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Crystal
Ball® 7.2.2 Migration
Guide
For
users upgrading from Crystal Ball 4.x, 2000.x (5.x),
and 7.0
July 2006
Introduction
Crystal Ball 7.2.2 is
a completely different version of Crystal Ball from the
4.x and 2000.x (5.x) versions. It has been developed to run
on the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1, technology
from Microsoft for developing secure and advanced Windows
applications.
Crystal Ball 7.2.2 runs on non-English as well as English
versions of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. For
more information on required software and hardware, see
Crystal Ball 7.2.2 System Requirements.
New Features
Crystal
Ball 7.2 introduced process capability features for support of Six
Sigma and other quality programs. Other new features included support
for circular references and multiple workbooks with Crystal Ball data
in Extreme Speed, defect fixes, and many performance enhancements.
Additional calls were also added to the Crystal Ball Developer Kit in Crystal Ball 7.2 and later releases. For
more information on new features in Crystal Ball 7.2 and the current release, see http://www.crystalball.com/cb_features.html.
For more information about Crystal Ball 7.2.2, see the Crystal Ball 7.2.2 Release Notes.
Data Conversion
Decisioneering’s
development group has worked hard to preserve the compatibility
of existing 4.x
and 2000.x (5.x) models during Crystal Ball’s movement
to a new Microsoft platform. Models are converted to the
new format the first time they are loaded into Crystal
Ball 7.x and every effort is made to convert data
into equivalent form. Where this is not possible, an error
message appears stating that data in the specified worksheet
could not be converted. An error log is written to the
same folder where the model is stored. The log is named worksheet
name.xls.CB.txt. For example, if a conversion error
occurs in Model2.xls, the log file is named Model2.xls.CB.txt
and can be opened in a text editor for review.
Conversion errors can result from general differences
in these areas:
- Some distributions have different input parameters
or are otherwise changed: the Beta distribution’s
Scale parameter is changed to Minimum and Maximum,
the Hypergeometric distribution’s Probability
parameter is changed to Success, and the Extreme distribution
is split into the Minimum Extreme and Maximum Extreme
distributions.
- Forecasts can no longer be defined in the same cell
as assumptions and decision variables and will be
discarded when converting data.
- Some Developer Kit macro subroutines, functions,
and constants are obsolete, have changed data types,
or have not been implemented for this release.
Specific differences
and other migration issues are discussed in the following
sections.
Hypergeometric parameters
and cell references
The hypergeometric distribution’s Probability parameter
has been changed to Success, where Success = Probability
* Population. During conversion, cell references are resolved
and converted along with values. If this cannot be completed,
an error is logged. The Probability parameter is a decimal
between 0 and 1, while Success is an integer. Because
of this, a cell reference representing the Probability
cannot convert to an equivalent Success value. Users will
always be prompted to re-enter the value for the Success
parameter when running a simulation with the converted
model.
Distribution fitting
with negative values
The following distributions must have positive values:
exponential, lognormal, and Pareto. If they are selected
for distribution fitting and [the assumption or forecast
to which they are being fit has negative values], these
distributions will not be applied. This is different behavior
from previous versions of Crystal Ball.
Distribution fitting
in overlay charts
Distribution fitting in overlay charts has changed somewhat
since Crystal Ball 2000.x
(5.x). Now, distribution fitting is applied to
all forecasts or none. Users can no longer fit distributions
to specific forecasts. Fitted distributions can no longer
be edited, including truncation, and data can no longer
be added from text files.
Truncation minimum and
maximum conversions for six distributions
Truncation minimums and maximums (also known as low-cut
and high-cut values, respectively) are not always converted
accurately for triangular, uniform, Poisson, lognormal,
Weibull, and binomial distributions. The differences occur
when the truncation values are the same as the distribution’s
minimum or maximum endpoint. In those cases, the truncation
values are converted to –Infinity or +Infinity,
the Crystal Ball 7 endpoint defaults.
Certainty ranges are
now centered around the median instead of the mean
In Crystal Ball 2000.x
(5.x), it was possible to center the certainty
range in a forecast window on the mean as opposed to the
median. In Crystal Ball 7.x,
ranges are always centered on the median. However, you
can use marker lines (set on the Chart Type tab of the
Chart Preferences dialog) to indicate where the mean falls
and to show its value.
Preference settings are
removed when upgrading to Crystal Ball 7.x from Crystal
Ball 4.x and 2000.x (5.x)
There are so many new customization preferences and preference
changes that it was not possible to preserve them all
during the upgrade. For information about Crystal Ball
7.2.2 preferences, see the Crystal Ball 7.2.2 User Manual
sections on cell preferences, run preferences, chart preferences,
and settings for specific charts (assumption, forecast,
overlay, trend, and sensitivity preferences).
Static cell references
are now converted to dynamic
All Crystal Ball 7.x cell references in distribution parameters are dynamic
and are updated each time the worksheet is recalculated.
Dynamic cell referencing gives you more flexibility in
setting up models by letting you change an assumption’s
distribution during a simulation. Other types of cell
references are static, such as the assumption name field
and correlation coefficients. These cell references are
calculated once at the beginning of a simulation.
In previous versions of Crystal Ball, users could choose
whether to use static or dynamic cell referencing in parameters
when defining an assumption. With static referencing,
all cell references are resolved at the start of a simulation
and then frozen while a simulation is running. If you
open a model from a previous version, any static references
are converted into dynamic references. If you don’t
want parameter values to change when a simulation is running,
be sure cell references in parameters do not reference
Crystal Ball data cells (assumptions, decision variables,
and forecasts) or other cells that change value during
a simulation either directly or indirectly through formulas.
Default parameter values
have changed for many distributions
As mentioned earlier, the beta distribution Scale parameter
is replaced by Minimum and Maximum and the hypergeometric
Probability parameter is replaced by Success. However,
parameter defaults have changed somewhat for a number
of distributions, including beta (other parameters), binomial,
minimum and maximum extreme distributions (formerly the
extreme distribution with positive and negative flags),
gamma, Poisson, and Weibull. Also note that for the Poisson,
the maximum allowable trials has changed from 1,500 to
1,000. For information on the current default parameters,
see Chapter 4 of the Crystal Ball 7.2.2 Reference Manual,
available in pdf form at Start > Programs > Crystal
Ball 7 > Documentation and, in Crystal Ball, at Help
> Crystal Ball > Crystal Ball Manuals.
Cell comments are only
converted if appropriate preferences are set
If you have a Crystal Ball 2000.x
(5.x) workbook
that contains cell comments for the Crystal Ball data
cells and you convert that workbook to Crystal Ball 7.x
format, the cell comments are not converted unless Add
Comments To Cell is checked for the appropriate type of
cell in the Crystal Ball 7.2.2 Cell Preferences dialog box.
Be sure this setting is checked before you open and convert
a model with cell comments created in an earlier version
of Crystal Ball.
All links to spreadsheet
data in custom distributions are dynamic
In previous versions of Crystal Ball, you could choose
whether to link statically or dynamically when loading
data from worksheet ranges to define a custom distribution.
In Crystal Ball 7.x, you can choose whether to maintain links
or perform a one-time load. If links are maintained, they
are always dynamic and are updated each time the worksheet
is recalculated.
Forecasts are deleted
when defined in assumption and decision variable cells
In Crystal Ball versions earlier than 7.0, it was necessary
to define forecasts in the same cells as assumptions or
decision variables to capture that data for later extraction
or charting. In Crystal Ball 7.x, such double defining is no longer necessary.
The Options tab of the Run Preferences dialog offers the
Store Assumption Values For Analysis setting. With this
setting selected, assumption charts can be viewed and
assumption data can be included in extracted data and
reports directly, without needing to create forecasts
for assumption cells.
Now, with the new functionality, Crystal Ball 7.x no longer supports two types of cell definition
in the same cell. When models created in earlier version
of Crystal Ball are converted into Crystal Ball 7 format,
forecasts are deleted from all double-defined cells. As
long as the Store Assumption Values… setting is
selected in the Run Preferences dialog, assumption data
will be preserved for later use.
Global filtering is now enabled
Global filtering was enabled in Crystal Ball 7.2 (previous versions of Crystal Ball 7.x did not support global filtering). Global filtering is not the default. For Crystal Ball 2000.x (5.x)
models where the main filter and global filtering were both
selected, Crystal Ball switches on global filtering. Where the
main filter was not selected, Crystal Ball does not switch on global filtering.
Converting charts
If you open a workbook from Crystal Ball 2000.x (5.x) that contains overlay, sensitivity, or trend charts, the charts are not available in Crystal Ball 7.x. For earlier versions of Crystal Ball, these charts were only in memory and were not saved with the workbook.
Chart windows can appear smaller when opened in previous versions
If you create a model in Crystal Ball 7.1.2 or later, any chart windows
(and any resizable windows in general) that are not opened in that
version of Crystal Ball will be set to the minimum acceptable chart
window size if the model is opened in Crystal Ball 7.1.1 or earlier.
Copying and Pasting Crystal
Ball Data
When users copy cell
definition data, Crystal Ball 7.x stores the description of the selected cell
range instead of the actual cell definitions. When they
paste the data, Crystal Ball pastes all selected data
types (assumptions, decision variables,
and forecasts) from the copied range into the selected
range. If cell definitions are added or deleted in the
copied range before pasting, Crystal Ball pastes the changes
instead of what was there when the range was first copied.
Users should paste immediately after copying, as they
do for Excel data.
Starting Crystal Ball
Automatically
For versions of Crystal
Ball earlier than 7.0, users could choose Tools > Add-Ins
in Excel and select CB.xla to start Crystal Ball automatically
whenever they started Excel. To set automatic startup
for Crystal Ball 7.x, users must choose Start > Programs
> Crystal Ball 7 > Application Manager and check
the checkbox that indicates you want to automatically
launch Crystal Ball with Excel. Using Tools > Add-Ins
will no longer work.
Matching Predictor and
Crystal Ball Versions
If you have both CB
Predictor 1.5 or earlier (that shipped with earlier versions
of Crystal Ball) and Crystal Ball 7.2.2 Professional or
Premium Edition (with CB Predictor 1.6), you must be careful
to match the proper Crystal Ball and CB Predictor versions.
For example, if you are using CB Predictor 1.5, be sure
to use the Crystal Ball 7 Application Manager to uncheck
Crystal Ball 7. Likewise, if you are using CB Predictor
1.6 (launched from within Crystal Ball 7.2.2) be sure Crystal
Ball 7 is checked in the Crystal Ball Application Manager
(launched with Start > Programs > Crystal Ball 7
> Application Manager) and be sure that no other version
of Crystal Ball is checked in the Tools > Add-Ins dialog
(in the Excel menubar).
Crystal Ball 7.2.2 Excel
Functions
To view Crystal Ball
7.2.2 distributions and macros implemented as Excel functions,
choose Insert > Functions. Then, open the Crystal Ball
7 function category. The currently-implemented functions
appear there, starting with CB. All but six of the functions
are equivalent to the previously-existing or new and updated
probability distributions. For example, CB.Beta is the
beta function that shipped with Crystal Ball 2000.5 (5.5),
while CB.Beta2 is the updated Beta function shipping with
Crystal Ball 7.2.2. CB.ExtremeValue and CB.ExtremeValue2,
the maximum and minimum versions of the Extreme distribution
that shipped with Crystal Ball 2000.5 (5.5), have been
removed from Crystal Ball 7.2.2. These functions are replaced
by CB.MaxExtreme and CB.MinExtreme, the updated versions
shipped with Crystal Ball 7.2 and later versions.
The probability distribution functions are discribed in Appendix A of
the Crystal Ball 7.2.2 User Manual and the Crystal Ball 7.2.2 online help.
The remaining functions, beginning with CB. and ending in FN, such as
CB.GetAssumPercentFN, are described in the Crystal Ball 7.2.2 Developer
Kit User Manual, available with Crystal Ball 7.2.2 Professional and
Premium Editions.
Converting Models with
CB.Get... Functions Defined as Forecasts
Users
of Crystal Ball 7.0 or earlier versions occasionally
used the CB.Get... functions in forecast cells to include
current data, for example, in an optimization. If you
try to use one of these models in Crystal Ball 7.2.2 with
Extreme Speed, the model will generate compatibility
errors.
To change these models so they are compatible with Extreme
Speed, remove the CB.Get... functions from forecast
cells. Instead, use the Auto Extract tab in the expanded
Define Forecast dialog or Forecast Preferences dialog
to automatically extract forecast data to another cell
following a simulation. Then you can reference that
cell in a forecast formula to retain compatibility while
using current data.
If you don't want to make these changes but still
want to run the model in Normal speed, you will need
to uncheck Stop On Calculation Errors in the Run Preferences
dialog to continue running despite the calculation errors
(#VALUE's) that will occur for many of the returned
statistics in the first 5 to 10 trials of the simulation.
User-Defined Macros
User-defined macros
can still be used in Crystal Ball 7.x, but a more flexible interface has been
provided for them. Global settings to identify user-defined
macros no longer exist. If users want to run certain macros
for all simulations, they need to make sure that the workbook
containing those macros is open in Excel. This change
means that users can run specific macros only for certain
models and are no longer required to turn the macros on
and off depending on the model that is being run. For
details, see the section on user-defined macros at the
end of Chapter 4 of the Crystal Ball 7 User Manual.
Developer Kit Issues
Some models created
in versions of Crystal Ball earlier than 7.0 might not run
because they reference CB.xla instead of cbdevkit.xla
in VBA. To fix this, in the VBA editor, set the reference
to cbdevkit.xla (in the main Crystal Ball installation
folder -- by default, C:\Program Files\Decisioneering\Crystal
Ball 7) and uncheck the reference to CB.xla.
For CB Predictor 1.6, now shipping as part of Crystal
Ball 7.x, the new .xla to reference is cbpreddevkit.xla
and the object name is CBP.Main.7. For CB Predictor 1.5
that shipped with Crystal Ball 2000.5 (5.5), the object
name was CBP.Main. Code must now use the new object name,
as in
Set CBP = CreateObject("CBP.Main.7")
For other Developer Kit issues, see the “For Users
of Previous Versions” appendix in the Crystal Ball
7.2.2 Developer Kit User Manual.
Backward Compatibility
If you try to save a
spreadsheet created in Crystal Ball 2000.5 (5.5) or earlier
after opening it successfully in Crystal Ball 7.x,
this message appears: “The data in workbook <name>
has been converted to a newer format and is not compatible
with previous versions.” This message refers only to Crystal
Ball 2000.5 (5.5) or earlier versions. The file is still
compatible with previous versions of the Crystal Ball
7.x series. Of course, if a file supports features
that are not available in previous versions of Crystal
Ball 7.x, those features will be ignored in the
earlier version, but the file will still open and run
using available features.
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