What improvements would you like to see in Vensim?

[EwoutH]

To give some context, we're using Vensim at the Delft University of Technology. In a conceptual stage, we also use it to create conceptual models like CLDs and stock-flow diagrams. It's often preferred to modify those diagrams using other software before including in a report or documentation.

A big advantage of building conceptual models in Vensim is having a basis for an operational model already and getting accustomed with the software in the progress.

I just tested what can be done with the SVG. It's possible to open it in PowerPoint, ungroup it and then modifying its individual elements. Unfortunately, the web version of Visio doesn't support importing or opening SVGs by default. Which is mainly a limitation by Visio itself.

So SVGs work most of the time, and I don't know the effort of implementing such a feature as saving in VSDX format, but it would be a nice quality of life improvement alongside SVG, at least for us.

[EwoutH]

This is probably a huge feature, but some kind of input parameter fitting from a validation set would be extremely interesting to have in Vensim. This way, you can for example have validation data for (output) variables A, B and C, that can be used to estimate (input) variables X, Y and Z. It could also be used to fit a model on a historic data or on a known scenario.

[Administrator]

It sounds to me like you are describing optimization (which is already in Vensim).

[EwoutH]

We're using Git for version control with our team. The current settings help a lot to make the text readable.

On every save a .mdl2 file is also saved however, and has to be manually disabled to not commit to Git. Could there be an option not to save such backup files?

[Administrator]

On every save a .mdl2 file is also saved however, and has to be manually disabled to not commit to Git. Could there be an option not to save such backup files?

Why don't you configure GIT to ignore the file instead?

[EwoutH]

That indeed also works, it's just nice to reduce the clutter (by default).

[tomfid]

You can configure Vensim to keep backup files (.2mdl, .3vmf, etc.) in another location (C:\temp or whatever). First entry in Tools>Options>Paths.

[lhungerf]

I use Vensim to teach a very short intorduction to modeling for MPH students. In the newest version, the documentation all shows the previous version. If I chose the old version of sketch, it is several versions ago. It would be good if the manual matched the new version or if I could tell the students how to set their version to match the one in the manual. This adds a layer of confusion - but I'm hoping that I just haven't found the right option to change? I also couldn't find a way to have them download the version that matches the manual.
Thanks!
Laura

[tomfid]

We'll catch up soon - there's just been a lot of change very recently. There are one or two more big changes in the pipeline - the equation editor and custom graph editor - and then things should settle down.

[rubynguyen]

Is it possible to click on a ghost variable and go to its original view/place? This feature in Powersim is really helpful to track down how the ghost variable is created. Thanks!

[Administrator]

Is it possible to click on a ghost variable and go to its original view/place? This feature in Powersim is really helpful to track down how the ghost variable is created. Thanks!

Select the shadow variable and press F3.

[Travis]

I like this idea a lot. I don't think F3 finds the *original* variable. Doesn't it find the next use of the variable, which could possibly be another ghost. Going straight to the "definition" would be useful. And if it is a heavily used variable, you could have to press F3 many times to find the original.

[Mizik]

Can we have a separate/dedicated section to report bugs and provide feedback in this forum?

You can post directly into the Vensim section. Sub-dividing the forum makes it harder to search.

Also, from your side, it would be useful to include a feedback button in the software's menu. Sometimes, users feel more relaxed to report issues directly to you and you definitely can gather the data more efficiently and systematically.

Sadly we would be inundated with questions that have already been answered many times. The FAQ on the website lists the questions we are asked most often and even though we suggest that users look at the FAQ first, they rarely do.

Where is this forum FAQ section? I can not find. Thank you

[Administrator]

Where is this forum FAQ section? I can not find. Thank you

https://vensim.com/faq/

[Mizik]

Where is this forum FAQ section? I can not find. Thank you

https://vensim.com/faq/

Got it! Thank you!

[tshazis1]

Curser over a buildin functions, a description pop up with some explanation and details of the function.

Improvements on the help function, use a layman's language. Now it's written by developers for the developers.

[geo_curious]

I would like to see the new Tornado graph improved, under the Sensitivity2All feature. The outputs are great, but the graph is not a tornado in v10.0.0.

[Administrator]

I would like to see the new Tornado graph improved, under the Sensitivity2All feature. The outputs are great, but the graph is not a tornado in v10.0.0.

Try selecting one of the other measures rather than MAD (such as payoff). This will give you the tornado you are looking for.

[geo_curious]

I would like to see the new Tornado graph improved, under the Sensitivity2All feature. The outputs are great, but the graph is not a tornado in v10.0.0.

Try selecting one of the other measures rather than MAD (such as payoff). This will give you the tornado you are looking for.

That was it. Thank you.

[donpierson]

Hi
I have two suggestions. The first is to reinstate functionality that use to exist. This is that when interactively selecting a range of time on a graph, not only is that graph changed but the time axis is set to the selected range so that subsequent graphs or table output only show that range. I find this really useful for exploring what is going on during a specific period/event in a model. If there are some who prefer this not to happen at least you could make this behavior into a selectable option.

Secondly I find myself constantly switching between the single graph tool, causes graph tool and the equation editor. Could you make the lock not only select a variable, but launch these tools on double click <b>****</b> click ctrl click etc? Maybe make this something you could customize in the options menu?

Thanks
Don Pierson

[Administrator]

Secondly I find myself constantly switching between the single graph tool, causes graph tool and the equation editor. Could you make the lock not only select a variable, but launch these tools on double click <b>****</b> click ctrl click etc? Maybe make this something you could customize in the options menu?

I don't understand what you mean here, but for all the analysis tools, you do have the "Activate on variable selection" option (right click on the tool, and select the checkbox). And you can toggle "Activate on variable selection" using SHIFT when pressing a tool button.

Does that do what you need?

[donpierson]

Secondly I find myself constantly switching between the single graph tool, causes graph tool and the equation editor. Could you make the lock not only select a variable, but launch these tools on double click <b>****</b> click ctrl click etc? Maybe make this something you could customize in the options menu?

I don't understand what you mean here, but for all the analysis tools, you do have the "Activate on variable selection" option (right click on the tool, and select the checkbox). And you can toggle "Activate on variable selection" using SHIFT when pressing a tool button.

Does that do what you need?

Thanks this helps, but it is not exactly what I wanted. I was hoping there was a way to switch between several tools with out having to going to the tool menu. For example, simple selecting would produce a graph, but double clicking would open the equation editor, and control clicking would open the causes graph tool etc. Ideally it would be nice if you could set this up based on your personal preferences.

[Administrator]

ok, I'll raise it as a future enhancement.

[Amistra]

I'd like to see an option in the Comment Editor that allows the text in a comment to be included in the documentation. For example, a check box "Document text" to the right of "No cause' so that when selected the comment text appears at the start of the text for a selected comment when the Document tool is used. This would be very useful for providing a description of the view and perhaps instructions, assumptions, or other notes.

[Administrator]

I'd like to see an option in the Comment Editor that allows the text in a comment to be included in the documentation. For example, a check box "Document text" to the right of "No cause' so that when selected the comment text appears at the start of the text for a selected comment when the Document tool is used. This would be very useful for providing a description of the view and perhaps instructions, assumptions, or other notes.

I'll raise this as a future enhancement. Not sure how best to implement it though, as the document tool only works on variables at the moment (not on diagrams). For it to work, we'd need some way of documenting the diagrams as well.