Play Options

Simulate in Real Time?

Select this check box if you want the simulation performed in real time.

When you select this setting, the system continuously updates the step size. If the simulation is running too slowly (with respect to the real time), the step size increases; if the simulation begins to run too fast, the step size decreases. As a result, the performance of the automatic real-time simulation step size feature may degrade during simulations that perform computationally intensive operations. Potentially, the step sizes may become very large, resulting in unnatural motion.

By default, the setting is cleared; the Step Size is 0.1 seconds.

Enable Master Clock

A master interval clock for simulation is available so that the simulation time appears to advance at a consistent rate and the visualization occurs at this rate.

There is a difference between the rate at which a simulation computes frames and the rate at which a simulation observes frames. The simulation does not need to observe every frame that it computes. Observation of a frame includes actions such as rendering it, performing clash on it, and updating any data dialog boxes. By having a master clock that defines how often the simulation visualizes frames, you have control over the performance of the simulation and also the appearance of the simulation. The simulation advances normally but only observes the time steps the master clock proposes.

When you specify a consistent time interval for simulation, the visualization advances at this constant rate. Without the master clock, the simulation visualizes every computed frame. If every agent proposes its own time step and these are not synchronized, then visualization occurs much more frequently than you may want. The master clock acts as a filter for all observation agents. If the current time is not one that the master clock proposes, The simulation does not process the observation agents for that time step. If you disable the master clock, you do not have as much control over the visualization.

By default, the master clock is enabled, and the Step Size is defined as 0.1s.

Setting limits enables you to concentrate on a specified subset of the simulation. For example, if a simulation runs for 50 seconds, and you want to see the middle 30 seconds, specify the Start Time as 10 seconds and the End Time as 40 seconds. The simulation runs until the Start Time target as quickly as possible without having any user interaction or observation, then for the next 30 seconds, it runs normally. It ends at the 40 second mark, that is, at the End Time.

By default, Limits are not set.

Select the desired setting:

On

Graphic updates occur.

Off

The result of making this selection is that there are no graphical updates, with the following exceptions:

• Cruising the camera around
• Zooming in and out
• Changing the current view mode
• Switching between applications.

Also, the automatic update defined for any existing section is respected.

Select the desired setting:

Every [specified] compute step

You define the graphics update frequency based on steps. When you set the value to 1, the simulation runs at the same rate as the visualization: that is, this step size controls both the simulation heart beat as well as the visualization update rate. A number other than 1 specifies the visualization update rate: that is, how many steps are executed per graphics update.

Every [specified] seconds

You define the graphics update rate in terms of seconds.

If the simulation pauses, reaches the end, or jumps back to the start (reset), the 3D world is synchronized. Also, stepping forces graphical updates at the end of each step.

Select the desired setting:

On

The tree is visible as the simulation runs.

Off

The tree is not visible