JaamSim 2026-01 released

[Harry King]

Changes in release 2026-01:

• Outputs for Model Inputs. All model inputs now have a corresponding output that displays its current value and that can be used in an expression. Previously, only a limited number of inputs had a corresponding output, and in some cases they did not work correctly in an expression.
• 'Parent' input for all objects. The Parent input allows the user to designate an object to be the child of another object. When an object is cloned or copied, all its child objects are clone or copied along with the parent. One use for this feature is to display additional information for the clones created by an EntityGenerator.
• 'Set Parent and RelativeEntity' menu item. The context menu (right-click) now includes an entry for setting the Parent and RelativeEntity inputs. In most cases, the position for a child entity should be relative to its parent.
• Drag-and-drop for all objects. Any object that has a child entity or a clone will appear in the Model Builder under the heading 'User-Defined Objects'. SubModels are automatically included by this condition. When dragged and dropped, a user-defined object creates a clone..
• 'Paste Clone' menu item. The context menu now includes an entry for 'Paste Clone' that will insert a clone of a copied object. By creating a clone, the original object will be added automatically to the Model Builder under 'User-Defined Objects', making it easier to create additional clones.
• 'SimShape' object added to Process Flow library. The SimShape object is a 2D version of SimEntity that is based on the Shape object and includes additional inputs for Filled, FillColour, Outlined, LineColour, and LineWidth.
• 'Job Shop Example' model. This example model under Help > Examples is based on the problem described in Chapter 2.7 of “Simulation Modeling and Analysis”, 5^th Edition, by Averill M. Law. The model demonstrates the use of SubModel, SimShape, and child entities.
• 'Image' object added to Graphical Objects library. This object has been added to make it easier for users to learn how to add images to their models. Formerly, it was necessary to use a DisplayEntity for this purpose.
• 'PixelSize' output for ImageModel. This output returns the width and height of the image in pixels.
• 'AlignEntities' input for EntityConveyor. The default setting of FALSE for this input allows an accumulating conveyor to use the same positioning of conveyed entities as a non-accumulating conveyor. It should be set to TRUE for an accumulating conveyor that conveys entities with different lengths.
• 'EntityConveyor Example - with Entities of Different Length' model. This example model under Help > Examples shows how to use an accumulating conveyor when the conveyed entities that have different lengths.
• 'WatchList' input for EntityConveyor. This input allows a change to the TravelTime input to be recognised by an EntityConveyor when one of the objects in the list changes state. Otherwise, a change in the TravelTime input is recognised by the arrival or exit of an entity. A WatchList entry should be provided whenever an expression is entered to the TravelTime input. Otherwise, the TravelTime expression will tested at each event time (i.e. a conditional event) to determine whether or not its present value has changed.
• 'PresentTravelTime' output for EntityConveyor. This output returns the travel time that is being used at present for the conveyor. This time can differ from the value for the TravelTime input if the conveyor has not been updated by the arrival or exit of an entity, or been triggered by an entry in its WatchList.
• 'ServerAndQueue' object removed from the Model Builder. This object is no longer available for dragging and dropping into a model. For backwards compatibility, it is still available for use in existing models.
• Updated 'Nested SubModel Example' model. This example model under Help > Examples has been updated to use a SubModel instead of the ServerAndQueue object, which is no longer available.
• 'RelativeEntity' input accepts an expression. The RelativeEntity input can now accept an expression that returns an entity.
• 'Name' and 'Parent' inputs locked for Simulation. It is not possible to change the name or parent for the Simulation object.
• Default 'Parent' input set to null. Previously, the default Parent was the Simulation object.
• 'NumberDestroyed' output for EntitySink. Returns the total number of entities that have been destroyed by the EntitySink including those during the initialisation period (warm-up). This output is analogous to the 'NumberGenerated' output for EntityGenerator. These two outputs allow the number of entities in progress (i.e. the work in progress) to be calculated.
• Speedup for EntityProcessor with variable capacity. If its Capacity input is an expression, an EntityProcessor checks whether its present capacity value has changed at each event time (i.e. a conditional event). However, if a WatchList input is provided, the capacity is now checked only when triggered by a state change to the objects in the WatchList, which is much more efficient.
• Expression format used for numerical outputs. All numerical outputs are now displayed in expression format to help make it clear that they can be used in expressions.
• Bug fix for 'Show Labels'. An error message is generated if the user attempts delete an EntityLabel while the 'Show Labels' button is turned on. Formerly, the label would be deleted successfully, but it would be restored by the 'Show Labels' button if the model was restarted or if it was saved and reloaded.
• Bug fix for Attributes. Attribute values are returned with the correct unit type prior to the start of a model. Formerly, the unit type was unassigned after a model had been loaded but not started.
• Bug fix for copying a SubModel. Fixes a bug that occurred when a SubModel was copied with the 'Show Labels' button turned off.
• Bug fix for a SubModel label. Fixes a bug that caused the EntityLabel for a SubModel to disappear when the 'Show SubModels' button was turned off.
• Bug fix for deleting a SubModel. A SubModel with clones can now be deleted and restored successfully.

Harry