How a Player file A special file format (with the extension .gsp) that can be created by GoldSim and can only be read by the GoldSim Player. appears when viewed in the Player is determined by the author when the Player file is created. The primary types of Player files (from the simplest to the most complex and powerful) and how they would generally be used is summarized below:
- Player file with no Dashboards, cannot be run. This is the simplest type of Player file. This is the type of file which is produced if you only wish to allow others to view and browse your model.
- Player file with no Dashboards, can be run. This type of Player file is useful if you wish to distribute a Player file without results (due to their size), and have the Player user generate the results once they have received the file.
- Player file with Dashboard(s), cannot be browsed. In this file, the Player user can only navigate within Dashboards, and can never "look under the hood" to see the detailed structure of the model. Such a file is useful if you want to allow someone to run your model and play "what if" games, without requiring them to be familiar with the GoldSim interface or the technical details of the model. Although the author can control whether or not the model can be run, this would typically be allowed for this type of file (as a Dashboarded model that can not be run would be of limited use).
- Player file with Dashboard(s), can be browsed. In this file, in addition to providing Dashboards to enable the user to modify some features of the model and view results, you also allow the user to "look under the hood" to see the detailed structure of the model. This is particularly useful if the audience for the model includes some modelers who may wish to better understand some of the technical details. As is the case above, typically the author would allow the model to be run for this type of file (as a Dashboarded model that can not be run would be of limited use).