Vensim macOS New Model/Window [Bug?]

[aliakhavan89]

I remember I reported this earlier:

https://youtu.be/bNcAC2Z__zQ

I've checked the settings several times, and they didn't work. It gets frustrating throughout the day to see a new window pop up whenever I open a model by double-clicking on the file. The recording is not a boomerang, and the clock changes on the top right of the screen. I did it multiple times to show that it's not happening randomly.

[aliakhavan89]

I just want to remind you about this unusual behavior where a new window pops up when I open a model by double-clicking it.

[Administrator]

Yes, we are aware. There are much bigger problems with the Mac at the moment due to the latest Xcode/SDK.

[aliakhavan89]

Thank you so much for fixing this issue in the new release. Everything is very smooth now. Thanks again!

[aliakhavan89]

A few other issues:

1. I have a 14-inch MacBook and I think this window was designed on a larger display because every time I have to resize it to get to the ‘Simulate’ button. The window size is restarted every time I close it.

Screenshot 2024-05-02 at 10.04.30 AM.png (430.45 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

2. The tools in the analysis toolset (like graph, table, sensitivity graph, etc.) can be embedded in the menu bar. Ideally, they can have shortcuts based on the operating system (e.g., ⌘/Control + Shift + G shows the graph for the selected variable). This would be handy when switching between multiple tools quickly (e.g., looking at the graph, table, and statistics, sequentially for different variables). Even if shortcuts are not defined by default, users can assign their customized shortcuts (at least on macOS), but having them in the menu bar is required.
3. It would be extremely helpful if the same menu (like viewing the graph for the selected variable) would also reverse the action. For example, it opens and closes the graph, unless another variable is selected. Right now, I have defined a custom shortcut (⌘ + E) to run ‘Output -> Close all output windows’ but the shortcut closes everything.
4. I understand that the equation editor is going to be updated but in the current version, from time to time I see line breaks when the equation gets long, but it only happens when I reopen the model. In the same session, the format of the equation will remain the same (for example, there will be no line breaks)
5. The equation editor on macOS does not accept ‘esc’ or ‘command+return’ keys. So the equation editor can only be closed using the cursor
6. I feel that the Data Import Settings window has not been updated yet because the fonts and sizes are weird. But other windows like Export Settings or Optimization Settings are okay.

Screenshot 2024-05-02 at 10.23.27 AM.png (219.43 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

7. On macOS, when the OS’s dark mode is enabled and the Vensim’s Dark mode sketch is activated, renaming a variable is not very clear as the text/color overlaps

Screenshot 2024-05-02 at 10.28.01 AM.png (124.11 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

[aliakhavan89]

8. I’d appreciate if you could make the ‘dark mode sketch’ to be enabled automatically but include an option like Microsoft Office apps to customize that behavior

Turn off Dark Mode.png (169.76 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

9. The table in the dark mode has a white background

Time (Year).png (51.81 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

10. The graph legends in the dark mode have white backgrounds making the legend invisible

2016.png (165.63 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

[aliakhavan89]

11. ‘Suppress simulation information window’ does not suppress the information window then the model is reading a CIN file or other inputs to constants (like .out files). In the settings, there is even an option to suppress errors, so it would be beneficial to make this optional too.

Reading changes from file Untitled.cin.png (135.75 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

12. On macOS, in the ‘Comment editor’ the ‘delete’ key does note remove the comment, but ‘option+delete’ does. I think the window is not correctly activated because even going to the edit menu and selecting delete does not do anything (but the model options like adding subscripts are available).

Vensim DSS File.png (368.93 KiB) Viewed 9464 times

13. ‘Activate on variable selection’ for graphs or tables is a good workaround instead of using menu options and shortcuts, but still has some issues. For example, when I want to open the equation editor for a variable, I really do not intend to see the graph/table at the same time.

[Administrator]

1. I have a 14-inch MacBook and I think this window was designed on a larger display because every time I have to resize it to get to the ‘Simulate’ button. The window size is restarted every time I close it.

We'll make some tweaks to this for the next release.

2. The tools in the analysis toolset (like graph, table, sensitivity graph, etc.) can be embedded in the menu bar. Ideally, they can have shortcuts based on the operating system (e.g., ⌘/Control + Shift + G shows the graph for the selected variable). This would be handy when switching between multiple tools quickly (e.g., looking at the graph, table, and statistics, sequentially for different variables). Even if shortcuts are not defined by default, users can assign their customized shortcuts (at least on macOS), but having them in the menu bar is required.

Sorry, I do not follow what you are explaining here.

3. It would be extremely helpful if the same menu (like viewing the graph for the selected variable) would also reverse the action. For example, it opens and closes the graph, unless another variable is selected. Right now, I have defined a custom shortcut (⌘ + E) to run ‘Output -> Close all output windows’ but the shortcut closes everything.

Sorry, I do not follow what you are explaining here.

6. I feel that the Data Import Settings window has not been updated yet because the fonts and sizes are weird. But other windows like Export Settings or Optimization Settings are okay.

Correct. We are working on a replacement (hold SHIFT when selecting export data from the menu, you will see the replacement).

7. On macOS, when the OS’s dark mode is enabled and the Vensim’s Dark mode sketch is activated, renaming a variable is not very clear as the text/color overlaps

We'll make some tweaks to this for the next release.

[Administrator]

8. I’d appreciate if you could make the ‘dark mode sketch’ to be enabled automatically but include an option like Microsoft Office apps to customize that behavior

We've talked internally about this and decided on the current functionality. We spoke with some teachers that need to review models from their students, they need to be able to see the model as the student designed it rather than in a dark mode. This is why it's a user configurable setting.

9. The table in the dark mode has a white background
10. The graph legends in the dark mode have white backgrounds making the legend invisible

We'll fix these.

[Administrator]

11. ‘Suppress simulation information window’ does not suppress the information window then the model is reading a CIN file or other inputs to constants (like .out files). In the settings, there is even an option to suppress errors, so it would be beneficial to make this optional too.

We'll check.

12. On macOS, in the ‘Comment editor’ the ‘delete’ key does note remove the comment, but ‘option+delete’ does. I think the window is not correctly activated because even going to the edit menu and selecting delete does not do anything (but the model options like adding subscripts are available).

We know about this, a fix will be in the next release.

13. ‘Activate on variable selection’ for graphs or tables is a good workaround instead of using menu options and shortcuts, but still has some issues. For example, when I want to open the equation editor for a variable, I really do not intend to see the graph/table at the same time.

I agree. I think we'll only enable the "Activate on select" analysis tools when the user has either the lock or move sketch tools selected.

[aliakhavan89]

This is what I meant by the shortcuts. macOS has this option that users can define shortcuts for the items in the menu bar, which can be app specific. For example, I have defined a shortcut for import dataset because I use it a lot when I am debugging my applied models. Then, I don't have to use the cursor to go to the menu every time.

Screenshot 2024-05-17 at 11.13.39 AM.png (170.1 KiB) Viewed 9269 times

Screenshot 2024-05-17 at 11.14.13 AM.png (398.01 KiB) Viewed 9269 times

Note that I did not ask you to introduce any shortcuts. Just having the analysis options like 'View Graph' or 'View Graph,' among others, under the menu 'Tools' would do the work. Users can define their own custom shortcuts if they want. Having those options would make working on models much faster.