Frequently asked questions
Q
What is an app and how do I get one?
Apps are designed to provide content and or utility to a user. Some apps are very basic and are available to all users while other apps may be purpose built for a specific person, workgroup or enterprise. An app built on the Vector Platform may run on a variety of devices (mobile, pc, desktop). A commonly used app is the Data Repository where users may find, retrieve, generate and store data.
Apps are currently created by Vector Economics and select partners. Based on your subscription level apps are made available to your account and accessible via the My home page.
Q
Where do I get an account and password?
Click here to register for an account.
Q
How do I run an interactive simulation?
Interactive simulation is supported in applications built on the Vector Platform. Those applications are built by Vector Economics and select partners. To perform interactive simulations via Excel a tool like RiskSolver or XLSim3 is currently needed. Native support for interactive simulation (in Excel) is a feature we are developing for the Analyst edition. Select the Vector Connector context menu or visit My home to view the latest applications and features available to your subscription level.
Q
How do I access an app context from Excel?
From Excel for Windows select any cell and hit the right mouse button. The Vector Connector menu will display the objects exposed by the currently active app as well as a list of available apps.
Q
What is a Vector Connector?
The Vector Connector is a light-weight piece of software that installs on various devices and creates a container for the Vector Platform. This allows data and applications to be shared across the Vector network.
Developers may reference JavaScript libraries via the Vector Platform from within Excel and vice versa.
Plaftorm Version Installer
XP, Vista, Windows 7 & later (coming soon)
2.6+ kernel Linux distributions (coming soon)
Q
How can I support DISTs in my software application?
There are several options for incorporating DISTs into software applications.
Before you start, stop by ProbabilityManagement.org and review the DIST license agreement. The specification is open and free to use but does require attribution.
Option 1 – Program your own DIST encoder and decoder using the pseudo code provided at ProbabilityManagement.org. There are two functions and it shouldn’t take an experienced programmer more than a few hours to implement. ProbabilityManagement.org offers testing and certification services.
Option 2 – Find an open source version of the encode/decode functions in the language you desire. Check ProbabilityManagement.org for possible locations.
Option 3 – Use our (forthcoming) SDK to incorporate DIST encode/decode functions into your app free of charge. Advantages include automatic version support, increased trial counts in Excel, optional access to visualization and computation modules, and support for various deployments including SaaS. Contact us for details.
Q
What do you mean when you say 'distribution'?
Uncertain numbers like next quarter's sales or the cost of next month's mobile phone bill may be represented as a range of possible values. The values in the range may have different likelihoods of occuring. Think of a distribution as a shape that depicts the range of values and likelyhoods.
Q
What deployment options do you support?
The Vector Economics platform may be installed as a light weight local server (node), a cluster of private cloud nodes, and/or accessed via this website as a SaaS offering. Installing a node only takes a few minutes. Each node may be configured to communicate with others nodes in a Vector network. You decided if you'd like to work privately, connect with a work group, or share your work with the public.
Some business may be required to store sensitive data on-premise inside the fire-wall - no problem. Other businesses have started the move toward cloud computing - no problem. Vector nodes may be deployed locally, in the cloud, or in a hybrid deployment model giving you the best of both worlds.
Q
May I purchase XLSim?
No. We no longer sell XLSim as a standalone add-in to Microsoft Excel. XLSim functionality has been incorporated into the Analyst's Edition and is accessible via the Vector Connector for Windows.
Q
What is a distribution string (DIST)?
A standard for storing probability distributions
The DIST™ Distribution String packs thousands of Monte Carlo simulation trials into a single data element. This has several advantages:
DISTs may be generated by domain experts containing statistical know-how to represent virtually any type of probability distribution.
DISTs may be distributed to decision makers in a standardized format.
DISTs are compressed making them ideal for interactive simulation on mobile devices.
DISTs are additive which allow simulations to be consolidated or rolled up into a master simulation.
DISTs create repeatable results that may be audited.
The DIST standard was developed in collaboration with Oracle Corp., SAS Institute and Frontline Systems. It is open and freely available for organizations wishing to develop supporting software.
To receive information on the DIST™ standard visit ProbabilityManagement.org or send an email to DistInfo@ProbabilityManagement.org .
