need help " Open or start a new model first.."

[fabertel]

Hi!
im tryng to create my first model . after opening any file (also from tutorial) and clicking on any command on the left i always get the message " Open or start a new model first .. )

am i doing anythign wrong ?
im following some tutorials but i get this error doing exactly what tutorials suggest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzhORoE918I&noredirect=1


thanks,
Fabio

im running latest version 6 student version on win7

[Administrator]

It sounds like you haven't opened a model.

The best thing to do would be to visit
http://www.public.asu.edu/~kirkwood/sysdyn/SDRes.htm
On this page you will find a really good Vensim PLE tutorial. That will get you up and running with Vensim very quickly.

Tony.

[fabertel]

thanks for answering .

either with a new (but saved ) file or opening an example or tutorial file, on top left i always see "Vensim : no model open Var : FINAL TIME" (while it should show the file name as i see in all tutorials ) .. so whenever i try to do anything (any command on the left bar ) i get this error " Open or start a new model first.."

another strange thing is that I can see the filename as popup window (which doesnt show the vertical bar ) , but if i maximize the frame, the filename disappears

so basically Ventana "thinks" that i dont have a model (but i do have it ) and i cannot do anyhing but draw it

thanks,
Fabio

[Administrator]

Can you send your venple.ini file (it will be located in %appdata%\Vensim) to vensim@vensim.com and I'll try your configuration here?

Tony.

[fabertel]

thanks Tony ! i just sent u my file and details of the error .
cant wait to run my first simulation !

thanks,
Fabio

[Administrator]

It works fine for me with your INI file.

How are you opening the model? Are you clicking File->Open, clicking the Open button on the toolbar or double clicking the model in Windows explorer?

[tomfid]

... or try "File>New Model" to create a blank workspace.

[srockart]

I have seventy-four executive MBA students using Vensim right now. Two of them are having this same problem, both from the same company. (BTW: I've used Vensim since the 1990s, and have never seen this error before).

What seems to happen is that instead of opening the model normally (directly in the Vensim window) it opens a new window within Vensim. My current guess is that the .mdl file is associated with other programs in their corporate setup that makes it difficult for Vensim to open them correctly. Here's what the file looks like (notice the extra box and the apparent lack of a model open) when they try to open it:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o6or5qhtem6kj ... pening.png

Scott

[Administrator]

Are they using File-Open or double clicking an existing model?

And can you let me know what company they are from (email me at vensim@vensim.com)? I know of one where the corporate installation of Windows does interfere with Vensim (and so far we haven't found out exactly what the cause was).

[marcd]

Hello -
Does anyone know whether this problem has been solved, or if there is a workaround? Today I encountered the same symptoms. I am running Vensim PLE version for Windows version 6.3 on a WIndows 7 64 bit O/S
-marcd

[Administrator]

We never got to the bottom of the problem.

If you explain step by step exactly what you are doing, maybe we can help.

[marcd]

Here is a description of my symptoms. This happened on two of my work computers. I am a General Electric (GE) Healthcare employee, so I wonder if there is somethingabout my compay's default Windows load that is causin this.
1) Install Vensim PLE 6.3 or 3.2, click New Model, then Ok.
2) A new window appears with window title bar "Model: Unnamed View: View 1". (The main Vensim wondow is still showing in the background behind the new window, with main window Windows title bar "Vensim:No Model Open Var:FINAL TIME"
3) I create a model, click the green Simulate right arrow icon from the top of the main Vensim Window, then click the Graph or Table icon from the left side of the main Vensim Window.
4) Result: an error message window appears with windows title bar "Stop from Vensim", and the message "Open or start a new model first.." [OK].
5) Desired result: when my WPI online course class video demo on Vensim clicked the left side icons, the result was a graph or table of the simulation.
Today I was able to install Vensim PLE version 3.2 on a 3rd computer. So it works fine from a personal Windows XP netbook but fails to produce charts and graphs from two of my Windows 7 64-bit work computers. I think the problem is what someone in this forum above suspected: that there is something about my company's default load of windows that conflict with Vensim.

[marcd]

here is the actual error message

[Administrator]

You are correct, I've just noticed your company.

If you email me (vensim@vensim.com) I can put you in touch with other employees who have had the problem. So far, they haven't let me know if they ever solved it.

Tony.

[Administrator]

An update on this. The solution that works for others is to create a shortcut that launches Vensim using a different initialization file. I've attached a document showing how this is done.

Vensim shortcut instructions.pdf

(558.76 KiB) Downloaded 310 times

[jgibney@gmail.com]

Hi,
I'm having same problem. Was there a solution / work around for this issue?
Thanks!

[jgibney@gmail.com]

My bad, ignore my message above as I just saw your update. Much thanks!!