2.3.9.2  Simulation state

View (see Change view) and Zoom can be changed in the simulation state as well, but otherwise, as in the Edit state. It is described in detail in the section Simulation.

During simulation, major system parameters can be changed from the Control Panel.

2.3.9.2.1  Multithreaded application

In the Edit state, the program is a normal one-threaded Windows application, however, on starting the simulation, a sub thread also starts to compute path elements.

It is necessary to run two parallel threads that you can use the menu, the keyboard and the mouse event during simulation, i.e. the Windows events actuated by the user to be able to control the program even simulation as well.

The main thread monitors the Windows events, controls the program and do the program refresh. The subthread figures out the path elements. Taking into account the current parameter values, it will compose the picture for refresh, and then instruct the Windows to refresh the screen.

To implement steady motion, priority of the program thread running in the background is lower, than that of the main program thread.

2.3.9.2.2  Menu items disabled during simulation

During simulation, the menu items in Table 13 become grey as unavailable:

Table 13. Menu items disabled during simulation

Except view (see Change view) and Zoom, these commands make no sense during simulation. This is why they are disabled. View and zoom during simulation can be used directly by the mouse (with Left and Right mouse button).

These are described in detail in the section Simulation.