Choosing between alternatives
After the first classification is done, NIMBUS shows you the new solutions. The first solution is produced by using the starting point, and it is the basis of the classification. The rest of the solutions are generated using the classification information. Now you can see if the classification changed the result into the desired direction. If you wish to take a look at alternatives (i.e. the classification changed the result too much) between the two, simply insert the number of new alternatives you want and use the Generate new alternatives - command at the bottom of the page. The two end points are still the same (starting point and the classification result), but in addition, a desired amount of intermediate solutions is presented. Notice that the end points are included in the number of the new alternatives (so the minimum number of new alternatives is two). When a satisfactory solution has been found, check the checkbox next to it.Visualizations
NIMBUS allows graphical visualization of alternatives during the iteration process. When choosing alternatives to continue with, you may compare and examine them in a value path, bar chart, petal or 3D diagram form. You can decide which of the alternatives are displayed in the graph and whether you want to use absolute or relative scales.Example page of choosing the desired visualization
Example page of visualization
Alternative colours
When generating the alternatives, the color of the first alternative is always the same as the color of the bars in the graphical classification. The last color indicates the result of the classification, and it will not change even when changing the number of the intermediate alternatives. After proceeding into the next (graphical) classification, the color of the classification bars will be the same as the color of the alternative you just selected. This helps you to associate a certain solution with a certain color! Note that the colors will be the same also in visualization pictures.
After choosing one of the alternatives, the classification page is displayed again. Now the selected alternative is the basis of the new classification. You may carry out the classification, and the analysis page appears, now showing the solutions of the last classification. Again, you select one alternative to continue with, and the iteration proceeds. All the time you get more and more specific results from the classification and you use the analysis page to choose the best result for further examination.There are two main things in the iteration process. The first is to choose the right class for each function. You decide in which direction the objective values must be changed to, and which of the values you allow to increase. The other thing is to analyze the results of the classification. You may create more alternatives, compare them graphically, choose one of them and refine the solution.
The first classification did not satisfy us completely. We need more alternatives to continue with, so they must be created by using the Generate new alternatives option. The number of new alternatives must be specified, so we type 7 into the number field.Now there seems to appear some satisfactory results. We can select one of them for further examination. This alternative will be the basis of the next classification. The same routine continues until a desired result is achieved.