Home > Define Resources dialog box
Define Resources dialog box
The Define Resources dialog box lets you add or change the resources that are used to process transactions at activities.
In the Resource list at the left of this dialog box, click a resource to define properties, allocations, and attributes that differentiate the resource and set special criteria for when it is initialized, acquired, or released. You can also add additional resources, delete them, or rename them from this list.
Right-click an object in the Resource list to view the commands available on the context menu.
If you are using a repository to manage global enterprise resources, the repository resources can be reused and attached to the document resources. Attached resources are initialized to the same property values as repository resources. The properties of the attached resources, however, can be modified to perform “what-if” analysis without affecting the repository resources.
Resource list
The default resource for activities in a swimlane of a diagram is a Person-type resource named Resource-A. This Person is automatically created when a shape performing a non-zero Task Time is added to a swimlane. When created, Resource-A is also allocated to an Organization represented by the swimlane.
There are restrictions on how resources are organized in the list. For example, a child resource must have the same “root” resource type as the parent resource. The “root” resource types are listed below. The Define Resource Types dialog creates additional resource types within the “root” resource types.
|
Element
|
Description
|
|
Add
|
Adds a resource or folder to the document resources. When using multiple scenarios, the new resource is available to all scenarios.
Folders can create hierarchy within a resource. They can also categorize resources differently than the organization they are in, such as jobs, for collection purposes.
|
|
Rename
|
Changes the name of the selected object. This command is not available for attached resources.
|
|
Delete
|
Deletes the selected object. This command is not available for attached resources.
|
Properties tab
In the Resource list, select a resource to view and edit its properties on the Properties tab.
|
Element
|
Description
|
| Resource Type |
Sets the classification of a resource type.
There are two categories of document resources: organizations and non-organizations. Only non-organizations perform work during a simulation. Non-organizations are allocated to organizations and when the organizations are acquired by activities during a simulation the allocated non-organization resources do the work.
There are restrictions on setting the resource type. For example, a child resource of an organization can only be changed to another organization or labor resource (or their subtypes).
Organizations: Organizations typically represent functions like Marketing, Sales, Development, etc. Organizations don’t perform work, only the non-organizations (e.g. people) allocated to them do, therefore organizations have only a Resource Type property and no values for Count, Hourly Rate, etc.
Non-organizations:
Labor – Human activity, such as people or positions that perform specific jobs.
Equipment – Physical resources such as machines, computers, or other equipment used in an operation.
IT Architecture – Systems, databases, servers, networks, etc..
Tool – Objects required to complete a task, such as a forklift, lathe, or checklist.
Infrastructure – Buildings.
Location – Specific geographical sites, like countries or cities.
|
|
Opens the Define Resource Types dialog box, where you can add, edit, and delete defined resource types. |
|
Use
|
Individual – Single resource.
Pool – A finite number of identical resources.
Unlimited – An infinite number of resources. A resource acquired from unlimited resources cannot be used as a dedicated resource.
|
|
Count
|
Total number of resources available in a resource Pool.
|
|
Hourly Rate
|
The rate of hourly pay for this resource.
|
|
Per use cost
|
The cost incurred for a single use of this resource.
|
|
Schedule
|
Select from the list of all available schedules or click the  button to define a new schedule. Default schedule is defined in the Run Setup dialog box.
|
|
Overtime
|
If this resource is allowed to work overtime, select the Overtime check box and set the overtime pay rate and the maximum number of overtime allowed for the resource.
|
|
Availability
|
If this resource is limited by downtime or some other effect on availability, select the Limited check box and specify a percentage of time in its given schedule that the resource is available.
|
|
Time Away
|
If this resource has Availability limitations, specifies the value of time when the resource is pulled away each time. See example below.
Constant – The same amount of time every time.
Distributed – A range of time.
Expression – A variable, calculated amount of time.
|
Availability and Time Away Example:
In one scenario, a resource has 50% Availability during an 8-hour work shift, so it is available for 4 hours per work shift. If Time Away is a Constant 5 minutes, the resource is pulled away 48 times during its work shift for 5 minutes at a time because 5*48=240 minutes or 4 hours.
Allocations tab
On the Allocations tab, you can allocate resources to other resources, change acquisition order, set queuing method and acquire rules.
The Direct tab lists the allocations of resources that were created using this dialog box. The Effective tab lists allocations resulting from direct allocations, indirect allocations, RACI allocations, and Child allocations.
Resources are allocated to other resources to model how resources are distributed and shared within an enterprise. When a resource is acquired to perform work during a simulation, other resources that are allocated to the acquired resource are also available to perform the work. At activities, resources are acquired by resource type.
|
Element
|
Description
|
| Allocate |
Allocates a resource to the resource selected in the Resource list using the Allocate dialog box. |
| Direct
|
This subtab shows the Resources directly allocated to the selected resource. The allocated resources are organized by resource type because each type can have a different Queuing Method and Acquire Rule that affect the timing of the allocation in a simulation. |
| Resource Types |
This box lists the resource types that have been allocated to the resource selected in the Resource list. Select a Resource Type to see the allocated resources of that type listed in the Allocate ‘Resource Type’ From box. |
|
Queuing Method
|
Specifies the order in which transactions are queued up for available resources.
First In First Out – First queued transaction is set to acquire this resource first.
Last In First Out – Last queued transaction is set to acquire this resource first.
|
|
Acquire Rule
|
Default – Uses the order of resources listed in the Resource Types box to acquire resources sequentially.
Least Utilized – Acquires the free resource that is used the least amount of time during the simulation period to even out resource usage.
Most Utilized – Acquires the free resource that is used the most amount of time during the simulation period to use fewer resources overall.
Minimum/Maximum of Attribute – When you use attributes with resources, acquires the free resource that has the lowest/highest value for the chosen resource attribute. For example, Resource-A, Resource-B, and Resource-C are available (allocated to the organization and not in use) with Skill 5, 5 and 7. Max of Attribute with Skill chosen acquires Resource-C, and Min of attribute acquires Resource-A because Resource-A is first in the search order.
|
| 'Resource Type' From |
This box lists the resources containing the resource type selected in the Resource Types box, and allows you to re-order the allocations, remove them, or jump to the allocation information for the resource from which it was allocated. |
| Remove |
Removes the selected allocation. |
|
Click these up and down buttons to move the selected resource within the allocation order for the allocated resources of the selected Resource Type. |
| Jump To |
Displays the allocation information for the resource from which the selected resource is allocated during a simulated activity. |
| Effective
|
This subtab shows the full set of allocations that are available when the selected resource is acquired by a simulated activity, which includes direct allocations, indirect allocations, RACI allocations, and child allocations. |
| Allocate Child Resources |
On the Effective subtab, select this check box to automatically allocate child resources of the selected resource.
For this setting to be available, you must enable the automatic allocation of child resources on the Settings tab, as described below in "Settings tab".
|
| Allocate 'RACI-type' Relationship Resources |
On the Effective subtab, select this check box to automatically allocate resources having the specified RACI-type relationship with the selected resource.
For this setting to be available, you must enable RACI allocations and specify the relationship type on the Settings tab, as described below in "Settings tab".
|
Allocated To tab
In the resource list, select a resource to view and edit its allocations (where the resource is used) on the Allocated To tab. Separate subtabs display both Direct allocations of resources that were created using this dialog box, and Effective allocations, resulting from existing object relationships, that are available when the listed resources are acquired by a simulated activity.
|
Element
|
Description
|
| Allocate To |
Allocates the resource selected in the Resource list to another resource using the Allocate To dialog box. |
| Direct
|
This subtab shows the resources to which the selected resource is directly allocated. |
| Remove |
Removes the allocation of the resource selected in the Resources list to the resource selected in the Direct subtab. |
| Jump To |
Displays the allocation information for the resource to which the selected resource is allocated during a simulated activity. |
| Effective
|
This subtab shows the full set of resources to which the selected resource is allocated when they are acquired by a simulated activity. This includes allocations resulting from direct allocations, indirect allocations, RACI allocations, and child allocations.
You can right-click a resource in this list, and then select Jump To from the resulting pop-up menu, to display the resource to which the resource is allocated during a simulated activity.
|
Attribute Assignments tab
In the resource list, select a resource to view and edit its attributes on the Attribute Assignments tab. Resource attributes can only be changed when the resource has been acquired and not yet released, and is not of the Organization type.
|
Element
|
Description
|
|
Add
|
Adds an assignment:
Initialization – Specifies to assign attributes at simulation start. Default attribute Location is Resource. You cannot specify Transaction for Initialization.
Acquired – Specifies to assign attributes when the resource is acquired.
Released – Specifies to assign attributes when the resource is released.
You can choose from a list of defined attributes when you define the Name for each assigned attribute.
Use  to move attributes to a different action setting (Initialization, Acquired, Released).
|
|
Delete
|
Removes the selected attribute. No undo.
|
|
|
Defines a Resource attribute, for example Skill_level, in the Define Attributes dialog box.
|
|
|
Uses the Expression Builder to define a value by expression.
|
See the Properties dialog box - Attributes page/Attribute Assignment dialog box for information on defining and assigning attributes.
Summary/Purpose tab
This tab lets you view, add, or change information about the selected resource and its purpose, as a reminder to yourself and other iGrafx users of how to use this resource in models.
Settings tab
The Settings tab appears when the top-level Document Resources folder is selected in the Resources list, or when multiple resources in the list are selected concurrently. The settings here affect all resources in the document, and control the automatic creation of allocations as follows:
Child Resources – Select this check box to have iGrafx automatically create effective allocations from child resources of a resource.
RACI of Type – Select this check box and select a RACI type (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, or Informed) to have iGrafx automatically create effective allocations from relationships of the specified RACI type between attached repository resources. RACI relationships can't be created between local resources.
Enterprise tab
The Enterprise tab appears when the top-level Document Resources folder is selected in the Resources list, or when multiple resources in the list are selected concurrently.
When a repository is open, this tab provides the following actions for managing all enterprise resources in the document:
Update – Attaches new repository resources to the document and updates attached repository resource names and values. If the property value of an attached resource has been modified, the Update command will not reset the value to the current repository value.
Update and Replace – Performs an Update and also resets the properties and relationships of attached repository resources to their current repository values.
Detach – Removes the attachment between the document resources and the repository. All attached resources are converted to local resources.
Related Topics
See Also