Debugging a Flowchart

The Flowchart Simulation Debugger is a simple tool that allows you to trace and examine the output of an event analysis flowchart by running a step-by-step simulation through each block. You can access the tool by clicking the Debug icon on the control panel of the diagram or by choosing Simulation > Debug.

This opens a window that starts the debugging session. The flowchart being evaluated is displayed in the upper window, while details about the progress of the session are displayed in the bottom window.

Tip: Event analysis flowchart simulations are based on the properties of the flowchart blocks, event analysis resources and the configuration of the flowchart. If your flowchart does not behave as intended, see the Flowchart Configurations and Execution topic for help.

The Debug window includes the following commands:

  Run begins a simulation of the flowchart and displays the result of each step in the simulation. You can control the speed of the simulation and other factors via the Debug Options window.

  Step Into allows you to view one step of the simulation at a time. Each time you click the Step Into command, the software executes the next step in the flowchart. The current block is highlighted in the flowchart, and the details of the step are displayed. If the next block in the flowchart is a subchart block, the simulation steps inside the subchart to show the details.

  Step Over allows you to execute the subchart in the simulation without stepping inside the subchart.

  Step Out is available only when you are viewing the progress of the simulation of a subchart. It allows you to step out of the subchart and continue the flow of the simulation in the parent flowchart. The subchart will be executed, but that part of the simulation will not be shown.

  Stop halts the simulation.

  Options opens the Debug Options window, which allows you to control how the debug session simulates the flowchart.

• The Use a Seed check box allows you to specify a starting point from which the random numbers used in the debug session will be generated. The same random numbers and, therefore, the same simulation results will be generated when the same seed value is used.
• The Number of Simulations field allows you to specify how many individual simulations in the flowchart should be performed during the debug session.  
• The Show Inside Subdiagrams check box allows you to display the simulation of the subchart when using the Run command. If cleared, the subchart will be executed, but that part of the simulation will not be shown.
• The Time Delay field allows you to specify the amount of time, in seconds, between steps when using the Run command.

 End Session closes the Debug window.