FAQ

Do you support old or new versions of SIMPPLLE?  

In general no, OpenSIMPPLLE is a break from SIMPPLLE v2.5. The version of SIMPPLLE being developed in Eastside Region 1 (v3.0) will in no way be present or supported by this project.  As to whether older versions are supported, once again the answer is in general, no. Especially when referring to very old versions. Much of the deprecated and commented out code from earlier versions is gone, so backwards compatibility is not guaranteed, especially in regard to the GIS imports, the regional zone Michigan, many of the interpretations, and any reference to Zone Builder. You are welcome to contact us if there is a problem incorporating older files with OpenSIMPPLLE. We will attempt to assist you if possible.

Why did you choose to open source this program?  

Funding, funding, funding. OpenSIMPPLLE is a valuable program. Without funding, SIMPPLLE would have stagnated and been mothballed. The hope to move it to open source so that OpenSIMPPLLE survives and thrives, going in entirely new and unforseen directions. The development team welcomes any discussion of future funding possibilities to support future development.

Can I load old system knowledge files?

The short answer is maybe. Depends on how old. In general, OpenSIMPPLLE is a break from SIMPPLLE. Much of the old code has been removed, so backwards compatibility is not guaranteed.  Your best bet is to try.

Do you plan on updating OpenSIMPPLLE ArcToolbox to current ArcGIS versions?

Yes. That is the hope of going to the Open Source model. The development team welcomes anyone who wishes to assist in further development to do so. Also of interest to the development team is to add an plugin to an open source GIS to take out the cost factor in future versions. 

I do not have ArcGIS v 9.1, 9.2, or 9.3 can I still use OpenSIMPPLLE?

Yes.  OpenSIMPPLLE can still be used, but only if the GIS files are already generated. ArcGIS versions before and after 9.1 are no longer supported in any way. Part of the future development plans is to create python scripts to update to current versions of ArcGIS. But as of OpenSIMPPLLE v1.0, this is not the case.

What role do processes play in OpenSIMPPLLE?

Refer to the following detailed explanation.

How do I report a bug?

Click here to report a bug, using Bitbucket's issue tracker.