USER GUIDE

SIMPLOT 1.6

September 2017
DNV GL - Software

SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER

 Table of Contents

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GETTING HELP
Using Online Help 5
Using the User Guide 7
Conventions Used in this Document 7
Version Information 8
Copyright Information 8
About DNV GL 8
DNV GL Website 9
Contacting Technical Support 9

USING SIMPLOT
Using SimPlot with Synergi Pipeline Simulator 10
Using SimPlot with Synergi 12
Opening SimPlot 13
Opening a Data Source 14
To open a file in SimPlot 14
To open files from multiple directories in SimPlot 14
To filter items in the Data Source list 15
To show the data source list 15
Creating and Editing SimPlot Charts 15
To create a new chart 16
To add additional data items to a chart 16
To change the chart title 16
To edit the chart curves (time chart) 16
To edit the chart curves (distance chart) 17
To edit the charts axes 18
Modifying the Chart View 18
To zoom in and out of a chart 18
To show data points 18
To show data labels 18
To show the chart legend 19
To show the vertical cursor 19
To flatten the tree view 19
To convert .dt files to .dtr files 19
To use relative paths in .simp files 19
To move the chart curve labels 19
To view a chart in full-screen mode 20
To show or hide the grid lines 20
To change the border style 20
Customizing SimPlot Charts 20
To change the plot type 20
To change the font size 21
To change the font type and format 21
To change the foreground and background colors 21
To change the line color and style 21
Viewing a Dynamically Updating Time Chart When Using SimPlot with SPS 21
Adjusting the Timeplot Time Axis 22
Printing Charts 22
Exporting Chart Data to Excel 22
To set Excel export options 22

SimPlot 1.6 2
 Table of Contents

To export chart data to Excel 23

Exporting the Chart Graphic 23
Saving Charts 24

SimPlot 1.6 3
 About DNV GL
Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables
organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100
countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers in the maritime, oil & gas,
energy and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener.

Software
DNV GL is the world-leading provider of software for managing risk and improving asset performance in
the energy, process and maritime industries. Our solutions support a variety of business critical
activities including design and engineering, risk assessment, asset integrity and optimization, QHSE,
and ship management. Our worldwide presence facilitates a strong customer focus and efficient sharing
of industry best practice and standards.

Edition
This edition applies to SimPlot 1.6 and to subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise
indicated in new editions.

Trademarks
All brands and product names are trademarks of the respective owner.

Restricted rights, warranties, and liabilities

The software discussed in this document is provided under a Software License Agreement and may be
used or copied only in accordance with the terms of that license.

All warranties given by DNV GL AS concerning DNV GL asset software are set forth in the Software
License Agreement between DNV GL AS and the licensee.

DNV GL assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document. We reserve the
right to change our software and documentation without notice.

Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to the restrictions defined as “Rights
specified in the license” as set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b) of the DFARS clause 227.7202-3 entitled
Rights in Commercial Computer Software and Commercial Computer Software Documentation.

Copyright notice
© 2017 DNV GL AS.

600 Bent Creek Blvd., Suite 100

Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 USA

+1 717 724 1900

www.dnvgl.com/software

SimPlot 1.6 4
 Getting Help

Getting Help
This Online Help file is designed to help guide you as you use SimPlot. You can access Online Help
through any of the following methods:

l From the main menu, select Help > SimPlot Help to open the Online Help file.
l In dialog boxes, press F1 to view Online Help for the dialog box you are viewing.

To use this Online Help file, click on the Contents or Index tabs located to your left, or use the Search
bar on the right to search for the topic(s) that you want. You can also click on the links at the top and
bottom of each help topic to navigate through the help system. For more information on using the
online help, see "Using Online Help" below.

The SimPlot User Guide provides the same information as the Online Help file, but in portable document
format (PDF). The User Guide is ideal for reading conceptual information or printing entire chapters of
content from the Online Help system.

To search for a topic, use the bookmarks located to your left, or from the main menu, select Edit >
Find or Edit > Search (depending on your version of Adobe Reader) to access Adobe’s search
capability. You can also click on any hyperlinked text to jump directly to related topics.

SimPlot’s help system is available as both an Online Help file and an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. This
comprehensive help system combines the procedures you need to use SimPlot with the detailed
information on the data input methods associated with the software. The Online Help system is ideal for
looking up help topics as you use SimPlot. Simply press F1 while in any dialog box, or click the
appropriate Help button, to open an Online Help topic on the dialog box you are viewing. The User Guide
provides the same information as the Online Help, and is ideal for reading conceptual information or
printing entire chapters of content.

The Technical Communications staff welcomes your feedback on all documentation. Please send your
questions or comments to [email protected].

Using Online Help

SimPlot Online Help is an HTML-based system that is installed in your Synergi Pipeline Simulator
installation directory. You can open the Online Help from the Windows Start menu as well as the Help
menu. You can also press F1 at any time while using SimPlot to open the Online Help. If you are viewing
the SimPlot window, the Online Help will open in your default internet browser.
Navigation tools

The Online Help includes plenty of navigation tools to help you find Help content, including Contents
and Index tabs, breadcrumb navigation, hyperlinks, and cross-references. Refer to the following table
for information on the available navigation tools.

SimPlot 1.6 5
 Getting Help

To... Do This...

Open the Online Help From the menu, select Help > Help and Reference.

-or-

Press F1 on your keyboard.

Search for help by topic name In the help file, click the Contents tab or the Index tab,
and then select the topic name that you want.

Search for help by keyword In the Search bar (located in the top right corner of the
Online Help system), type the text you want to find, and
then click the Search icon. Search results are presented
in a Google-like format.

To search on an exact phrase, enclose the phrase in

quotes. If you do not include the quotes, the Help system
will search on each individual word, regardless of
whether the words appear in the order that you typed
them.

Show or hide the left pane (Contents Click the pane splitter bar arrow to show/hide the left
and Index tabs) of the Online Help pane (Contents and Index tabs).
system

Navigate among previously viewed Click the browser Back or Forward buttons.
topics

Navigate among topics in the Table of Click the Navigate Previous or Navigate Next icons.
Contents

Return to the Online Help system Click the Home icon.

home page

Print a help topic Click the Print icon.

The User Guide provides the same information in the

Online Help file but as an Adobe PDF file. You may find it
easier to print help topics from the User Guide instead of
the Online Help file.

Show or hide all expanding links in a Click the Expand All/Collapse All icon.
heop topic

Remove text search highlighting on a Click the Remove Highlighting icon.

help topic

SimPlot 1.6 6
 Getting Help

Drop-down links

Many topics in the Online Help, including the topic you are reading now, include headings that you can
click to expand subsections, procedures, and definitions. In the toolbar at the top of the help topic, click
the “Expand All” button to expand all drop-down links at once, and also collapse all drop-down links at
once.

Thumbnail images

Many images in the Online Help, including the images used in this help topic, are formatted as
thumbnail images. Simply click on the image to see it in full size. Other images are set to a maximum
width of 100% of your help window size, which allows you to effectively zoom into the image by
increasing the width of the Help window.

Using the User Guide

The User Guide includes a number of features that allow you to quickly navigate through the file to find
the information that you need. In addition to selecting from the bookmarks listed in the Bookmark tab,
you can click on any hyperlink in the text or use the Find or Search feature (depending on your version
of Adobe Reader) to quickly scan for keywords in the text. Keyword searches will often lead you to
hyperlinks that will lead you to topics that include those keywords.

To Do this

Open the User Guide From the main menu, select Help > User Guide.

Use the PDF bookmarks In the Bookmarks tab of the PDF file, expand the levels of the tree
view to locate the topic you want to view.

Use PDF hyperlinks In the PDF file, click on any hyperlinked text to jump directly to the
referenced information. Hyperlinked text is blue. Within the PDF
file, the Table of Contents and Index are also fully hyperlinked.

Search the PDF file From the Adobe Reader main menu, select Edit > Find or Edit >
Search (depending on your version of Adobe Reader).

Conventions Used in this Document

l Menu options, window titles, dialog box titles, and the names of keys on your keyboard always
begin with uppercase letters.
l In procedures, the names of screen elements that you interact with, such as buttons, menu
paths, and dialog boxes, appear in bold type.
l The greater-than symbol (>) separates a higher-level menu item from a submenu item. For
example, the instruction for viewing SimPlot version information uses the sequence Help >
About SimPlot. This means that from the main menu, you should first select Help and then
select About SimPlot from the resulting submenu.

SimPlot 1.6 7
 Getting Help

l Click means to move the cursor to the named location or control, and then click and release
mouse button one (normally the left button). Likewise, right-click means to click and release
mouse button two (normally the right button). Double-click means to click the mouse button
twice in succession.
l Select means to point to a menu or dialog box item and then click on it.
l Procedures typically will not include instructions that are self-evident in a Windows-based
product, including the following:
o Clicking Cancel or pressing Esc to reverse an action or discard changes you made.
o Using Delete options, where their availability and use are easily discerned from a
corresponding Add option.
o Clicking Apply to apply changes without closing a dialog box.
o Clicking Save As Default to set current settings as default values.
o Clicking Refresh to update the screen with changes you have made.
o Clicking + and - buttons to expand and collapse tree views.
o Using toolbar buttons or keyboard shortcuts as alternatives to main menu commands.
o Using the mouse to right-click in lists, the map display, or dialog boxes for contextual
menus.

Version Information
To view SimPlot version information
From the main menu, select Help > About SimPlot.

Copyright Information

About DNV GL
DNV GL
Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables
organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100
countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers in the maritime, oil & gas,
energy and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener.

Software
DNV GL is the world-leading provider of software for managing risk and improving asset performance in
the energy, process and maritime industries. Our solutions support a variety of business critical
activities including design and engineering, risk assessment, asset integrity and optimization, QHSE,

SimPlot 1.6 8
 Getting Help

and ship management. Our worldwide presence facilitates a strong customer focus and efficient sharing
of industry best practice and standards.

DNV GL Website
To access the DNV GL website
l From the main menu, select Help > DNV GL Website.

NOTE: DNV GL’s website URL is www.dnvgl.com.

Contacting Technical Support

To view contact information for DNV GL technical support
l From the main menu, select Help > Technical Support.

DNV GL's Technical Support email address is [email protected].

DNV GL's Technical Communications email address is [email protected].

SimPlot 1.6 9
 Using SimPlot

Using SimPlot
SimPlot enables you to generate charts for a wide range of simulation purposes using data sources from
DNV GL – Software products, including Synergi Pipeline Simulator, Synergi Gas, and Synergi Liquid
Transmission. With SimPlot, you can easily combine different data items for different nodes, facilities,
and other model features into a single chart. You can print those charts, save the charts to several
common graphic file formats, and export the chart data to Microsoft Excel.

However, the types of charts and data that you can view in SimPlot will differ with each DNV GL –
Software product. For example, Synergi products support time charts, while Synergi Pipeline Simulator
supports both time and distance charts. Synergi Pipeline Simulator supports dynamically updated time
charts, whereas Synergi products do not. The way you open SimPlot also differs with each DNV GL –
Software product.

This Online Help file will describe the common functionality that is available for use with all DNV GL –
Software products, and also discusses specific differences associated with each DNV GL – Software
product. "Using SimPlot with Synergi Pipeline Simulator" below and "Using SimPlot with Synergi" on
page 12 discusses in more detail how SimPlot can be used with each DNV GL – Software product.

Using SimPlot with Synergi Pipeline

Simulator
When used with Synergi Pipeline Simulator, SimPlot allows you to generate graphs from the data
computed by TRANS and written to the REVIEW file. You can use SimPlot to generate both Time charts
and Distance charts for a wide range of simulation purposes, including surge studies, control studies,
and inventory

The following figure shows a typical Synergi Pipeline Simulator SimPlot chart where P+, P-, Q+, and Q-
have been plotted for a transfer line in a particular REVIEW file.

SimPlot 1.6 10
 Using SimPlot

Note the following in regard to this chart:

• X axis. The X axis in this chart shows the simulation time, in minutes. (You can also create
Distance charts; the type of chart you are plotting is determined by which tab you select at the
bottom of the tree view.)
• Y axis. This example chart has two Y axes – one for pressure values and another for flow values.
The colored dots below each Y axis match the color of the respective data lines in the chart. For
example, the blue and green dots below the right Y-axis (labeled “BARG”) indicate that the blue
and green data lines in the chart are pressure values that are measured in BARG. Likewise, the
red and maroon dots below the left Y-axis (labeled “M3/HR”) indicate that the red and maroon
data lines are flow values that are measured in m3/hr.
• Legend. The values in the chart’s legend constantly update as you move the mouse across the
chart, to reflect the chart values at the current mouse position. You can move the legend to a
new location by clicking it and dragging it to a new location in the chart, and you can hide by
using the right-click option menu.

NOTE: Click on any of the colored “dots” in the legend or below the axes to hide the
corresponding data line. Click the dot again to bring the data line back.

• Vertical cursor. The “vertical cursor” is a black vertical bar that follows the movement of the
mouse as you slide it across the chart. This cursor allows you to more easily visualize the points
on the chart that are being measured in the legend. The vertical cursor is an option feature
that you can show or hide via SimPlot’s Preferences (Edit > Preferences).

SimPlot 1.6 11
 Using SimPlot

Using SimPlot with Synergi

SimPlot allows you to generate graphs from the data source files that are saved with a Synergi Gas or
Liquid Transmission model (STO file format). Every plottable variable, at every ∆t, is stored in this file.
You can use SimPlot to generate Time charts for a wide range of simulation purposes.

The following figure shows a typical SimPlot chart where pressure and flow values for NodeABC have
been plotted over a four hour period.

Note the following in regard to this chart:

• X axis. The X axis in this chart shows the simulation time, in hours.
• Y axis. There are two Y axes shown in this chart. The Y axis to the right shows flow values. The
Y axis to the left shows pressure values. The colored dots below the Y axes match the colors of
the respective data lines in the chart. For example, the blue dot below the Y axis on the right
indicates that the blue data line in the chart plots flow values for Node ABC. The red dot below
the Y axis on the left indicates that the red data line in the chart plots pressure values for
NodeABC.

NOTE: Clock time cannot be plotted on the Y-axis.

• Legend. The values in the chart’s legend constantly update as you move the mouse across the
chart, to reflect the chart values at the current mouse position. You can move the legend to a
new location by clicking it and dragging it to a new location in the chart, and you can hide by
using the right-click option menu.

SimPlot 1.6 12
 Using SimPlot

NOTE: Click on any of the colored “dots” in the legend or below the axes to hide the
corresponding data line. Click the dot again to bring the data line back.

• Vertical cursor. The “vertical cursor” is a black vertical bar that follows the movement of the
mouse as you slide it across the chart. This cursor allows you to more easily visualize the points
on the chart that are being measured in the legend. The vertical cursor is an option feature
that you can show or hide via SimPlot’s Preferences (Edit > Preferences).

Opening SimPlot
To open SimPlot from Synergi Pipeline Simulator
Windows 7: Click the Windows Start button and select All Programs > DNV GL –
Software > Synergi Pipeline Simulator 10.x > SimPlot.

Windows 10: Click the Windows Start button and select All apps > DNV GL –
Software > SimPlot.

—or—

From Model Builder, select Tools > Modules > SimPlot, or click the SimPlot icon.

To open SimPlot from Viewport

From Viewport, select Tools > SimPlot.

To open SimPlot from Synergi Gas

l Windows 7: Click the Windows Start button and select All Programs > DNV GL – Software
> Synergi Gas 4.x > Utilities > SimPlot.

l Windows 10: Click the Windows Start button and select All apps > DNV GL – Software >
SimPlot.

—or—

From the Synergi Gas main menu, select Tools > SimPlot.

To open SimPlot from Synergi Liquid Transmission

l Windows 7: Click the Windows Start button and select All Programs > DNV GL – Software
> Synergi Liquid Transmission 1.0 > Utilities > SimPlot.

l Windows 10: Click the Windows Start button and select All apps > DNV GL – Software >
SimPlot.

—or—

SimPlot 1.6 13
 Using SimPlot

From the Synergi Gas main menu, select Tools > SimPlot.

—or—

Select a map element, right-click, and select Charts > SimPlot.

To exit SimPlot
From the main menu, select File > Exit.

Opening a Data Source

The data source that you open in SimPlot varies depending on which DNV GL – Software product you
are using.

When using SimPlot with Synergi Pipeline Simulator, you must open a REVIEW file that has been
created by Synergi Pipeline Simulator. The REVIEW file is a binary file created by TRANS that contains
data for user-defined values for each time step taken. This data is used by SimPlot to produce Time plots
and Distance plots.

When using SimPlot with Synergi Gas or Liquid Transmission, you simply launch SimPlot from Synergi
as described in "Opening SimPlot" on the previous page. The data source files that are saved with a
Synergi model (STO file format) contain the data used by SimPlot to produce Time charts.

You can also open SimPlot charts that you have already created and saved as SIMP files. SIMP files save
the chart plus any edits you have made through the Edit Chart dialog box (which includes settings for
the chart title, curves, and axes). Changes made through the Customization dialog box are not saved.
The zoom level, legend location, label locations, and curve visibility are also not saved.

Refer to the following procedure for more information.

To open a file in SimPlot

1. From the SimPlot main menu, select File > Open.

2. In the Open dialog box, select the name of the file that you want to open and then click Open.

NOTE: SimPlot cannot open any files where spaces exist in the file name or the path.
Make sure that all spaces are removed from the file name and path before you try to
open a data source.

To open files from multiple directories in SimPlot

1. From the SimPlot main menu, select File > Open.

2. In the Open dialog box, in the File Name box, type the full path (enclosed in quotes) to each file
you want to open. For example:

C:\dir1\model1.review” “C:\dir2\model2.review”

SimPlot 1.6 14
 Using SimPlot

—or—

Use the Search box to find and display multiple files, and then press CTRL + Click to select files
from multiple directories.

3. Click OK.

To filter items in the Data Source list

1. From the SimPlot main menu, select Edit > Preferences.

2. In the Preferences dialog box, select the Filter tab.

3. Use the text boxes to enter filter criteria for the items in the Data Source Explorer list. For
example:

l Enter pipe* to show any items that begin with pipe.

l Enter * :p* to show any items that include :p anywhere in its name.

Each filter criteria is applied independently. In other words, items will be shown in the
Data Source Explorer list as long as they meet any one of the filter criteria.

4.  Click Apply to apply the changes, or click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.

To show the data source list

l If you accidentally close the Data Source Explorer list, you can restore it back by selecting
Window > Data Source Explorer from the SimPlot main menu.

Creating and Editing SimPlot Charts

The type of chart (time or distance) you are creating is determined by the tab you select at the bottom
of the tree view in SimPlot. Note that Synergi Pipeline Simulator supports both Time and Distance
charts, whereas Synergi only supports Time charts.

You can create a chart by locating the data item in the tree view that you want to plot and then double-
clicking it. To add additional data items to an existing chart (which would be the currently active chart
window), right-click on each data item and select Add to Chart. You can create additional new charts by
double-clicking on other data items.

Once you have added the data items to the chart, you can customize it further by using the chart
editor. You can use the chart editor to:

l Add and remove data items from the chart.

l Add labels for each curve in the chart.
l Change the color of each curve in the chart.

l Change the labels and the minimum and maximum values for each axis in the chart.

Refer to the procedures listed below for more information on creating and editing charts.

SimPlot 1.6 15
 Using SimPlot

To create a new chart

1. If you are using Synergi Pipeline Simulator with SimPlot, at the bottom of SimPlot’s tree view,
select vs. time if you want to create a time chart, or vs. dist if you want to create a distance
chart.

-or-

If you are using Synergi with SimPlot, you will only be able to select vs. time to create a time
chart.

2. In SimPlot’s tree view, locate the data item that you want to plot in the chart.

3. Double-click the data item, or right-click and select New chart.

NOTE: To add multiple data items to a chart at once, hold the Shift or Ctrl keys
as you select them in the tree view, and then right-click and select New Chart.

To add additional data items to a chart

1. In SimPlot's tree view, locate the data item that you want to add to the active chart.

2. Right-click and select Add to chart.

NOTE: To add multiple data items to a chart at once, hold the Shift or Ctrl keys as you
select them in the tree view, and then right-click and select Add to Chart.

To change the chart title

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Edit Chart.

2. In the Edit Chart dialog box, select the General tab.

3. In the General tab, type the Main Title and Sub Title, if appropriate, that you want to use for
the chart.

4. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close the dialog box.

To edit the chart curves (time chart)

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Edit Chart.

2. In the Edit Chart dialog box, select the Curves tab.

SimPlot 1.6 16
 Using SimPlot

3. In the Edit Chart dialog box, use the Curves tab to do the following:

To: Do this:

Add data items to the chart Click the ... button in an empty row in the grid, then
use the Select Peek dialog box to select the data
item that you want to add to the chart.

Remove data items from the Select the row that you want to delete, then press
chart the Delete key on your keyboard.

Change the label for a chart In the Label column, select the cell that you want
curve to edit and then type a new label. If the field is
blank, then the peek name will be used as the
curve’s label.

Change the color for a chart In the Color column, select the cell that you want
curve to edit and then select a new color choice.

4. Click OK to close the dialog box and return to the chart view.

To edit the chart curves (distance chart)

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Edit Chart.

2. In the Edit Chart dialog box, select the Curves tab.

3. In the Edit Chart dialog box, use the Curves tab to do the following:

To: Do this:

Add data items to the chart In the Attribute column, click an empty cell and then
select a data item from the drop-down list.

Remove data items from Highlight the row that you want to delete (by clicking
the chart the row number), then press the Delete key on your
keyboard.

Change the label for a chart In the Label column, select the cell that you want to
curve edit and then type a new label.

Change the color for a chart In the Color column, select the cell that you want to
curve edit and then select a new color choice.

4. Click OK to close the dialog box and return to the chart view.

SimPlot 1.6 17
 Using SimPlot

To edit the charts axes

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Edit Chart.

2. Use the Axis Settings tab to change the minimum or maximum values or the label for any of
the charts axes. To change a default value:

a. Select the check box next to the value that you want to change.
b. Type the new value in the text box.
3. To specify a look-back interval for the X-axis of a time chart, select the check box next to Look
back interval. Enter a time value in the text box, and specify the interval in the drop-down list
(for example, 30 minutes or 3 hours).

4. Click OK to close the dialog box and return to the chart view.

NOTE: Additional options for editing and customizing charts are provided in
Modifying the Chart View and Customizing SimPlot Charts.

Modifying the Chart View

Once you have created a chart, there are a number of options you can select from as you are viewing
the data in the chart. You can zoom to key areas of the chart, as well as view the chart in a full-screen
mode. You can also show data points and data labels, as well as show or hide the chart legend and
vertical cursor.

To zoom in and out of a chart

1. Drag the mouse over the area where you want to zoom. Repeat this step to zoom further.
2. Right-click and select Undo Zoom to return to the default view.

To show data points

l Right-click in the chart view and select Mark Data Points.

To show data labels

l Right-click in the chart view and select Include Data Labels.

NOTE: For charts with large numbers of data points, the data points and data labels are
best viewed after you have zoomed into the chart. Data points and data labels viewed at
the chart’s default view will probably be too cluttered to be of much use.

To customize the characters used to show the data points, see "To change the line color and style" on
page 21. To customize the fonts used to show the data labels, see "To change the font type and format"
on page 21.

SimPlot 1.6 18
 Using SimPlot

To show the chart legend

l Right-click in the chart view and select Show Legend.

NOTE: Drag the legend to different locations in the chart view so that it does not
obscure the data in your chart. The colored “dots” in the legend are “clickable” – click
the dot to hide the corresponding data line, and click it again to bring the data line back.

To show the vertical cursor

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Preferences.

2. On the General tab of the Preferences dialog box, select the Show Vertical Cursor check
box.

To flatten the tree view

This option displays all devices of the same type at the same level in the tree view. For example, all
pipes and their attributes are displayed immediately below the "transfer line, T" level. This option
makes it easier to chart attributes from multiple devices simultaneously. Select the items to plot, right-
click the chart, and then select New Chart.

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Preferences.

2. On the General tab of the Preferences dialog box, select the Flatten tree view check box.

To convert .dt files to .dtr files

Use this option to control whether or not to convert to .dtr.

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Preferences.

2. On the General tab of the Preferences dialog box, select the Convert .dt files to .dtr files
check box.

To use relative paths in .simp files

This option causes the path to the data source that is saved in the .simp file to be saved using a relative
path. The path is relative to the location of the .simp file, which means you can now copy/move folder
structures without having to adjust the paths in the .simp files (as long as the relative location of the
data source to the .simp file stays the same).

1. From the main menu, select Edit > Preferences.

2. On the General tab of the Preferences dialog box, select the Use relative paths in .simp
files check box.

To move the chart curve labels

l In the chart view, select the label for a curve and drag it to a new location.

SimPlot 1.6 19
 Using SimPlot

To view a chart in full-screen mode

1. In the chart-view, right-click and select Customization.

2. In the Customization dialog box, click Maximize.
3. Press Esc to exit the maximized mode and return to the regular Windows view.

To show or hide the grid lines

1. Right-click in the chart area and select Customization.

2. In the Customization dialog box, select the General tab.
3. In the General tab, under Grid Lines, select from Both, X, Y, or None.
4. Select or clear the Grid in front of data check box to specify whether you want the grid lines to
appear in front of or behind the chart data.
5. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close the

To change the border style

1. Right-click in the chart area and select Customization.

2. In the Customization dialog box, click the General tab.

3. Under Border Style, select from No Border, Shadow, Line, or 3D Inset.

4. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close the dialog box.

Customizing SimPlot Charts

SimPlot allows you to customize a number of features on the chart you are viewing. These features
include font types, line styles and colors, and background styles and colors. You can change the chart
from a line chart format to a number of different plot types, including a bar chart, area chart, and
several varieties of point charts.

The changes you make in this dialog box are not saved with the chart. Once you close the chart
window, the customizations are lost.

To change the plot type

1. Right-click in the chart area and select Customization.

2. In the Customization dialog box, select the Plot tab.
3. In the Plot tab, under Plot Style, select that style that you want to use in the chart. Also, select
Mark Data Points if you want to show each individual data point on the chart.
4. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close thedialog box.

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To change the font size

1. From the SimPlot main menu, select Edit > Preferences.

2. In the Preferences dialog box, click the General tab.
3. Under Font Size, select from Large, Medium, or Small.
4. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close the

To change the font type and format

1. Right-click in the chart area and select Customization.

2. In the Customization dialog box, select the Font tab.
3. Use the Font tab to select a font style and formatting options (bold, italic, and underline) for the
chart’s main title, subtitle, and labels.
4. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close the dialog box.

To change the foreground and background colors

1. Right-click in the chart area and select Customization.

2. In the Customization dialog box, select the Color tab.
3. Use the Color tab to select colors and styles for different areas of the chart.
4. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close the dialog box.

To change the line color and style

1. Right-click in the chart area and select Customization.

2. In the Customization dialog box, select the Style tab.
3. Use the Style tab to select a line color, point type, and line type for each line in the chart.
4. Click Apply to apply the changes and continue working in the dialog box, or click OK to accept
the changes and close the dialog box.

Viewing a Dynamically Updating Time Chart

When Using SimPlot with SPS
If you are viewing data from a REVIEW file and that file is being actively run in an Synergi Pipeline
Simulator simulation, the time chart will update automatically as data is written to the REVIEW file.
You should be aware of the following settings, which can help control how data is displayed in the chart:

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• Look back interval. The look back interval, on the Axis Settings tab of the Edit Chart dialog box,
specifies that your chart will only display data for a fixed period of time, such as the last 30
minutes or the last 3 hours. Use this setting if you are only interested in viewing the most
recent data from your simulation.
• Maximum number of data points. Similar to the look back interval, the Maximum number of
data points setting will limit the data that is shown in any curve to a fixed number. The default
is 100,000 data points. You may need to modify this setting if you start experiencing
performance or memory issues while dynamically updating a chart.

Adjusting the Timeplot Time Axis

Timeplots in SimPlot normally adjust themselves according to the time zone of the local computer. If
necessary, you can adjust the Time axis to a particular time to account for different time zones. For
example, if you live in New York and you receive a review file from someone in California indicating an
event happened at 3 PM, when you look at the review file, the event will have happened at 5 PM.

To adjust the timeplot time axis

1. Since SimPlot reads the sps.settings file from its Startup folder, add the appropriate time zone
setting to the sps.settings file, and then add the sps.settings file to the SimPlot Startup folder.
2. Create a shortcut to SimPlot that specifies the SimPlot Startup folder.

Printing Charts
To print a SimPlot chart
1. From the main menu, select File > Export/Print Chart.
2. In the Exporting dialog box, under Export Destination, select Printer, then click Print.
3. Use the Printing dialog box to select a printer and set other print options, then click OK.

Exporting Chart Data to Excel

To set Excel export options

1. From the SimPlot main menu, select Edit > Preferences.

2. Click the Excel tab. Use the Excel tab to set the following options.

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Always use If selected, specifies a single location where exported files will be
this folder saved. All exported files will be saved directly to this folder. The
for CSV files default folder is C:\temp\SimPlot.

NOTE: Make sure that the path name that you enter
already exists on your PC. SimPlot cannot create
folders that do not exist in the specified path.

Use If selected, set the time interval for reporting in either minutes or in
reporting hh:mm:ss format. You can also set the reporting interval to use
interval averages.

Fill in If selected, missing values will be automatically generated. This

missing setting is recommended when you select Use reporting interval.
values

Use If selected, daylight savings time is used.

Daylight
Savings
Time

3. Click OK.

To export chart data to Excel

1. Right-click in the chart area and select Export to Excel.

2. Use the Save As dialog box to specify the name of the exported file and the location where you
want to save it.
3. Click Save.

NOTE: The exported file will be saved in CSV (comma-separated value) format.

Exporting the Chart Graphic

Perform the following procedure to export a SimPlot chart as a BMP, JPG, or PNG file.

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NOTE: For information on exporting the chart data to Excel format, see Exporting
Chart Data to Excel.

1. From the main menu, select File > Export/Print Chart.

2. In the Exporting dialog box, under Export, select one of the three graphic file formats (BMP,
JPG, or PNG.

3. Under Export Destination, select whether you want to save the graphic to the Clipboard or to a
File. If you select File, click the Browse button to specify the file name and select the folder
location where the file will be saved.

4. Under Object Size, change the values under Width, if desired, to change the size of the exported
file.

5. Click Export.

Saving Charts
By saving a chart as a *.SIMP file, you can reopen the chart at any time, without having to add back in
the attributes from your model. SimPlot will save not only the chart, but also any edits you have made
through the Edit Chart dialog box (which includes settings for the chart title, curves, and axes).
Changes made through the Customization dialog box are not saved. The zoom level, legend location,
label locations, and curve visibility are also not saved.

The SIMP file can only be used to open charts in SimPlot. For information on exporting the chart to
common image formats, including BMP, JPG, and PNG formats, see "Exporting the Chart Graphic" on
the previous page. For information on exporting the chart data to Excel, see "Exporting Chart Data to
Excel" on page 22.

To save a SimPlot chart

1. From the main menu, select File > Save Chart.

2. If this is the first time you have saved the chart, the Save As dialog box will display. Use the Save
As dialog box to specify the name of the file and folder location where you want to save the chart,
and then click Save.

If you have already saved the chart as a *.SIMP file, the chart will save automatically. To save
the chart as a new SIMP file, select File > Save Chart As.

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