The technique for linking whole model elements also applies to certain inputs governed by several parameters, especially time-series buttons. Suppose, for example, two Resources were essentially different, but you wanted them both to have the same Maximum Utilisation:
- Select Tables/Resource/Capacity and Lifetime from the main Data menu, and enter a constant
0.5 for Resource 1/Maximum Utilisation.
- Move to the corresponding button for Resource 2 and press <F2>, or click in the formula bar to start editing a formula for Resource 2/Maximum Utilisation.
- Click on the button for Resource 1, or press <F2> again and use the cursor keys, to pick up the internal reference
"Resource 1".MaxUtilisation
– see 4.12.3 Internal references and reference mode.
- Press <Enter> or click the
button to complete the formula.
The button should now display Constant {0.5}
in red, and will update automatically if you enter a different value for Resource 1. Moreover, if you change the type of Resource 1/Maximum Utilisation, and make it an Exponential Growth, the new type and inner parameters (Base and Multiplier) will be replicated in Resource 2.
Linking time-series fields in a tabular dialog
Again you can override this formula, perhaps to set a different Multiplier, while preserving the default Base from Resource 1. Once you set any values within the button for Resource 2/Maximum Utilisation, this also has the effect of anchoring the type of time series, so that if you subsequently change Resource 1/Maximum Utilisation to be an S-Curve, this will not be automatically reflected in Resource 2. Select Unset from the dialog Type menu in order to force Resource 2/Maximum Utilisation in line with its new default construction and values.