Learn more about SimEvents

Start Timer - Associate named timer to each arriving entity independently and start timing

Library

Timing

Description

This block associates a named timer to each arriving entity independently and starts the timer. If the entity was previously associated with a timer of the same name, then the block either continues or restarts that timer, depending on your setting for the If timer has already started parameter; the Warn and continue option can be helpful for debugging or preventing modeling errors. Other timers, if any, associated with the arriving entity are unaffected.

This block works with the Read Timer block. To read the value of the timer named in this block, reference the timer name in the Read Timer block. For more information about using this pair of blocks, see Using Timers.

Ports

Entity Input Ports

Label	Description
IN	Port for arriving entities.

Entity Output Ports

Label	Description
OUT	Port for departing entities, which have named timers attached to them.

Signal Output Ports

Label	Description	Time of Update When Statistic Is On
#d	Number of entities that have departed from this block since the start of the simulation.	After entity departure

The initial output value, which is in effect from the start of the simulation until the first update by the block, is 0.

Dialog Box

Start Timer Tab

Timer tag: Name of the timer to associate with each entity.
If timer has already started: Behavior of the block if an arriving entity already has a timer with the specified timer tag.

Statistics Tab

These parameters determine whether certain ports produce data throughout the simulation, produce data only when you stop or pause the simulation, or are omitted from the block. For descriptions of the affected ports, see the preceding table, "Signal Output Ports".

Number of entities departed: Controls the presence and behavior of the signal output port labeled #d.