The Manage Links dialog shows you a complete list of spreadsheets, databases and DPL Programs linked to the model.
External Links | Spreadsheet
The list box on the Spreadsheet tab lists all the spreadsheets to which the model is linked. The "Name" column shows the filename and path of the spreadsheet, the "Type" column tells you the type of spreadsheet, and the "Calc/Init Nodes" column tells you how many nodes of each type are linked to the spreadsheet. For example, "16/6 of 18" means that 16 nodes have calculation links, 6 nodes have initialization links, and that there are 18 nodes in total.
To change the path or filename of a linked spreadsheet, click the Browse button and select the new spreadsheet. Any nodes linked to the previously named spreadsheet will be linked to the newly specified one.
Click the Remove button to remove links to the selected spreadsheet. The links will be removed from any nodes linked to that spreadsheet, and the nodes will become local nodes.
Click the Show Nodes button to see the set of nodes linked to the selected spreadsheet.
To convert the selected spreadsheet to a DPL Program, click the Convert to Calc Program button. The Conversion dialog appears. Once the spreadsheet has been converted to DPL code, it will appear in the DPL Calculation Program section of the Manage Links dialog and any nodes previously linked to the spreadsheet will be linked to the new DPL Program.
External Links | Database (Enterprise and Portfolio versions)
The list box on the Database tab lists all records in the database to which the model is linked. The "Record" column displays the Model ID and Project ID that defines the record. The "Source" column displays the ODBC Data Source. The "Calc/Init Nodes" column tells you how many nodes are linked to each record. While a model is typically linked to one database record, it is possible to link to multiple records. Also, multiple tables may be associated with a record via node definition data. For example, a record for Model ID = 1 and Project ID = 1 may link to data from more than one table. Note that database links are always initialization links.
To change the Data Source to which nodes are linked, click the Browse button. Specify the new database source in the Database Specification dialog. Any nodes previously linked to the Data Source will be linked to the newly specified one.
To change the record to which nodes are linked, type a new model id and project id (separated by a comma) into the Record column of the list. Any nodes previously linked to the record will be linked to the newly specified one.
Click the Remove button to remove links to the selected database record. The links will be removed from any nodes linked to the selected item, and the nodes will become local nodes.
Click the Show Nodes button to see the set of nodes linked to the selected database record.
Links to Programs in the Workspace | Data Definitions Program
A DPL Model may be linked to a DPL Program that contains data definitions. The Data Definitions Program section of the Manage Links dialog allows you to establish and edit this type of link. The values and data in the DPL Program for Data Definitions can be used in both the Influence Diagram and the Decision Tree.
If the model is linked to a DPL Program for Data Definitions, the name of the program will appear in the edit box in this section.
To establish a link to a DPL Program in the workspace for Data Definitions, drop-down the Data Definitions Programs list and select the desired program.
To remove the link to a DPL Program for Data Definitions, drop-down the Data Definitions Programs list and select (none). You will need to remove any references to values in the program from the model.
If the DPL Program for Data Definitions is a converted spreadsheet, you can update the DPL Program if the spreadsheet has subsequently changed-- to do so click the Update button. The modified spreadsheet will be converted to code and will replace the current one.
Links to Programs in the Workspace | Calculation Program
A DPL Model may be linked to a Calculation Program that contains calculations and values to be used in the decision tree of the model. The Calculation Program section of the Manage Links dialog allows you to establish and edit this type of link. The values in the DPL Calculation Program can only be used directly in expressions in the decision tree. Import nodes in the influence diagram can get their data from values in the DPL Calculation Program.
If the model is linked to a DPL Calculation Program, the name of the program will appear in the edit box in this section.
To establish a link to a DPL Calculation Program that already exists in the workspace, drop-down the Calculation Program list and select the desired program.
Note: if you wish to link the model to a program converted from a spreadsheet that the model is currently linked to, use the Convert to Calc Program button in the Spreadsheet tab (see above).
To remove the link to a DPL Calculation Program, drop-down the Calculation Program list and select (none). Any nodes linked to the program will be converted to local nodes.
If the DPL Calculation Program is a converted spreadsheet, you can update the DPL Program if the spreadsheet has subsequently changed. Click the Update button. The modified spreadsheet will be converted to code and the updated code will replace the current code in the DPL Calculation Program.
If you wish to revert the model to be linked to a spreadsheet, click the Revert to Linked button. The links to the DPL Calculation Program will be removed and the links to the spreadsheet re-established. You may be prompted by DPL for the name and location of the spreadsheet if it has been moved or renamed.
Click the Show Nodes button to see the set of nodes linked to the DPL Calculation Program.
Init Override and Calc Override (DPL Portfolio)
If you are using DPL Portfolio and your model is linked to more than one spreadsheet and/or more than one database record, you will see check boxes for Init override in the Spreadsheet and/or Database tab. If your model is linked to more than one spreadsheet, you will also see a check box for Calc override in the Spreadsheet tab. This is because DPL analyzes a portfolio by sending a unique set of inputs (from a database and/or a spreadsheet) and/or a unique set of value model calculations (from a spreadsheet) to a template model for each project that uses the template model.
DPL needs to know which spreadsheet link or database link should be overridden for the initialization links, and which spreadsheet link should be overridden for calculation links when analyzing the portfolio. These links are called the Initialization Override and the Calculation Override. Although you can have multiple records or multiple spreadsheets linked to your model, you can only have one Initialization Override link and one Calculation Override link. These override links are the links for which different sets of data and/or calculations are "swapped out" to create a unique model for each project in the portfolio.
In the Spreadsheet tab of the Manage Links dialog, if you have more than one linked spreadsheet in the list, the Init override and Calc override boxes will appear. Select the linked spreadsheet that you wish to define as the Initialization Override link in the list and check Init override. Similarly, select the link that you wish to define as the Calculation Override link and check Calc override.
The Database tab works the same way to define the Initialization Override for database links. Select the database record link that you wish to define as the Initialization Override and check the Init override box.
The Portfolio column in both lists shows you which links are defined to be the Initialization and Calculation Override.
Versions: DPL Professional, DPL Enterprise, DPL Portfolio
See Also