Problem structuring

Value tree

Value tree

Value Tree (VT) is one of the basic components in any decision support system. Decerns VT represents multi-level criteria tree and alternatives. Every criterion is subdivided to left (properties) part and right (scoring) part. You can make double-click to activate properties or scoring dialog respectively and right-click to activate pop-up menu with additional operations: add child criterion, delete this criterion, properties, weighting/scoring method choosing. Also you can use right-click on empty tree space to activate tree pop-up menu with the options: add alternative, arrange tree. When you created a new project, you have only a root entry (criterion) in the tree. Then you can build a VT according to your problem. To do this: specify criteria with criterion pop-up menu (right click on criterion right area), specify alternatives with tree pop-up menu (right click on empty tree space).
The next step is assigning weights and alternatives scores against the criteria (use double-click on right part of criterion). After that you can calculate model results and represent them in the output forms (calculate button in toolbar).

Perfomance table

Perfomance table

Performance Table (PT) displays the values of alternatives for all leaf criteria, criterion weights, and additional descriptions. The interface of PT allows adding or deleting alternatives, editing parameters of alternatives and criteria.

Selection

Performance Table supports three types of selection:

Structure

Performance Table consists of two parts:

Note: Part of table can be collapsed or expanded by clicking left mouse button on the header of the part with a title.
Top part and criteria attributes

Each column in the table represents information about single leaf criterion, including:

  1. criterion name,
  2. criterion description,
  3. scale attributes,
  4. criterion weight.
Criterion name and description can be changed just by clicking left mouse button on the cell. After that editing cursor will appear in the cell. Finishing editing is performed by pressing Enter button or selecting any other cell of the table.
Scale attributes cell displays row of scale properties separated by “/” symbol:
  1. is scale local or global (local, global),
  2. measure units (or “none” if undefined),
  3. is scale minimized or maximized (minimize, maximize),
  4. value function type (linear, exp-exponential, PW – piece-wise).
Double-click on scale attribute cell evokes Scale Properties Dialog.
Criterion weight cell represents criterion weight in the current model by means of ordinal number(eg:”0,25”), fuzzy number(eg:“Fuzzy Weight”), random number (eg:”Rand (E:0,2 s:0,06 L:0,10 R:0,3)”) or “not set” string if not calculated. Double-click on Criterion weight cell with random number or fuzzy number evokes Probability Tools or Fuzzy Tools dialog.
Criterion properties dialog can also be evoked by selecting whole column, clicking right mouse button and selecting Properties item in context menu.
Bottom part and alternative scales

In this part columns represent leaf criteria and rows represent alternatives. Headers of columns display criterion names and first cells of rows show the names of alternatives. Other cells display values of alternatives against the criteria.
In any value/score cell left part is represented by a given basic/deterministic value of alternative for this criterion and right part contains (if exists) information about (given by user(s)) fuzzy or random value implemented within the selected multicriteria method.
If fuzzy number is used. Right part contains type of fuzzy number (Singletone, Triangular, Trapezoidal, PieceWise).
If random number is used. Right part contains:

Double-click on score cell will evokes Scores/Performance Dialog for editing scores information.

Alternative can be added by clicking right mouse button on headers or on first cells in rows and selecting “Add alternative” item in the context menu.
Alternative can be deleted by selecting whole row, clicking right mouse button on first cell of the row and selecting “Delete alternative” item in shown context menu.
Criterion properties dialog can be evoked by selecting whole column, clicking right mouse button and selecting Properties item in shown context menu.
Alternative properties dialog can be evoked by selecting whole row, clicking right mouse button and selecting Properties item in the context menu.
Note: Performance table also can be used to add criteria if Bottom-Up approach was selected on teh stage of project creation. To do this, click right button on headers or on first cells in rows and select “Add criterion” item in shown context menu.