-1,
which is the function's period.
Unlike Excel's RAND() function, you can use SimVoi at any time to specify an
integer seed, which is used as the previous random integer for the sequence of
random numbers generated by the SimVoi functions.
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SimVoi Help
Simulate Button
For each trial of the simulation, Excel recalculates all functions and formulas on all
open worksheets and workbooks.
For speedier simulations, close all workbooks except the one containing your
model and its random number generator functions.
After you click the Simulate button, you may see a reminder message.
It is very important that you do not press a key and do not click the mouse until all
simulation calculations are finished and the charts are displayed.
If you do press a key or click the mouse, the simulation may be interrupted and
the results will not be reliable.
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Title License Agreement for TreePlan, SensIt, and SimVoi
Definitions The software product, Software, means the Pro, Student, or Trial
version of TreePlan, SensIt, or SimVoi, including the Excel add-in files, associated
example files, and electronic documentation files, and also any updates or
modifications of the foregoing provided by TreePlan Software.
This license agreement, Agreement, means this legal and binding agreement
between you and TreePlan Software for the Software you are about to download,
install, or use.
"Use" of the Software means the use of any of the Software functions to define,
solve, analyze, or obtain results for a user-defined model.
Pro License Upon purchase or receipt of a Pro license, you may install and use
the Pro version of the Software for single individual use on multiple computers, or
you may install the Pro version on a single computer for shared use, but not both.
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and instructors, and the Software may not be used for commercial purposes. Upon
purchase or receipt of a Student license, you may install and use the Student
version of the Software for single individual use on multiple computers, or you
may install the Student version on a single computer for shared use, but not both.
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version of the Software free of charge for single individual use on one computer
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