Feature request: link polarities ON arrows
Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 10:56 am
The current possibilities in Vensim with respect to positioning the link polarity often make it necessary to move the link polarity in order to be clear about which polarity belongs to which arrow. CLDs become much more legible if the link polarities are not next to the arrow but ON the arrow. Some softwares already offer this possibility (e.g. Miro, Omni-Graffle). Typically, the arrow is briefly interrupted where the link polarity is placed, i.e. the text field of the polarity has a white background which is on top of the arrow.
Other possibilities could be experimented with, e.g. the circle at the handle of the arrow that is visible when the arrow tool or the move tool is selected could be enlarged to hold the link polarity (and be always visible, also when other tools are selected).
Generally, the arrow handle could be a good position, because then the polarity could also be moved on the arrow with the handle.
Since not all users may prefer the option of link polarity on the arrow, it is probably advisable to retain the old options and just add this option in the respective drop-down menu. Ideally, this new option could also be selected as default in the vensim settings for those users who prefer it.
Other possibilities could be experimented with, e.g. the circle at the handle of the arrow that is visible when the arrow tool or the move tool is selected could be enlarged to hold the link polarity (and be always visible, also when other tools are selected).
Generally, the arrow handle could be a good position, because then the polarity could also be moved on the arrow with the handle.
Since not all users may prefer the option of link polarity on the arrow, it is probably advisable to retain the old options and just add this option in the respective drop-down menu. Ideally, this new option could also be selected as default in the vensim settings for those users who prefer it.