The DEVS formalism consists in a rigorous frame formodel building and simulating. One one hand, the math-ematical description of the DEVS meta-model allows forthorough building of models. One the other hand, theproposed algorithms for model simulation allow for quicklybuilding simulating tools for these models. However, inbetween these two phases, there are some less-detailed stepssuch as components initial state handling.This article aims at proposing an interpretation of DEVSformalism slightly different from the one generally ob-served, and at strengthening the executable model buildingstage. The article proposes to explicitly split the modeldescription between an user-defined abstract model and anexecutable model which construction can be automaticallydone by the simulating tool. Based on this vision, the initialstate of executable models can be managed from within theDEVS formalism.