When you work with a cell, or higher level object (subfund, etc.) you may view and edit that object's assumptions and you may choose to interactively "Run" the object at any point, which causes AXIS to process and display the various calculated results reports such as Policy Year Results and Calendar Year Projections. As you are developing models or pricing new products, most of your time will be spent working interactively with objects.
Once a model of new business or inforce business has been developed, you may need to run tests where a number of recalculations of multiple cells is required under different sets of assumptions. This may involve sensitivity tests, or scenario tests, or both. This can easily be set up using Batch objects, which when executed allow the processing to continue unattended, with selected reports recording the results sent to print files, database tables or printers, and an error log documenting any abnormal events.
Batch processes are controlled through Batch objects and System Batch objects. Batch objects are defined within and only apply within single Datasets. Various types of Batch objects support:
Calendar year projections recalculation
Valuation factors recalculation
Batch testing
Table generate processes
ALM risk report
Dataset macro processes
Scenario Generator and Scenario Analyser
Import macro processes
Dataset Formula
Dataset parameter redefinition
Table adjustments
System Batch objects are defined at the System level and exist independent of specific Datasets. They support full Dataset recalculation under Batch mode from outside the Dataset, and System macros. A System Macro is a Batch Process that executes other Batch Processes within any Dataset available to the system, and can also execute other System Batch Processes. System Formula is an extremely versatile and powerful batch, that allows full control over execution of procedures.
AXIS may be launched by a command line instruction within Windows and passed a parameter to cause a Batch process to be executed upon startup. This permits specified AXIS Batch processes to be controlled from other systems or scheduled remotely.
When running certain types of Batch operations, AXIS has the capability to allow multiple other AXIS applications, operating on different processors, for example, to join the lead processor and assist in the recalculation of results, thus reducing total batch processing time. Refer to Distributed Processing topics for further information.