Skip to content

Quick Reference Guide to Aimsun Next Commands

This section gives a brief explanation of all the commands available using either the menu or an object’s context menu.

File

  • New: Opens a new empty network.
  • Open...: Opens an existing network.
  • Open URL...: Opens an existing network from an url address.
  • Close: Closes the current network.
  • Save: Saves the currently open network.
  • Save as...: Saves the currently open network, with the option to provide a new name.
  • Freeze...: Creates a copy of the current state of the Aimsun Next Document that cannot be modified in a folder named "Milestones" inside the Project Folder.
  • Import: Imports CAD files or other third-party software files depending on the components loaded as, for example, Emme networks or CONTRAM networks into the current Aimsun Next network.
  • Export: Exports the current network to several formats (as shapefiles, image files, Emme, …).
  • Print...: Opens the default Print Layout or creates a new one
  • Recent Files: Gives list of recently opened files which can be re-opened.
  • Quit: Exits the application.

Edit

  • Undo: Undoes last action.
  • Redo: Redoes last action.
  • Cut: Removes the selected objects and places them on the system clipboard.
  • Copy: Copies the selected objects to the clipboard.
  • Copy Snapshot: Stores an image from the active 2D View in the clipboard .
  • Paste: Copies from the clipboard to the center of the drawing area.
  • Paste at Original Location: Copies from the clipboard to the drawing area keeping the original coordinates of the copied objects.
  • Clear: Deletes the selected objects.
  • Select All: Selects all the objects in the drawing area.
  • Inverse Selection: Unselects all selected objects and selects all those that were previously not selected.
  • Find...: Opens an editor to find objects that match the criteria.
  • Find and Open...: Opens a dialog to enter the ID of the object to find. It will then look for the object and open its editor if found.
  • Move Selection to View Center: Locates the selected objects in the center of the view.
  • Move Selection to...: Locates the selected objects in the location of the center of the view, which can be input in absolute or lat/lon coordinates.
  • Labels: Customizes the font size of on view labels. Also customizes the content of the Show Label command (ID, name, external ID)
  • Preferences...: Opens the Preferences editor which specifies the overall parameters of the traffic network currently being edited or the overall system parameters if there is no file open.

View

  • New 2D View: Creates a new 2D View of the current network.
  • New 3D View: Creates a new 3D View of the current network.
  • Close Current View: Closes the active view.
  • Full Screen: Maximizes the Aimsun Next window.
  • New Layer: Adds an empty layer to the group of layers.
  • Set Time: Opens a dialog to set the view current time, the time interval to be shown, the animation refresh rate and the time series range used in the selected view mode.
  • Center World: Locates the whole network in the center of the active 2D View.
  • Whole World: Changes the zoom of the current 2D view to fit the whole network.
  • Whole World Filtered: Changes the zoom of the current 2D view to fit the current subnetwork filter, if any.
  • Max Zoom for Visible Car Detail: Adapts the 2D view zoom to allow the simulation vehicles to be visualized.
  • Pan to...: Opens a dialog to select the location of the center of the view, which can be input in absolute or lat/lon coordinates.
  • Pan to Object Being Edited: Centers the view on the object currently being edited.
  • Show Latitude and Longitude: Toggles the display of coordinates as latitude and longitude instead of UTM coordinates.
  • Show Object Tooltips: Activates tooltips in 2D view objects.
  • Show/Hide Dynamic Labels: Shows or hides the dynamic labels defined in the currently opened networks.
  • Select Equal Dynamic Labels: Selects all the dynamic labels that are defined the same as the one currently selected.
  • Close All Dynamic Labels: Closes all the dynamic labels.
  • Close Selected Dynamic Labels: Closes all the selected dynamic labels.
  • Close Equal Dynamic Labels: Closes all the dynamic labels that are equal (showing the same attribute) as the selected one.
  • Gray Mode: Visualizes the current 2D view using a gray-scale display.
  • Map Mode: Visualizes the current 2D view with a map style depending on the zoom level and the display capability.

Arrange

  • Group: Groups the current selection of 2D objects.
  • Ungroup: Breaks an object grouping.
  • Align Centers: Translates the current selection to align the center of all selected objects.
  • Change Altitude: Changes the altitude of the selected objects.
  • Move to Layer...: Moves the selected objects to the selected layer (i.e. Network, Network Layers..., Images, Images Layers...).

Project

  • New: Creates objects, in the current project.
  • New Revision...: Creates a revision network of the current project.
  • Consolidate Revision in Base: Copies the revisions into the base which in turn will affect any other revisions based on this base model. This also updates object IDs in the base revision.
  • Detach Revision from Base: Copies the base into the revised model and keeps the base and revision as two independent documents.
  • Revert Selection to Base*: Considering the base document, it reverts any changes of the selected objects that were added or changed (not the affected objects from a deletion action) in this revision.
  • Revision Info: Opens the properties of the current revision.
  • Properties: Opens the properties of the current project.

Tools

  • Set External IDs...: Opens a dialog which sets external IDs automatically for objects of a given type.
  • Show Location in Google Maps...: Opens a browser and loads into Google Maps the visible location (requires a network in UTM coordinates and a correct UTM Zone in the layers).
  • Make All Matrices External: Stores the matrices in a separate file in the same directory as the .ANG file.
  • Make All Matrices Internal: Stores the matrices in the .ANG file
  • Delete Unused External Matrices: Deletes all matrices in the .ANG file that are not used in any Traffic Demand.
  • Centroid Tesselator...: Calculates the centroid polygons for the active Centroid Configuration.
  • Import Turns from Shapefile...: Adds extra information to existing turns. The Shapefile must contain the following attributes: flanea, flaneb, tlanea, tlaneb for the from lanes and to lanes. Other fields read: TURNSPEED, YIELDSIGN, SIGNALGRP.
  • Import Nodes from Shapefile...: Adds extra information to existing nodes.
  • Translate Selected Sections...: Opens a dialog to move the selected road sections a fixed distance left or right.
  • Build HCM Areas: Creates a layer that shows HCM Areas, including Approaches, Merge / Diverge configurations and Weaving Areas.
  • APA Fixer...: Opens the APA fixer dialog which allows the user to modify an APA routes file so it can be applied to variant of the same network.
  • Apply Elevation using DEM: Applies elevation data to the objects of the ANG Document using DEM file.
  • Add WMS Server: Serves geo-referenced map images from a server which gathers its data from GIS or other sources

Data Analysis

Bookmarks

Window

  • Windows: Defines which windows are visible or not. If the window is currently visible, a check mark will appear next to the name in the menu.
  • Tools Toolbar: Lets the user define which groups of tools in the toolbar (Main tools and Pedestrian tools) are visible or not. If the toolbar is currently visible, a check mark will appear next to its name in the menu.
  • Reset to Default Layout Resets the window and toolbar layout to the default.
  • Welcome: Displays the Welcome Window to be able to open a second model.

Help

  • Contents: Displays the Table of Contents of this help text.t.
  • Scripting Documentation: Displays the documentation for the Aimsun Next Script interface.
  • Licenses...: Opens a window containing a list of all the licenses modules, their expiration date and SUS information.
  • About: Opens the Aimsun Next Intro window showing the software version and build number.
  • About Plug-Ins: Opens the Intro window for the selected component (assuming it has one).

Graphical object context menu

The context menu of any graphical object is opened by right clicking on the desired object in a 2D View.

For all the graphical objects there are several common operations accessible opening their context menu. These commands are:

  • Show Label: In the 2D views, this shows the labels "identifier: External ID" for the object.
  • Dynamic Labels:
    • New:
      • Attribute Dynamic Label: Opens a dialog where to select the attribute the dynamic label in the 2D views will be based on.
    • Select Equal: Selects all the dynamic labels that are equal to the one displayed for the object right-clicked.
    • Close:
      • All: Closes all the current visible dynamic labels
      • Selected: Closes all the selected dynamic labels
      • Equal: Closes all the dynamic labels that are showing the same attribute, but for other objects, as the one that open the context menu.
  • Rename: Opens a dialog where the object can be renamed.
  • Delete: Deletes the object.
  • Properties: Opens the editor for that object type.
  • Arrange:
    • Group: Groups the current selected objects all together.
    • Align Centers: Translates the current selected objects to make their central point be located at the same place.
    • Change Altitude: Changes the object's altitude, that is, places its bottom part where indicated.
    • Move to Layer: Moves the selected objects to the selected layer (i.e. Network, Network Layers…, Images, Images Layers...).

For each graphical object its context menu options are:

Polyline

  • Convert to Section: Converts the polyline to a section.
  • Convert to Polygon: Converts the polyline to a polygon by adding the line that joins the first and last point.
  • Extrude: Converts the polyline to a 3D polyline.
  • Join: Joins two selected polylines.

Bezier Curve

  • Convert to Section: Converts the Bezier curve to a section.
  • Convert to Polygon: Converts the Bezier curve to a polygon by adding the line that joins the first and last point.

Polygon

  • Select objects inside: Selects in the 2D view all the objects that have some part inside the polygon.
  • Convert to: Converts the polygon into a building, grouping, subnetwork, simulation area, crosswalk area or transit zone.
  • Extrude: Converts the polygon to a 3D block.

Section

  • Change Section Direction: Changes the direction of the section to the opposite direction.
  • Generate Opposite Direction: Creates a new section next to the current section with the opposite direction.
  • Add Straight vertex: Adds a straight vertex to the section.
  • Add Curve Vertex: Adds a curve vertex to the section.
  • Join: Joins the selected sections.
  • Speed: Opens a dialog to select the new speed for all the selected sections.
  • Capacity: Opens a dialog to select the new capacity for all the selected sections.
  • Lane Width: Opens a dialog to select the new lane width for all the selected sections.
  • Road Type: Changes the road type of the selected sections updating the section attributes to the ones defined in the road type.
  • Road Type (Keeping Attributes): Changes the road type of the selected sections without updating the other attributes of the section.
  • Number of lanes: Changes the number of lanes of the selected sections.
  • Lane Type: Changes the type of the clicked lane.

Node

  • Edit Control Plan: All the defined control plans will be listed, The one to be edited can be selected.
  • Yellow Box: The node will be modeled as a yellow box junction when checked and as a normal node otherwise.
  • Curve Turns: Curves all the turns in the node changing the geometry of each of them.
  • Show/Hide Turns Label: Shows or hides in the 2D views the labels "identifier: name" for all the turns belonging to the node that opened the context menu.
  • Merge: Merges the selected nodes into one.
  • Split: Splits the selected node in several nodes, Each new node is formed from the polygons of the original node i.e a roundabout node can be split into several junction nodes.
  • Create Supernode: Creates a supernode object for the selected node and assigns it to the layer "Supernode".
  • Decision Table: Access or start a new from the context menu of any object in the 2D view.
  • Advanced Editor: Opens the Advanced editor to edit the connections and conflicts in the node.
  • Generate Control Plan from Volumes: generates a Control Plan for a specific node based on the turn capacity, assigned turn volumes, and some user specified parameters (only if static assignment volumes available).

Centroid

  • Split Centroid: Select one (parent) centroid and split it into two or more new centroids.
  • Join Centroids: When two centroids are selected, this option will join all their connections into one centroid updating the OD matrices and OD routes accordingly.
  • Edit Polygon: Draws the points that define the centroid polygon so they can be edited.
  • Delete Polygon: Deletes the polygon of this centroid (only if the polygon exists).
  • Center Centroid: Sets this centroid as center centroid to the actual polygon. Dynamically, the centroid is always in the center point of the polygon (only if the polygon exists).
  • Move centroid connections from nodes to sections: All connections to/from a node will be replaced by connections to the outgoing/incoming sections of that node. If the option "Use Origin Percentages" is checked, then the percentage of the original connection will be distributed among the new connections proportionally to the capacity of each section.

Controller

  • Hide/Show Connections: Hides or shows the connections of the selected controllers with the nodes.

Subnetwork

Non Graphical object context menus

The context menu of any non-graphical object is opened by right clicking on the desired object in the Project Window.

For all the non-graphical objects there are several common operations accessible opening their context menu. These commands are:

  • Rename: Opens a window where the object can be renamed.
  • Delete: Deletes the object.
  • Properties: Opens the object editor.
  • Duplicate: Duplicates the object selected.

For each non-graphical object the rest of its operations, if any, are:

Road Type

  • Set As default: Sets the road type as default. Subsequently, all new sections will be created using this road type.
  • Select Sections: Selects in the UI all sections of this road type.

Centroid Configuration

  • New:
    • OD matrix: Creates a new matrix in the selected centroid configuration.
    • OD route: Creates a new route in the selected centroid configuration.
    • Centroid Vector: Creates a new centroid vector.
    • Generation/Attraction Vector: Creates a new G/A vector.
  • Activate: Sets the centroid configuration as the active one.
  • Mark Entrances and Exits: It marks the entrances and the exits of all centroids in the activated centroid configuration.

Dynamic Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains; for a dynamic experiment, it also sets as active the first replication it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.
  • New Dynamic OD Adjustment Experiment: Creates a new dynamic OD adjustment experiment.
  • New Dynamic OD Departure Time Rescheduling Experiment: Creates a new dynamic OD departure time rescheduling experiment.

Dynamic Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment; for a dynamic experiment, it also sets as active the first replication it contains.
  • New:
    • Replication: Opens an editor for creating replications in the experiment.
    • Average: Creates a new average in the experiment for a set of replications.
  • Mark Traffic Management Locations: Marks the locations where traffic management strategies are set up.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Replication

Average

  • Calculate: Calculates the average of the chosen set of replications. If a database is set in the scenario, it stores the average in the database too.
  • Simulate Pending Replications: Simulates those replications with status set as ‘Not simulated yet’.
  • Reset Replications: Sets the status of all the replications that belong to this average to ‘Not simulated yet’.
  • Retrieve Average Data: Loads the average data that was stored into the database.
  • Retrieve Average and Replications Data: Loads the average data that was stored into the database as well as the data for all the replications belonging to it.
  • Retrieve Data using an Aggregation Interval: Retrieves the data but brings up a dialog to change the interval at which it is aggregated.
  • Retrieve Average Link Costs: Retrieves the costs for each turn and each exit link.

Distribution Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment (Gravity model or Destination Choice Model) in the selected scenario.

Distribution Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Distribution: Executes the distribution experiment.
  • Retrieve Distribution Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Four-Step Model Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.

Four-Step Model Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment,
  • Run Four-Step Model: Executes the four-step model experiment.
  • Retrieve Loop Results: Retrieves the results of a loop controller box created.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Generation/Attraction Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.

Generation/Attraction Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Generation/Attraction: Executes the G/A experiment.
  • Retrieve Generation/Attraction Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.
  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.
  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Modal Split: Executes the Modal Split experiment.
  • Retrieve Modal Split Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Static Assignment Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.
    • All or Nothing Assignment
    • Frank and Wolfe Assignment
    • Incremental Assignment
    • MSA Assignment
    • Stochastic Assignment

Static Assignment Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Static Assignment: Executes the static assignment experiment.
  • Retrieve Static Traffic Assignment Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Retrieve Path Assignment Results: Loads the path statistics and path assignment information from the replication.
  • Unload Static Traffic Assignment Results: If results loaded, it unloads to free-up memory.
  • Unload Path Assignment Results: If results loaded, it unloads to free-up memory.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Static OD Adjustment Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.
    • All or Nothing Assignment
    • Frank and Wolfe Assignment
    • Incremental Assignment
    • MSA Assignment
    • Stochastic Assignment

Static OD Adjustment Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Static OD Adjustment: Executes the static OD adjustment experiment.
  • Retrieve Static OD Adjustment Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Retrieve Path Assignment Results: Loads the path statistics and path assignment information from the replication.
  • Unload Static OD Adjustment Results: If results loaded, it unloads to free-up memory.
  • Unload Path Assignment Results: If results loaded, it unloads to free-up memory.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Static OD Departure Adjustment Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.

Static OD Departure Adjustment Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Static OD Departure Adjustment: Executes the static OD departure adjustment experiment.
  • Retrieve Static OD Departure Adjustment Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Unload Static OD Departure Adjustment Results: If results loaded, it unloads to free-up memory.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Transit Assignment Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.

Transit Assignment Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Transit Assignment: Executes the transit assignment experiment.
  • Retrieve Transit Assignment Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Retrieve Path Assignment Results: Loads the path statistics and path assignment information from the replication.
  • Unload Transit Assignment Results: If results loaded, it unloads to free-up memory.
  • Unload Path Assignment Results: If results loaded, it unloads to free-up memory.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Transit OD Adjustment Scenario

  • Activate: Sets as active the first experiment it contains. If the Scenario doesn't have any experiment, the menu item is disabled (greyed out).
  • New Experiment: Creates a new experiment in the selected scenario.

Transit OD Adjustment Experiment

  • Activate: Sets as active the experiment.
  • Run Transit OD Adjustment: Executes the transit od adjustment experiment.
  • Retrieve Transit OD Adjustment Results: Retrieves the results.
  • Check and Fix Experiment: Performs all checks and fixes at experiment level.

Transit Lines

  • Select Route Sections: Selects those sections that belong to the transit line.

Transit Plans

(only default options)

Transit Stations

  • Select Objects Inside: Selects all the objects in the 2D view that belong to the transit station.

Transit Zone Plans

  • Activate: Activates the transit zone selected.
  • Recalculate Zone Plan: Recalculates the zone plan.

Transit Zones

  • Build: Builds the transit zone.
  • Select Objects Inside: Selects all the objects in the 2D view that belong to the transit station.

Strategy

  • New Policy: Creates a new policy for the selected strategy.

Policy

Traffic Condition

Python Script

Real Data Set

  • Retrieve: Retrieves the data of the selected real data set.
  • Retrieve & Check: Retrieves and checks the consistency of the real data set.

Grouping Category

  • New…: Creates a new grouping.
  • Build: Adds to the groupings linked to a polygon area the objects inside the polygon that belong to the Grouping Category Object Type.
  • Refresh Statistics: Recalculates the statistics of all the groupings defined in the grouping category.

Layer context menu

The context menu of a layer is opened by right clicking on the desired layer in the Layers Window. The available operations for layers are:

  • Generate Pedestrian Obstacles: Generates obstacles for the objects of this layer.
  • Retrieve External Data: Retrieves the layer so all its contents can be accessible by the user.
  • Unload External Data: Unloads the layer contents so they will be no longer accessible by the user and the amount of memory in use will decrease.
  • New Layer: Creates a new sublayer.
  • Activate: Sets the layer as the active one so all the new created objects will be added to it.
  • Disable Allow Object Editing: Disables the editing of the objects that belong to this layer.
  • Center in View: Centers the view on the center point of the layer.
  • Move Selection to this layer: Moves all the selected objects to this layer.
  • Select All: Selects all the layer objects in the active 2D View.
  • Show All: Shows all the layer objects in the active 2D View.
  • Hide All: Hides all the layer objects in the active 2D View.
  • Rename: Opens a dialog where the layer can be renamed.
  • Delete: Removes the layer.
  • Properties: Opens the layer’s editor.

Legend context menu

  • Copy snapshot: Copies the contents of the legend to the clipboard.

Log Window context menu

  • Save Log (html): Saves the log messages into an HTML file.
  • Save Log (txt): Saves the log messages into an TXT file.
  • Clear: Clears the log window by removing all of its contents.
  • Filter...: Filters to search for the desired messages in the log.

Project Folders context menu

Right clicking on root folders within the Project window brings up their context menus. Apart from the Rename option available to all folders, new non-graphical objects relevant to each folder can be created. For example, a New / Vehicle Type can be created from the Vehicle Types and Classes folder’s context menu, which will be placed in this folder.

View Modes folder context menu

The data shown in the 2D view is controlled by the View Mode . View Modes are created and edited using the View Modes Editor to select what data is shown in the map view.

  • Generate Default View Modes: Creates or updates the default view modes and styles.