What Is a Slot?

A slot is a narrow opening, usually in the shape of a slit, for receiving something, such as a coin.

In a slot machine, the name of each game is displayed on a large, brightly lit sign called a “candle.” A small light inside the candle flashes in specific patterns to indicate that the player has won or lost. It also lights up to warn the player that the machine needs service, the jackpot has been claimed, or the door is not secure.

The term “slot” is also used to refer to a number in a table or sequence of numbers, such as a telephone digit or binary code. In addition to slots for data values, the slot mechanism is often used to hold data for outputs or in rule-based simulation.

There are several different types of slots, each with a different set of configuration and menu options. To select a slot, highlight a column or all cells in that row. Some types of slots have extra menu options and a special icon in the column heading, such as the Series Slot with Expression or the Periodic Slot with Periodic Input. To open these slots in their own dialogs, click this icon.

Periodic slots are used to hold periodic data that repeats over a specified time interval. The timeseries associated with these slots can vary (1 Hour, 1 Day, 1 Month, etc.), and they can be configured to Interpolate or Lookup the data. If a slot is configured to Interpolate, the DateTime display shows the date that changes from one row to the next. Otherwise, the display shows a separator for each part of the date (for example, Day, Hour, and Month).