5.3 Semantic errors

The editor can also detect and highlight semantic, i.e. logical errors. For example, suppose we accidentally mis-type the reaction identifier decay as deacy, with a simple transposition error in the letters c and a (see Figure 17):

Figure 17: A semantic error is detected

Now there are two problems with the model. The first is that the reaction deacy does not have an associated kinetic law, which prevents any kind of simulation of the model. The second is that a kinetic law has been declared for the reaction decay, but the reaction decay has never been used in the definition of any species. This second problem is less serious and would not by itself prevent simulation of the model but it might indicate that there is mistake somewhere in the model, or that it is unfinished.

Semantic errors in the Problems view

The Problems View informs us that a functional rate (also known as a kinetic law) has been used but not declared and that a reaction (with its associated functional rate) has been used but not defined (see Figure 18).

Figure 18: Semantic error messages in the Problems view