Newsletter
August 2008

Analytica Web Player
We are pleased to announce the release of Analytica Web Player on July 31, 2008. AWP lets you view and run Analytica models via any standard Flash-enabled web browser. It has almost the same user interface as Analytica Player on the desktop, showing model diagrams, objects, tables, and graphs. Users can change inputs, including edit tables, and save their changes. AWP has key advantages over desktop Analytica as a way to distribute models for reviewers or end users:

• Users don't need to download or install any new software on their desktop -- and so don't need to consult their IT department. You can invite users to run a model with AWP simply by emailing them a URL.
  
• You can be sure that end users are using the latest version of models and data posted on the server, without having to worry about distributing updates.
  
• By using password-protected AWP accounts, you can control who can see sensitive or proprietary data.

For details, see Analytica Web Player. You can try out AWP for free from there. You can upload models of your own and run examples models we have posted. Please contact us for pricing information and any other questions.

Review of Analytica in OR/MS Today
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) chose Analytica 4.1 for an extensive, and enthusiastic review by Robert Brown III in the June issue of their flagship publication,
OR/MS Today. Excerpt: "[With Analytica] time to write code is significantly reduced, copying errors are significantly reduced, and debugging time is reduced. In fact, the size and length of spreadsheets or procedural language models are typically reduced by one to two orders of magnitude. I estimate that the time I spend writing Analytica models is one quarter to one half of that devoted to similarly complex spreadsheets." Read the full review at OR/MS Analytica Review.

Turning Numbers into Knowledge, by John Koomey
Jon Koomey's smart and witty book tells you the essential nontechnical stuff that most books on quantitative analysis leave out - the perspectives, skills, tips, and tricks for using numbers effectively. It helps you interpret and critique analytic results from others, and build your own models that are sound and compelling. It contains 39 pithy chapters on issues from critical thinking, distinguishing facts and values, organizing your data, designing models, model transparency, creating and presenting compelling tables and graphs, and using stories to get your point across. It is a fast read, packed with practical tips, including helpful exercises, and cartoons. It addresses a broad audience: those who use results from models as well as those who build models. Both novice and experienced analysts will find it valuable and thought-provoking.

Analytics Press has just published a second edition with expanded examples, references, and additions to many sections, including a new chapter on data-sharing via the web.
Koomey, Jonathan. 2008. Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Mastering the Art of Problem Solving . 2nd ed. Oakland, Ca.

Analytica Classroom Training
Lumina is offering two-day training classes throughout the year in:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania August 18-19, 2008 (there are still a few seats left).

San Francisco Bay Area September 24-26, December 3-5, 2008.
For more or to register, please visit: Analytica Training

Analytica User Group Webinars
User Group Webinars include demonstrations and tutorials on key issues for Analytica users, sometimes on how to use existing features more effectively, and sometimes on features of new or upcoming releases. Free attendance at the Analytica User Group technical webinar's is one of the valuable benefits of maintaining current support for your Analytica license. You can check the Analytica Wiki for upcoming topics. Some of our past topics (most recorded and available for download from the Wiki) include:
- New Functions for Reading Directly from an Excel File
- Advanced Tornado Charts -- when inputs are Array-Valued
- Using the Analytica Decision Engine (ADE) from ASP.NET
- OLE Linking
- Correlated and Multivariate Distributions
- Assessment of Probability Distributions
- Graph Style Templates