Combining sub-models into hierarchical-structured model

[oOLauraOo]

Hi,
I recently purchased Vensim Pro, and I have some problems modeling a 4-parts-structure-system (you will find a PDF version of my model in attachment).
I would like my model to be structured as a 4-parts-model (or 4 “macro-sectors” or "blocks") : a sub-model “energy efficiency”, another one “financial model”, a third one “human resources” and finally a sub-model “information model”.
Of course a lot of variables imply relations with several (or all) sub-models.
Now I would like to “connect” or “combine” all of these 4 sub-models, but what I'd like to do goes further than using shadow variables. I would rather use kind of “boxes” to make a hierarchical model, and have a great visibility of the four sub-models exactly the same way as in the following example, PAGE 8 (Erik Larsen, Alessandro Lomi (2002), Representing change: a system model of organizational inertia and capabilities as dynamic accumulation processes) :
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/do ... 1&type=pdf
(You will find a picture in attachment)
I guess I’m actually trying to create kind of “molecules”, but I have no idea how to do this.
Can you please help me find a way to do what I have in mind ?

Thank you in advance,

Laura

[Administrator]

Are you looking to add multiple views to the model?
http://www.vensim.com/documentation/ind ... ?usr09.htm

Vensim does not support sub-models. The best you can do is to put each sub-model into a separate view (if they are small enough) and connect up the various parts. You can then add an overview screen,the comments used to construct the overview can be used to link to the views of the sub-models.

[oOLauraOo]

Are you looking to add multiple views to the model?
http://www.vensim.com/documentation/ind ... ?usr09.htm

Vensim does not support sub-models. The best you can do is to put each sub-model into a separate view (if they are small enough) and connect up the various parts. You can then add an overview screen,the comments used to construct the overview can be used to link to the views of the sub-models.

Thank you a lot for your answer, this actually helps me a lot and could be what I want to do ! I found how to use the views, and it's almost okay... But still I can't find a way to have a single different part of my template model on each view. Let me explain what happens...
In my template view, I put the "energy efficiency" hidden in depth 1, "financial model" hidden in depth 2, etc. But then, navigating in the views, the first one works very well, but the second view adds view1 + view2 and so on (kind of merges the views when going down the model depth, what I can understand but doesn't match my purpose). How can I do to make this as View1=>depth1 ; View2=>depth2 (etc), with isolated sub-model on each view ?

Thank you !

Laura

[tomfid]

It sounds like you're using hide levels, not views. Hide levels are additive. You want multiple views. Use the View menu, or the toolbar at the bottom left of the screen, to create them, per http://www.vensim.com/documentation/20640.htm.

You can also the comment tool to create a high-level view of your sectors that navigates to the individual views, https://www.vensim.com/documentation/in ... ?20845.htm.

[oOLauraOo]

It sounds like you're using hide levels, not views. Hide levels are additive. You want multiple views. Use the View menu, or the toolbar at the bottom left of the screen, to create them, per http://www.vensim.com/documentation/20640.htm.

You can also the comment tool to create a high-level view of your sectors that navigates to the individual views, https://www.vensim.com/documentation/in ... ?20845.htm.

Hi, thanks for answering so fast. Okay now I understand views and hide levels are not related. Nevertheless, I still don't understand how to mange views, the documentation is unclear for me. Could you please explain me the very procedure to do what I want ?
1) I created a big model with my four sub-models interconnected (see attachment)
2) I renamed the view "Template view"
3) I chose "Template view" in the view menu
4) Then I created 4 new views, one for each sub-model, and renames them "Energetic efficiency model", "Financial model", etc...
5) The big model appears in each view, nice !
6) Now, what shall I do and how ? (to see ONLY the energetic efficiency model in the energetic efficiency model view, financial model in the financial model view and so on ?)

I'm sorry I don't understand what is explained in the online documentation...
Thank you for your help,

Laura

[tomfid]

The template view is typically used for background labels and navigation rather than for structure.

I think you want to do the following:

- Turn the template feature off on your sector views
- Rename the template view "master" or something that indicates that it's the whole model
- Copy your sectors, one at a time, and paste the structure into each sector view. Be sure to use "Picture" mode, not "Replicate."

You may need to do a little clean up to adjust shadow variable usage around the edge of each sector when you're done.

Views can contain overlapping diagram content, but there's only one set of underlying equations.

[oOLauraOo]

The template view is typically used for background labels and navigation rather than for structure.

I think you want to do the following:

- Turn the template feature off on your sector views
- Rename the template view "master" or something that indicates that it's the whole model
- Copy your sectors, one at a time, and paste the structure into each sector view. Be sure to use "Picture" mode, not "Replicate."

You may need to do a little clean up to adjust shadow variable usage around the edge of each sector when you're done.

Views can contain overlapping diagram content, but there's only one set of underlying equations.

It seems to work perfectly !! Thank you a lot !

Laura

[tomfid]

Great!