This dialog will appear when you add a new Dashboard assignment to a SIMPROCESS model. Its operation is described below.
Dashboard Name is assigned for you initially. The name is not truly meaningful, as the name of a Dashboard to a Dashboard Server is the name of the ".spd" file in which it is defined. However, a unique name must be chosen so that SIMPROCESS can readily identify the assigned Dashboard and its properties.
Server Address is the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the host machine where a Dashboard Server is expected to be running when this SIMPROCESS model is simulated. The default value of "localhost" is provided. This special IP address will resolve on any system equipped with network hardware. You may use an actual IP address (such as 192.168.1.2), or any name (if a Domain Name Server is available to your system) that will correctly resolve to an IP address.
Server Port is port on which the Dashboard Server at the specified IP address is expected to be listening for messages. A port is analogous to a frequency on a radio. The default port at which a Dashboard Server will listen is 5555, though you can select any port between 1025 and 65535.
Dashboard File identifies an actual ".spd" file previously created (see Define Dashboards for more). The file must be present, and its XML content must correctly parse in order for it to be selected. You may type in the complete or relative path to a valid Dashboard file or navigate to it using the Browse button. If possible, SIMPROCESS will convert the path to one relative to the model file by removing the common portion of the path and placing "./" there (this works on all supported filesystems). This will allow your dashboard reference to remain valid no matter where your model file resides if the dashboard file is also kept in the same relative position. For best results, dashboard files should be kept in the same directory with any model file referring to them, or in a subdirectory at the same location.
Buttons
Clicking the OK button will save your selections, provided they are valid, and dismiss this dialog. To be valid, you must have entered a unique name, a value in the Server Address field, a valid numeric Server Port, and a valid Dashboard file that exists and will correctly parse.
Clicking the Cancel button will dismiss this dialog without creating the new Assigned Dashboard entry.
Clicking the Help button will display this Help topic.
Important Note
Assigning a Dashboard to your SIMPROCESS model will not alter its normal behavior. If there is no Dashboard Server running on the computer whose IP address you provided, or if it's listening at a different port than the one you've entered, your model will in no way be impacted. It will send the messages in any event. It's up to you to ensure that the values you select for Server Address and Server Port will resolve to a running Dashboard Server if you wish to have the values plotted, and that the server has a copy of the ".spd" file referred to in your assignment.