First Startup and Simulation Directory

After successfully installing and configuring Java, the first opening of the SecSy-tool will display a dialog with prompts for a “simulation directory”. A simulation directory is a directory with a special structure, that contains all simulation components and configurations in form of text-files. Users can choose between an existing directory or to create a new one.

1.1 Choosing an existing simulation directory

Using an existing simulation directory requires proper structure and content of the directory. Generally, a simulation directory contains subfolders for all kinds of different simulation components (contexts, time generators, …), whereas each subdirectory contains components in form on properties-files exported from Java. The tool will first check the directory structure and then try to extract the components by parsing the properties-files found.

1.2 Creating new simulation directory

Users can create a new simulation directory by setting the system directory to place it. SecSy will create all necessary subdirectories automatically in this case. In case the system directory already contains a directory with the same name as the name for the new simulation directory, SecSy will add a numerical index to the given name to avoid overriding.

In case users want to reuse simulation components of other simulation directories, they can either copy the corresponding property-files in the new simulation directory by hand or use the import-features of SecSy. In the first case, not every import may be successful, because of cross-references among simulation components. It is recommended to use the second alternative.

Notice: SecSy stores the location and name of the last used simulation directory and all known simulation directories in a property file called “General Properties” in the directory of the executable (SecSy.jar). The tool will automatically open the last used simulation directory when it is opened the next time. To change the simulation directory, SecSy provides a “switch simulation directory” function in the system menu.