This model and library will allow you to produce a heat map of anything moving in the model - including AGVs and Flowitems. To add this to a model is simply a matter of : 1) Load the attached user library 2) Add objects to the group HeatMapMembers 3) Drop a heat map object (cylinder) into the model - reset and run. With this updated version you can now you can now have multiple mapper objects in the same model showing different groups - made easier by the addition of a 'groupName' label on the mapper. You can easily change the height at which the map is draw using the 'zdraw' label and alter the sampling interval and grid size using the 'heatInterval' and 'resolution' labels. The resolution is the number of divisions per model length unit. In the example model set to metres, a value of 2 gives 4 divisions per square metre. Currently non-flowitems are set to ignore time when the object is in an idle state. HeatMapAnything.fsl HeatMapAnything.fsm

We recently had a customer ask how to draw a flow item label on the flow item object. I thought that this information would be useful to other FlexSim users as well. In the 3D model, drag and drop a Text visual from the Library. Select the text in the 3D model, then copy it to the clipboard using Ctl + C Go to the Toolbox tab, open the FlowItem Bin, and double click the Flow Item of interest. Right click the 3D flow object, and click "Explore Tree" Click in the white space underneath the Flow Item's node, and use Ctl + V to paste the text as a subnode to the flow item. If you zoom out in the Flow Item's 3D view, you will see the text. You can double click on the text and use the General tab to position it wherever you would like. Double click the 3D Flow Item. Underneath the Labels tab, select the green plus sign to add your label. In my example, I added a number label called "Type" with a default setting of 0. Click "OK". Double click the text that you added in step 5 and 6. Underneath the Display tab, click the custom code button next to Text Display. Within the custom code type something like the following: /**Custom Code*/ Object current = ownerobject(c); treenode textnode = param(1); textnode.value = "Type: " + string.fromNum(current.up.Type); //Note: If your label is called something other than "Type", make sure to replace it in both places. Click out of the "FlowItem Bin" tab and back into the "Model" tab. Double click the source where your Flow Item is being created. Underneath the Triggers tab, add an On Creation trigger. Click the green plus next to the On Creation trigger. Hover over Data and select "Set Label". Make sure the text next to the Label field matches the text of the label you set in step 7 and 8. By following these steps, each Flow Item will have a text label that displays the Flow Item label next to the Flow Item object. Please see the attached gif for a demonstration. flowitem-label.gif