can Custom Graphs be displayed in old format?

[sjgenco]

I'm new to Vensim, using version 9.3.4 on a 2019 MacBook Pro, MacOS 12.5.1. I got interested in replicating a dynamic system model called HANDY, which models population, inequality, and resource depletion. This model is discussed in a 2013 YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPeK9JQ ... es-Wilhelm.

I'm not sure when Vensim updated its interface icons, but it looks like it also changed the format of its Custom Graphs, maybe as part of that update? I was surprised that the new Custom Graph format shows much less info than the old one. If you have more than 2 variables in your graph, it only shows the scale for the first variable on the left y axis and the scale for the second variable on the right y axis. For other variables, you can only see their values by mousing over them. The old format showed scales for all variables on the left y axis. It also formatted the legend differently.

I noticed that when you're on the dialog to build/edit a Custom Graph, if you click on the "Test output" button, you get the graph in the old format. So that old format is still "in the system" somewhere. I also noticed that I can get my graphs formatted in the old way if I "Switch Back to Old GUI" under the Tools menu. But ... I really like the new icons, so don't want to switch back everything, just be able to access the old Custom Graph format.

So, my question: is there any way to get Custom Graphs to display in the old format in v 9.3.4? (short of switching back to the old GUI)
If not, let me recommend this as a possible future enhancement, maybe as a Vensim>Preferences option on the Graphs pane.

[tomfid]

Switching to the old GUI is your only option.

I think having a lot of scales operating at once is generally not good for transparency to users. I'd rather have a panel of distinct charts.

I know there are exceptions (Limits to Growth etc. did this) but I would normally avoid it.

I don't think the old GUI approach was very good, because it showed all the scales, but you couldn't tell which scale was associated with which legend item, unless units were also distinct.

Custom graphs (and graphs in general) are going to get another round of upgrades, so if you have a specific suggestion we'd be happy to consider it.

[sjgenco]

Thanks for the quick reply Tom.
I agree the old format wasn't perfect, but the new one is definitely inferior, IMHO. In my 4 variable graph, in the old format I could see what kind of range I was getting for all 4 variables, in the new format I can only see 2, so that requires extra work to see how my variables performed in my sim. That feels like a feature reduction to me, not an improvement. I guess the only thing I could suggest that falls somewhere between a panel display, which would show 1 variable to each pane, and and overloaded single y-axis, like in the old formate, is multiple y axes, kind of like what I've attached, which is from a python version of the World3 model. (Maybe with an option to put scales on either the left or right side of the graph).

I look forward to seeing what you come up with in your next iteration of the graphs.

[tomfid]

Thanks for the sample. I've ticketed this so we don't lose the though.