Checking Files are the Still the Same

The software checks that some file is the same now as at a previous time (for example, when some simulation was last run). It does this by checking whether the current file has the same time, date and size as the time, date and size recorded when that file was accessed on the previous occasion.

For example, the software may check that the Solution file produced from year number 5 of the Base is the same now as it was when the simulation for that year of the Base was last run. Or it may check that a certain input data file used in the simulation for year number 6 of the Policy is the same as it was then the simulation for that year of the Policy was last run.

This checking is done when you ask to view an output file by clicking on one of the View buttons on the Results page.

The software records time, date and size when you complete any simulations and any spreadsheet jobs. It uses this information to compare with the time, date and size of the current file with the same name.

The idea behind checking time, date and size is that, if the file has been changed (for example, by editing it if it is a text file), it is highly likely that at least one of the time, date or size will have been changed. [However there is no certainty about this. For example, the year-on-year and cumulative spreadsheets sometimes have the same time, date and size, even though they are different files.]

URL of this topic: www.copsmodels.com/webhelp/rundynam/hc_filesstillthesame.htm

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