User Guide Release 4.0 Lumina Decision Systems, Inc. 26010 Highland Way Los Gatos, CA 95033 Phone: (650) 212-1212 Fax: (650) 240-2230 www.lumina.com Copyright Notice Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Lumina Decision Systems, Inc. The software program described in this document is provided under a license agreement. The software may be used or copied, and registration numbers transferred, only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval systems, for any purpose other than the licensee's personal use, without the express written consent of Lumina Decision Systems, Inc. This document is © 1993-2007 Lumina Decision Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The software program described in this document, Analytica, includes code that is copyrighted: © 1982-1991 Carnegie Mellon University © 1992-2007 Lumina Decision Systems, Inc., all rights reserved. Analytica was written using MacApp®: © 1985-1996 Apple Computer, Inc. Analytica incorporates Mac2Win technology, © 1997 Altura Software, Inc. The Analytica® software contains software technology licensed from Carnegie Mellon University exclusively to Lumina Decision Systems, Inc., and includes software proprietary to Lumina Decision Systems, Inc. The MacApp software is proprietary to Apple Computer, Inc. The Mac2Win technology is technology to Altura, Inc. Both MacApp and Mac2Win are licensed to Lumina Decision Systems only for use in combination with the Analytica program. Neither Lumina nor its Licensors, Carnegie Mellon University, Apple Computer, Inc., and Altura Software, Inc., make any warranties whatsoever, either express or implied, regarding the Analytica product, including warranties with respect to its merchantability or its fitness for any particular purpose. Lumina Decision Systems is a trademark and Analytica is a registered trademark of Lumina Decision Systems, Inc. Acknowledgements This Analytica User Guide was written and edited by Lonnie Chrisman, Max Henrion, and Richard Morgan, with contributions from Brian Arnold, Fred Brunton, Adrienne Esztergar, Jason Harlan, Lynda Korsan, Randa Mulford, Rich Sonnenblick, Brian Sterling, and Eric Wainwright. Contents Acknowledgements........................................................................................ ii About Analytica . 1 Welcome! ....................................................................................................... 2 If you don’t read manuals............................................................................... 2 Hardware and software requirements............................................................ 2 Installation and license codes ........................................................................ 3 Editions of Analytica....................................................................................... 5 Help menu and electronic documentation...................................................... 7 Normally, usually, and defaults ...................................................................... 9 Typographic conventions in this guide........................................................... 9 User guide examples folder ......................................................................... 10 What’s new in Analytica 4.0? ....................................................................... 10 Chapter 1: Examining a Model . 15 To open or exit a model ............................................................................... 16 Diagram window .......................................................................................... 17 Classes of variables and other objects ........................................................ 18 Selecting nodes ........................................................................................... 19 The toolbar................................................................................................... 20 Browsing with input and output nodes ......................................................... 21 The Object window ...................................................................................... 22 The Attribute panel ...................................................................................... 23 Showing values in the Object window.......................................................... 24 Printing......................................................................................................... 25 Chapter 2: Result Tables and Graphs . 27 The result window ........................................................................................ 28 Viewing a result as a table ........................................................................... 30 Viewing a result as a graph.......................................................................... 31 Uncertainty views......................................................................................... 32 Comparing results ....................................................................................... 36 Chapter 3: Analyzing Model Behavior . 39 Varying input parameters............................................................................. 40 Analyzing model behavior results ................................................................ 42 Chapter 4: Creating and Editing a Model . 47 Creating and saving a model ....................................................................... 48 Creating and editing nodes .......................................................................... 48 Drawing arrows ............................................................................................ 51 How to draw arrows between different modules .......................................... 53 Alias nodes ................................................................................................. 55 To edit an attribute ....................................................................................... 57 To change the class of an object ................................................................. 58 Preferences dialog ....................................................................................... 59 Analytica User Guide iii Chapter 5: Building Effective Models . 63 Creating a model ......................................................................................... 64 Testing and debugging a model .................................................................. 67 Expanding your model ................................................................................. 69 Chapter 6: Creating Lucid Influence Diagrams . 71 Guidelines for creating lucid and elegant diagrams..................................... 73 Arranging nodes to make clear diagrams .................................................... 75 Organizing a module hierarchy.................................................................... 79 Color in influence diagrams ......................................................................... 80 Diagram Style dialog.................................................................................... 81 Node Style dialog......................................................................................... 82 Taking screenshots of diagrams.................................................................. 83 Chapter 7: Formatting Numbers, Tables, and Graphs . 85 Number formats ........................................................................................... 86 Date formats ................................................................................................ 88 Multiple formats in one table........................................................................ 90 Graphing roles ............................................................................................. 91 Graph setup dialog box................................................................................ 94 Graph templates ........................................................................................ 102 XY comparison .......................................................................................... 105 Chapter 8: Creating and Editing Definitions . 115 Creating or editing a definition ................................................................... 116 The Expression popup menu..................................................................... 120 Object Finder dialog................................................................................... 121 Using a function or variable from the Definition menu .............................. 123 Automatic checking for valid values........................................................... 124 Chapter 9: Creating Inputs and Outputs . 127 Using input nodes ...................................................................................... 128 Creating a choice menu............................................................................. 129 Using output nodes.................................................................................... 131 Input and output nodes and their original variables ................................... 132 Using form modules................................................................................... 132