Ventana software support forum

Can someone help me learn how to include external images in a Vensim sketch reliably?

An example:

• I opened DSS (I'm running 7.3.4).
• I created a new model.
• I selected the Comment tool. The Graphics panel had "None" selected, and "Bitmap" and "Metafile" were grayed out.
• I selected a random window on my computer and pressed Alt-PrtScrn. Then I moved the cursor to the Comment window and pressed C-v.
• I closed the Comment window, and nothing was there.

I have made it work once--I can see the image in my existing model file--but I can't add a second such image on a new view. When it did work, I think I was able to select the Metafile radio button and press C-v, after which the radio buttons were grayed out. When I then closed the Comment window, the image appeared on the view.

I thought that at least closing and reopening DSS would re-activate the Metafile button, but it did not.

I would Import the image, but that takes a .bmp file. In my current case, I'm using a complex graph out of R. The .bmp is about 20BM, while a .png is about 250kB, and a .wmz is about 170kB.

I have looked at https://www.vensim.com/documentation/23015.htm, but that hasn't helped me yet.

Bill

It's not very clear how to get something from the clipboard.

1. Make sure you have your image on the clipboard.
2. Insert a new comment.
3. Click the "Bitmap" button
4. Click OK.

I'll raise this as an issue to improve things as it's not obvious at all what to do here.

Thanks. I suspect getting the image on the clipboard was part of the problem; I don't generally know how to see the clipboard contents on Windows without pasting them somewhere.

When raising the issue, can you consider allowing WMF files? As I noted, my bitmap in this case is about 20MB, which makes for a pretty big model file (especially when I have at least two of these images planned for this model).

I am having the same problem. I am using the latest versions of VensimPLE and VensimPro on a Mac running Catalina. When I insert a new comment, the Bitmap and Metafile buttons are greyed out, even though there is an image on the clipboard. I have also tried to use the Import button, which did allow me to select a *.bmp file. When I selected the file, though, everything in the Graphics part of the window went grey and when I hit OK, nothing appear on the screen except for a little circle. About all I have been able to do with this circle is change its color. Also, it only appears when I select Move/Size. Very strange.

daler6 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2020 6:24 amon a Mac running Catalina.

It may be that Apple have changed something again. I'll test with my machine here and report back (I'm running Mojave, I will not be upgrading to Catalina anytime soon).