Vensim 5.8b Available
5.8b Changes
A Chinese (Simplified) interface is now available for Vensim. To access it go to Tools>Language and select Chinese. Then close and reopen Vensim.
Pro/DSS Only: A new Exception syntax has been added for subscripted equations. This will allow you to write one equation and specify that some subscripts will use another equation rather than having to create specific subranges for the most common equation. See the section on Exception Equations in Chapter 4 of the Reference Manual.
Not PLE: For hidden comments an option has been added to use only the exact hide level. This allows you to set up comments that will appear in sketches only when a specific hide level is reached. This can be convenient for commenting on the last structure uncovered as successive detail is revealed.
Reader Only: When opening a package (.vpm) if the ini file settings are recorded in the package these will be used to make the model operate as in the same way it operates in the development environment. Most importantly warning suppression, line colors and custom graph fonts will be the same.
The internal macro naming convention has changed. Macro names now take the form #lhs>macroname>macrovar# where lhs is the left hand side variable name (that is the variable the macro is used in the equation of). This means, for example that SMOOTH in the equation:
smoothed income = smooth(income,smooth time)
will become #smoothed income>smooth# instead of #smooth(income,smoothtime)# Note that these names will normally only appear if you select the option to show macro variables.
Pro/DSS only: Macros definitions can now contain calls to other macros previously defined, or built in. For example a DELAY9 macro can be constructed from 3 DELAY3 calls.
When a floating point error (overflow or divide by 0) occurs in SyntheSim all the graphs are now highlighted yellow to indicate the error. The message identifying where and when the error occurs appears at the bottom, also highlighted in yellow.
The accuracy of timing with SIMULATION PAUSE has been improved over all value ranges. The expression
simulation pause=Desired simulation time / ((FINAL TIME - INITIAL TIME) / SAVEPER)
is a useful one where desired simulation time is expressed in seconds.
Pro/DSS only: Messages displayed during a simulation related to data and variable range exceptions can now be selectively suppressed. Details on this are in the Constant Input Files section of Chapter 8 of the Reference Manual.
Bug Fixes
If the option to accept Enter in the equation editor was set then hitting enter would add a large number of blank lines to the equation.
Work in progress graphs would sometimes not update completely.
DSS/Reader Only: In Venapp Showvars in screens were not getting the final values at the end of the simulation.
Variables beginning with # were being lost from sketches when opening models.
Limited time versions of Vensim were not opening on some Windows Vista computers.
When an Input Output Slider was active in SyntheSim the Reset Current Slider Val command was not working.
When a simulation was started using the Simulation Control Dialog the active sketch tool was not being reset to the Pointer tool.
In SyntheSim mode as sliders dragged graph lines would sometimes draw outside of the words and remain on the screen.
Scales on SyntheSim onscreen graphs were affected by values outside the simulation time range from other loaded runs.
Loading a simulation run with embedded data variables outside the time range of the simulation would not allow visibility of all data values.
The Esc (or Ctrl+C) keys were not stopping simulations where Work In Progress graphs were active.
Pro/DSS Only: Using 2d output with the table tool and Causes/Uses selected would lead to incomplete output.
Entering SyntheSim with a model that had floating point errors would leave Vensim with the wrong toolbar active.
DSS Only: Running command files would not release unused memory during the execution of the command file.