Ventana software support forum

Posted: **Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:06 pm**

Colleagues,
I am trying to convert two circa 1975 DYNAMO models into another system
dynamics software tool.
Ideally, I would like to run the DYNAMO models in order to test my ability
to translate them.

My email to PA Consulting has gone unanswered. I have searched eBay and old
software tools sites.

Does anyone have a lead on a PC version of Dynamo?

Thanks,
Len

Len Malczynski
From: ""Malczynski, Leonard A"" <lamalcz@sandia.gov>
Office of the Chief Economist
Sandia National Laboratories
V: 505-844-7219
F: 505-844-3296

Posted: **Fri Aug 27, 2004 3:28 pm**

Malczynski, Leonard A"" <lamalcz@sandia.gov> writes:

> I am trying to convert two circa 1975 DYNAMO models into another system
> dynamics software tool.

Len,

If I dig deeply into my memory, I recall writing programs around what
were essentially DYNAMO statements to create running simulation models
without having DYNAMO itself. I wasn't parsing and compiling the DYNAMO
code (although I was tempted to see if I could do something useful with
lex and yacc or their GNU counterparts)--just incorporating it into the
program I wrote. I can't recall right now if I used C, Pascal, or even
C64 Logo (I told you it was a while back).

At any rate, DYNAMO isn't a complex language; this was fairly easy to
do, and I suspect it might be easier and quicker to get right than
converting a DYNAMO model into a GUI-based environment, for the
structural differences would be smaller. Basic SD models aren't hard to
program; The Systems Thinker just published an article I wrote on SD
modeling using SimPack, gnuplot, and Dia (all free).

Bill
From: Bill Harris <bill_harris@facilitatedsystems.com>

--
Bill Harris 3217 102nd Place SE
Facilitated Systems Everett, WA 98208 USA
http://facilitatedsystems.com/ phone: +1 425 337-5541

Posted: **Fri Aug 27, 2004 6:10 pm**

I have converted Forrester's marketing model into SD from dynamo. It
could be done if you have the diagram and the set of equations. I did
not have Dynamo but I had the Introduction to Systems book by Forrester
which explains Dynamo and also explains how calculations are done in SD.
Most equations can be translated if you read those chapters on that book
and you can even create the diagram from the equations. But if you had
the diagram than most of the work is easy. Try that. It is interesting
to follow how calculations are done (you can find that in Industrial
Dynamics and in Introduction to System) and it is a good learning
experience to convert a model in that way.

Regards

Magdy Helal
Industrial Engi & Management Systems Dept
University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd
Orlando, Florida 32816
Phone 407 823 0017 OR 407 882 0285
Fax 407 823 3413
Cell 321 945 8982
e-mail: mhelal@mail.ucf.edu

Posted: **Fri Aug 27, 2004 6:36 pm**

Having had the same problem... and depending on the size and complexity of
your model I can offer the following advice...

When I was with Bell Canada (up to 1998) we had a HUGE Dynamo model of the
Telecom Industry (as it pertained to us here in Canada) written in Dynamo.
I,also, could not deal with Dynamo. We went to Ventana Systems Inc. (Vensim)
who converted the model for us flawlessly... in fact we were able to then
develop interfaces to the Vensim model in Flight Simulator format that even
Executives could use... well... maybe just a little ((:) In any event, for
big projects, try them.

Bob Walker
Head, System Dynamics Practice
Delsys Research Group, Inc.
Suite 400, 45 Rideau St.
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Bob.walker@delsys.ca

Posted: **Fri Aug 27, 2004 7:31 pm**

We used Professional DYNAMO when I worked for the Bonneville
Power Administration. They had mulitple copies which I'm sure
noone is using any longer. As a USDOE agency they may be
willing to part with a copy. Let me know if you would like
me to find a contact for you.

--
Mike Bull
ombull@comcast.net
(503) 240-8084

Posted: **Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:20 pm**

Just a word....When I saw Len's message I got in touch with Tom Kelly at PA
Consulting and passed the message on to him. Tom immediately passed the
request on to Keith Eubanks who contacted Len and who is sending copies of
DYNAMO and Jitia to him. Keith is the person at PA with whom to communicate
if you have any DYNAMO related questions. He can be reached at
keith.eubanks@PAconsulting.com.

Hope this helps.

Marsha Price
From: ""Marsha Price"" <marshaprice@earthlink.net>

Marsha Jane Price
U P S T A R T I A E Projects/Dynamic Systems Consultants
79 Myrtle Street
Boston, Ma 02114
USA
Telephone: +1.617.642.7900

Posted: **Mon Aug 30, 2004 4:08 pm**

I guess this situation has been satisfactorily resolved, but I wanted to
mention one other thing. I have successfully translated several DYNAMO
models into Vensim ones by using the information in Richardson and
Pugh's book ""Introduction to System Dynamics Modeling with Dynamo."" The
stocks and flows and most of the auxiliaries are essentially identical.
The only problem I had was that some of the built-in functions, and to a
lesser extent the table functions, were different and had to be finessed
in Vensim. It was actually quite fun to do that kind of translation.

John J. Voyer, Ph.D.
Professor of Business Administration
School of Business
University of Southern Maine
96 Falmouth St.
Box 9300
Portland, ME 04104-9300

voyer@usm.maine.edu
phone: 207-780-4597
fax: 207-780-4662

Posted: **Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:16 pm**

Many thanks to all who responded.
I have made the right contact at PA Consulting and a copy of DYNAMO is on
the way.

Many of you have been translating models from DYNAMO to Vensim. In my case
it is DYNAMO to Powersim Studio. I started that by getting a copy of
Richardson and Pugh, a copy of a DYNAMO manual from the local university
library, and some notes from Powersim Corporation. Having a diagram of the
DYNAMO model helps tremendously.

Last year (2003) there was some message traffic concerning model
translators, something Jim Hines termed SMILE, Simulation Model Interchange
Language. Perhaps this search will re-initiate that discussion.

Again, thanks to all,
Len

Len Malczynski
From: ""Malczynski, Leonard A"" <lamalcz@sandia.gov>
Office of the Chief Economist
Sandia National Laboratories
V: 505-844-7219
F: 505-844-3296

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