3 replies to this topic

[EdJones90]

Hi All,

 

Potentially simple question, but hopefully someone can help.

 

I'm a PhD student in the UK. Attempting to use Aspen Plus V10 to simulate a biomass hydrothermal liquefaction process to slot into a biorefinery model. Initially just replicating some of the work from the US Dept. of Energy publications, but then getting on to adding novelty etc.

 

I have a base process model built in Aspen Plus, with biomass defined as a non-conventional solid, and HTL reactions managed with the RYield reactor and parameters computed in FORTRAN blocks.

 

I would now like to try and link Aspen Simulation Workbook (ASW) in Excel to the process model, to allow me to rattle through a bunch of biomass characteristics quickly, however I haven't actually been able to get the ASW add-on appear in the Excel ribbon bar.

 

When I check the Excel add-ons (File>Options>Add-ins>Manage Add-ins) I see that I have Aspen OSE Workbook ticked and enabled. I've tried unticking and re-enabling but no change.

 

Similarly if I check under Developer>Visual Basic, I have AspenSimulationWorkbookXLA listed as a Project under my VBAProjects, however it's password protected as I guess this must be the code for the add-in itself.

 

I've also tried launching the .xla files directly from the Aspen installation directory in my C:\ drive ($FILEPATH$\AspenTech\Aspen Simulation Workbook V10.0\), which launches an Excel workbook, but with no ribbon.

 

I have macros enabled.

 

I've asked University IT support to take a look, and as far as they can tell there's nothing breaking or requiring admin rights to function properly. I've tried watching YouTube tutorials for using ASW, but my "installation" looks nothing like those in the vids so I'm a little stuck.

 

Anyone have any tips/help that they can offer?

 

Many thanks!

[PaoloPemi]

there is a recent thread about Aspen simulator workbook, we were not able to solve the question (how to customize the buttons)  since we don't know the technical details inside the addin code, my suggestion in these cases is to contact the developer (Aspen) and ask specific support.
With a different tool, Prode Properties, working with Excel, the usual procedure to reinstall the xla Add-In is to open the Add-Ins dialog box, deselect Prode Properties, close Excel, start Excel and reinstall the Add-in,

notice you need to stop Excel,

you may try this option...

Edited by PaoloPemi, 08 September 2020 - 07:05 AM.

[EdJones90]

there is a recent thread about Aspen simulator workbook, we were not able to solve the question (how to customize the buttons)  since we don't know the technical details inside the addin code, my suggestion in these cases is to contact the developer (Aspen) and ask specific support.
With a different tool, Prode Properties, working with Excel, the usual procedure to reinstall the xla Add-In is to open the Add-Ins dialog box, deselect Prode Properties, close Excel, start Excel and reinstall the Add-in,

notice you need to stop Excel,

you may try this option...

Thanks for the reply.

 

Predictably, I've already tried pretty much every conceivable combination of disabling/removing the .xla, and closing/opening Excel again, enabling the .xla, re-launching Excel etc.... All with precisely zero effect...

 

What's interesting is that I can call the inbuilt ASW functions within the workbook... e.g. if I enter a cell and type "=ASW" then it auto-fills with a bunch of Aspen Simulation Workbook functions, but I've absolutely no idea what they do, or the arguments they accept....

 

Anyway, I've sent a message to the Aspen Engineering Support inbox... Fingers crossed they know what's happening!

Edited by EdJones90, 08 September 2020 - 08:15 AM.

[PaoloPemi]

as you imagine those are the func / subs declared in Add-in,

the simulator workbook requires to open a dynamic link with the core library then these methods allow to exchange data.