Although GoldSim’s intuitive interface will tempt you to simply dive in and start playing with the software, you are strongly discouraged from doing so, even if you are an experienced modeler. Spending some time up front (by following the steps outlined below) is the quickest and most effective way to understand the software’s features and capabilities and start building models using the GoldSim Reliability Module.
1. Learn how to use the basic GoldSim framework first. In order to use the Reliability Module, you must first have a basic understanding of the GoldSim framework. You cannot learn the extension without first learning the basic concepts underlying framework. At a minimum, you should take the GoldSim Tutorial. The Tutorial is available from the GoldSim splash screen, and can also be accessed from the main GoldSim menu (Help | Tutorial…).
In addition to the Tutorial, a free “hands-on” online training Course (titled “Introduction to GoldSim”) is available that will provide you with a thorough understanding of the key concepts on which GoldSim is based and all of the fundamentals required to build complex models of nearly any kind of system. (Note, however, that the Course only discusses basic GoldSim and does not discuss the Reliability Module). Because the Course is quite thorough, it will likely take as long as 40 hours to complete. Of course, if you are already somewhat familiar with simulation (and/or have a strong quantitative background), you may in fact be able to cover the material in considerably less than 40 hours. You can find the Course here: https://www.goldsim.com/Courses/BasicGoldSim/.
2. Read “Getting Started with the Reliability Module”. This is available both within the Help File and in the Reliability Module User’s Guide (as Chapter 2). This provides an introduction to and a "quick tour" of the GoldSim Reliability Module. It presents the basic concepts of how risk and reliability can be simulated in GoldSim, provides an overview of the features and capabilities of the program, and summarizes the specialized elements associated with the module.
3. Request your free one hour web-based training session. When you purchase GoldSim, you are entitled to a free one hour, live web-based training session in which one of our analysts provides an interactive training session via the Internet and telephone. You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this free training, during which our analysts can provide an introduction to both the basic GoldSim framework and the Reliability Module.
4. Open and explore the example files. When you install GoldSim, a folder labeled "Reliability Examples" is installed with the program. (You can quickly access these files by selecting File|Open Example… from the main GoldSim menu). This directory contains example Reliability Module model files. These examples are introduced and discussed in the section of the Help file entitled "Example Reliability Module Applications". These example model files are an excellent way to begin to experiment with the Reliability Module.
5. Download Example Files from the Model Library. The GoldSim website contains a Model Library with a number of models illustrating how GoldSim can be used for particular applications. These models tend to be more complex than the simple example files found in the Reliability Examples folder, but still relatively simple. Again, while exploring the files, use GoldSim’s context-sensitive Help (i.e., the Help button in each dialog) to learn more about particular elements or features utilized in the model.
6. Browse the User’s Guide or Help System. GoldSim has a large number of features, and you will not discover all of them by experimenting with simple example models. To fully utilize GoldSim’s powerful features, browse through the User’s Guides, using the index and table of contents as your guide. Each section of the User’s Guides is heavily cross-referenced, so it is easy to just jump around. Note that the Help system contains all of the contents of the User’s Guides, with the exception of the technical appendices.
7. Contact us with questions. When you purchase GoldSim, you are entitled to one year of free support. This does not include assistance in building and debugging your models, but it does include answering questions on how to use GoldSim’s features, so feel free to contact us! The best way to do so is through the GoldSim Help Center.
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