Output Protection

By default, Akumen ensures input and output consistency by resetting the run status and clearing all outputs of executed scenarios when a number of different events occur:

  • Changing application code (including modifying a Value Driver Model) or changing Application Level Parameters - this will reset the run status and clear the outputs for ALL scenarios in the STUDY.
  • Changing Study Level Parameters - this will reset the run status and clear the outputs for ALL scenarios in the STUDY.
  • Changing Scenario Level Parameters - this will reset the run status and clear the outputs of ONLY the scenario impacted by the change.

Sometimes, this may not be the desired behaviour, especially for applications that take a long time to generate outputs. There are two ways of preserving outputs in Akumen. The first is to simply use the application, study, scenario cloning capabilities in Akumen. However this does not enforce preservation of outputs. It is up to the user (and/or security) to ensure outputs are not accidentally cleared when there is a change.

Output Protection

Output protection provides controls over what can be modified so outputs are not accidentally cleared by editing different parts of Akumen.

When an application is created, the application is created with output protection off. This means the behaviour listed above applies. An application can have it’s output protection toggled through Application Properties.

Application Properties Application Properties

It can also be toggled in the model through the toggle next to the model name.

Output Protection Toggle Output Protection Toggle

Output Protection status is shown by a toggle in the application manager.

Output Protection Indicator Output Protection Indicator

Output protection changes the above behaviour as follows:

  • Changing application code or Application Level Parameters can still occur, as long as there are no executed scenarios. As soon as Akumen detects one or more executed scenarios, it will prevent the operation with an error message.
  • Changing Study Level Parameters can occur, as long as there are no executed scenarios within the study. As soon as Akumen detects one or more executed scenarios, it will prevent the operation with an error message.
  • Changing Scenario Level Parameters can occur, as long as the scenario is not executed. If the scenario is executed, Akumen will prevent the operation with an error message.

Executed Scenarios Error Executed Scenarios Error

Clearing Scenario, Study or Application outputs

Scenarios, Studies and Applications can have their outputs cleared and run status reset so they can be edited. This is a manual process through right click on the research grid, or through the Model or Study dropdown above the research grid. Once the scenario outputs are cleared, the operation can be retried.

Clear Outputs Clear Outputs