a. If the same seed is used under Modeller and Processor, will simulation results be the same?

There are two options in configurations setting: (1) seed ###; (2) split seed. According to our experiements, "split seed" is required together with the same seed in order to generate same results. Also, network needs to be saved in V6.

Let's see the difference of the use of split seed. It was found that it doesn't matter if split seed is used under Processor. But, it matters under Modeller.

b. How to use Processor?

V6 Processor is one of the most attractive modules of V6 since Processor can use other computers in the local network for production runs. Below is a precedure how to do it:

(1) Download and then install Paramics V6 in the computer (called main computer) with Paramics dongle and valid V6 license;
(2) Download and then install ProcessorNode (ParamicsV6_PNode_Setup.exe) to other computers that you want to use for production runs;
(3) Make sure all computers are under the same domain or the workgroup of a local network.
(4) Start Processor and then it'll find all computers with ProcessorNode running. Then user can establish a workspace, add networks, add simulation runs, and start runs.

Please note:

(1) User may need to setup different host list, each may have different computers. For example, one host list may include all computers. Since you may not want you computer to run production runs sometimes and thus you can simply have another host list that doesn't include your computer.
(2) If your network needs to use plugins, please make sure to copy these plugins to those computers for production runs. The preferred folder is the ProcessorNode root folder (\Program Files\ProcessorNode\). Correspondingly, the network you'll simulate need to specify plugin name only in the programming file.
(3) If Processor simulates a network that needs a plugin, only data output to Log folder will be sent back to the main computer.
(4) Output data of processor run will be sent back to main computer when the run is completed.

Thanks Surachet Pravinvongvuth of Cambridge Systematics for the study.

c. Can API plugins that were built in earlier versions like V5 be used in V6?

If GUI related API functions are not used in the plugin, it should be able to be directly used in V6. If not, these plugins must delete the GUI part or be re-developed by using new GUI functions.

For UCI plugins, they don't have problems to be run in Modeller but they will crash Processor directly. It seems there is no way to debug Processor version of plugin in V6. After a day's investigation, it was found qpg_UTL_licenseID() does not return dongle ID (returns NULL) in Processor. A possible reason for the new feature might be that Processor is supposed to have ability to use other computers in the same LAN to do production runs. According to V6 manual, "other computers" don't need to have Paramics license. I guess they need to run processorNode (i.e. processor engine, which does the simulation run), which must disable its license checking in order to proceed.

d. Which Operation systems are supported by Paramics V6 ?

We tested in the following OS so far: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista.

V6 saves the Paramics executables are stored in "C:\Program Files\paramicsv6". V6 has its data folder which is a hidden folder. When V6 is installed to 2000 and XP, the Paramics data folder is " C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\paramics". When V6 is installed to Windows Vista, the Paramics data folder is "C:\Paramdata. In order to show these folders in file explorer, please Tools->Folder Options -> View -> Advanced Settings, and then select "Show hidden files and folders".

e. Can V6 be installed together with an older version?

Basically, V6 can't be installed if an older version exists. User can keep old version using the following method: (1) Copy files in ParamicsV5 folder to another folder, say ParamicsV5Copy. (2) Remove ParamicsV5. (3) Install Paramics V6. Both versions will work. The older version can be run from the ParamicsV5Copy folde. Thanks for Scott Aitken to share the information.

Another method: Install the historical version support module.

f. Annotation

Annotation in V6 is different. Annotations in old version of Paramics won't be accepted in V6. V6 save annotation data in xml format. Its corresoponding file is annotation.xml.

g. Open an old network established in an older version and then found all curve links have problems.

Please open configuration file and then add "right hand drive" to a separate line.

h. Overlay

Some computers may fail to display overlay. The bug has been reported.