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Scenario Studio Interface

Scenario Studio is a three-column workspace with a full-width action bar along the bottom. This page walks the layout column-by-column, then the action bar, then the nine editor panels reachable from the sidebar.

For narrative on how to build and run a sequence, see Command Sequence. For panel-by-panel field guidance, see Scenario Editor.

Layout at a glance

Three columns in row 1, one full-width action bar in row 2.

Column 1 — Command Sequence

Header with the section title and a live count of Running, Queued and Completed items. Body renders up to three groupings — Running Sequence, Queued (with a Clear button and a per-item Requeue affordance in Completed), Completed — and shows a "No commands yet" empty state when all three are empty. Footer carries a + Add command button that opens the Template Picker Modal.

Column 2 — Editor Navigation Sidebar

Nine items in three groups, in order — Scenario (Scenario Settings); Inputs and Simulation Options (Input Files, Bids, Scaling Options, Simulation Rules); and Advanced Simulation Options (Optimisation, Market Modelling, Diagnostics, Demand Forecasting). Click an item to switch the active panel; Up/Down arrow keys move focus between adjacent items.

Column 2 is only visible when a sequence item is active. Otherwise the empty state (see When no command is selected below) spans columns 2 through the end.

Fixed width 220 px.

Column 3 — Editor Content

Three stacked pieces, top to bottom:

  1. Panel header — scenario ID, a type badge (Simulation, Historical, Recalc, Base, Backcast), and number of days when both are set. Right side: a Save as Template button that opens the Save-as-Template dialog.
  2. Run Readiness strip — a horizontal row of one status dot per editor section (same nine sections as the sidebar). Each dot reads ✓ ok (green), ⚠ warn (amber), or ✗ error (red); clicking a dot switches the active panel to that section. Strip height is always reserved, so the layout does not jump when readiness changes.
  3. Panel body — whichever editor panel activePanel currently selects (see Editor panels below).

When no command is selected

Columns 2 and 3 collapse into a single "No command selected — Select a command from the sequence, or add one to start configuring." empty state spanning both columns.

Modals and overlays

These are not part of the grid — they overlay it when open, then dismiss:

  • Template Picker Modal — opened by + Add command in Column 1 or by the bottom-bar Load button. Presents default, custom and Edit-Scenario templates.
  • Save as Template dialog — opened by the header's Save as Template button (see also Scenario Template).
  • Working-folder mismatch confirmation — appears when the sequence item's scenario directory differs from the app's currently-configured working folder. Choosing Yes opens the Directory Initializer wizard (see the Directory Initializer bottom-bar button below); No dismisses the pair for the session.

Bottom action bar

One row spanning the full page width, split into a left group and a right group. In on-screen order:

Left group — sequence persistence

ButtonBehaviourEnabled when
LoadLoads batch file on the Command Sequence panel.Always.
SaveOpens the save dialog on the Command Sequence panel.At least one item exists in Queued OR Completed. Running-only sequences cannot be saved.
BatchGenerates a batch (.bat) file for the current sequence.Same rule as Save.

Disabled-button tooltips are per-button, not shared:

  • Save"Queue and/or complete at least one command to save".
  • Batch"Queue and/or complete at least one command to export as a batch file".

Right group — tools and primary action

ButtonBehaviourEnabled when
Directory InitializerOpens the Settings Initializer wizard (the GUI counterpart to Defaults.csv / DefInit.bat — see Directory and Databases Initializer).Always.
Create EventOpens the Event Generator modal (see Create Event).Always.
Run SequenceExecutes the current sequence. Label changes to "Running…" during execution.See gating rules below.
CLI OutputToggles the CLI Output panel. Carries live badge counters — ▶ running, ✓ successful, ✗ failed — pulled from the current run history.Always.

Run Sequence disabled rules

Run Sequence is disabled when ANY of the following is true (union OR):

  1. There are no items in the current sequence (Running + Queued both empty).
  2. There is a coverage warning — input-file coverage across the sequence's date range is incomplete.
  3. There is a file resolution mismatch — one or more items reference a demand or generation file whose interval resolution does not match the scenario.
  4. A sequence is already running.

The tooltip on the disabled button reflects the first-true condition, in this priority order: already-running → resolution mismatch → previous bid generation failed (retry hint) → coverage-warning text → the fallback "Run the full command sequence".

Editor panels — where each sidebar item goes

Each sidebar entry in Column 2 switches Column 3's body to a distinct panel. All nine are listed here for reference; the full field-by-field guide for each panel lives on the Scenario Editor page.

Sidebar itemPanelNotes
Scenario SettingsScenario OptionsType selector surfaces contextual hints; DB / JSON toggle switches the database selector.
Input FilesInput Options
BidsBid OptionsBid Loading Method dropdown with three modes (auto / custom / bidset) plus a Retain Loaded Bids checkbox.
Scaling OptionsPanel Scaling Options
Simulation RulesPanel Simulation RulesNow houses the fields formerly on the retired parameters tab — Static Loss Factor, Ramp Limit, Energy Limits, Forced Minimum Load and similar (operator ruling 2026-08-27). An Object Filters collapsible group at the top absorbs the pre-redesign per-object filter entry.
OptimisationPanel Optimisation
Market ModellingPanel Market ModellingSet of collapsible cards; each card has its own header chevron.
DiagnosticsPanel DiagnosticsSet of collapsible cards; each card has its own header chevron.
Demand ForecastingDemand ForecastingiLoad Mode selector (Disabled / Analyze / Forecast / ReForecast / Compare) gates every other control on the panel — the rest of the panel is hidden until an active mode is chosen.

Notable in-panel switches, called out for orientation (details on the Scenario Editor page):

  • Scenario Settings — a Scenario Type selector (Simulation / Historical / Recalc / Base) surfaces contextual hints when Historical or Recalc is chosen; a DB / JSON toggle switches the database selector between .ipdb and .ipjs file lists.
  • Bids — a Bid Loading Method dropdown with three modes: auto (Historical Bid Loading), custom (Custom Bid Loading), bidset (Bid Set File). A Retain Loaded Bids checkbox sits alongside.
  • Demand Forecasting — an iLoad Mode selector (Disabled / Analyze / Forecast / ReForecast / Compare) gates every other control on the panel: the rest of the panel is hidden until an active mode is chosen.
  • Simulation Rules — carries an Object Filters collapsible group at the top (this is where the pre-redesign per-object filter section was moved).
  • Market Modelling and Diagnostics — each panel is a set of collapsible cards; every card has its own header chevron.