Can we create a background thread in FlexSim that do some tasks once a second?

[yue_y]

[ FlexSim 19.1.0 ]

I want to create a thread and let FlexSim report some data to another server once a second. Is it possible to create a separate thread that does this job?

[Jacob_Gillespie · Accepted solution]

To create a thread you would have to use C++. See this answer for an example of using a thread.

You might be able to do this with the setticker(node thenode[, num tickspersecond]) command.

[yue_y]

Thank you Jacob, any tutorial on writing C++ in FlexSim?

[yue_y]

Also, I am not looking for the exact thread concept. Anything with the behavior that executes a FlexScript snippet once a second on the side is enough

[Jacob_Gillespie]

@Yue Y That's what setticker() does. It executes a flexscript / cpp node x times per second.

[yue_y]

Is this command executed separately from the the simulation process? Will it block the whole simulation?

[Jacob_Gillespie]

Yes it will block

[yue_y]

Will it block between two execution or it will only block during execution?

[Jacob_Gillespie]

It will block only during execution, not between.

[Jacob_Gillespie]

Here are some links about using c++:

Running compiled model C++ in a pc without Visual Studio

How to get started with C++?

[yue_y]

Could you give an example of using setticker? Especially what does the first parameter look like?

[Ben_WilsonADSK]

Hi @Yue Y,

Please find attached a sample model showing usage for setticker(). In my testing, it appears that the tickspersecond parameter must be >=1.

Call setticker() after the model run has started - for instance on some object or model trigger, or on a scheduled user event.

setticker-example.fsm

[yue_y]

Thank you Ben! I am running the example you provided, is there a way to stop this script programmably or manually?

[yue_y]

I found it in the user manual:

setticker(0) can be used to turn off the execution

[yue_y]

Hi Ben @Ben Wilson, how did you add the ticketLogic in Tools folder?

[Ben_WilsonADSK]

Hi @Yue Y,

Here is how I added a new node into the Tools folder (via right-click on the Tools node, but would work for any parent node):

Here is how I added ability to add text to the node:

Here is how I toggled the node to be a FlexScript node:

[yue_y]

The command executes the node for "tickspersecond" times every second of physical time. Is there any similar function that works for simulation time(eg. execute once every 5 simulation time units)? I am considering using physical time x speed in this function but if the simulation is stopped or blocked, this function will still be executed. Any other command that I can use?

[philboboADSK]

If you want to repeatedly execute a function in simulation time, use a repeating User Event:

[yue_y]

Could you please give an example of creating an user event that can execute custom code repeatedly in FlexScript? Thank you!

[philboboADSK]

I did in the screenshot above. It executes the Event Code repeatedly.

• Add a user event
• Check the "Repeat event" box
• Specify the Repeat Event Time
• Edit the Event Code

This is a standard toolbox item. You just use it. No example is needed.