Color Scheme/Freezing Issues with MacOS?

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JakeK
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:05 pm
Vensim version: PLE

Color Scheme/Freezing Issues with MacOS?

Post by JakeK »

Hey everyone,

I am running Vensim PLE for Macintosh Version 8.2.0 Double Precision x64 (Intel) on a Macbook Pro (2019) with MacOS Big Sur Version 11.1 in Dark Mode and because of this when I open up Vensim it has a black background but for some reason keeps black font and black backgrounds on variables, etc..

I originally was looking to figure out how to change the color scheme preferences in Vensim permanently, while in the meantime manually changing it every time I open up Vensim, but now when I open up Vensim and right click to change the color scheme it 'freezes.'

Has anyone experienced issues with MacOS Big Sur and figured out a work-around/solution?


I attached a screenshot of my Vensim interface... In it you can see when I create any models the background is black with black outline and black text making it very hard to see. You can also see me trying to change the color preferences, but when I 'clicked' on the background color box, it 'freezes' and you can notice that the 'ok' button is not highlighted/clickable.. everywhere I click from then on, gives me that error tone noise and Vensim is locked (but noticeably my system monitoring doesn't recognize it as frozen even though I still have to force quit)

Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!
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Administrator
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Re: Color Scheme/Freezing Issues with MacOS?

Post by Administrator »

I'm not seeing any freezing on my Mac when trying to do this (in dark mode or light).

Are you right clicking on the sketch background to display the dialog or something else? And the colour box for the background colour, are you left clicking that? Are you holding any other keys down when clicking?
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JakeK
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:05 pm
Vensim version: PLE

Re: Color Scheme/Freezing Issues with MacOS?

Post by JakeK »

Hi,

Thanks for responding.. strange you aren't seeing it?

Yes, I am right clicking in the background (black space in the main window) to bring up the color dialogue box, but I have also tried going to the 'View' menu at the top and selecting 'Fonts and Colors' (which brings up the same dialogue box where you can change colors) and that produces the same result once I click on any color to try to change it.

I am left-clicking and not holding/clicking any other keys while doing that. I am using an external monitor (with the vensim app window on that additional screen - are you as well?) When I get back to my computer I can try bringing the Vensim app window onto the main laptop screen and see if that makes a difference possibly?

Until then, is there a way to set the 'default' color scheme through preferences in the PLE version, so that each time you relaunch the application it defaults to that color scheme?

Thanks again for your help!
Administrator
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Re: Color Scheme/Freezing Issues with MacOS?

Post by Administrator »

I'm only on the laptop display (neither of my Macs recognise my Thunderbolt dock so using a 2nd monitor is not straightforward).

What happens if you just use the laptop display? Doe it now work?

And what happens if you press the ESC key after you press the color selector? Does Vensim start responding again? If yes, I suspect that the color selecor is appearing off-screen.

The next release of Vensim will have dark mode disabled until we work out the best way to implement it. Vensim is a graphical environment, so having a black background does not really work. It may be as simple as forcing the background to be white.
Advice to posters seeking help (it really helps us to help you)
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Units are important!
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JakeK
Junior Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2021 5:05 pm
Vensim version: PLE

Re: Color Scheme/Freezing Issues with MacOS?

Post by JakeK »

Thank you!!

Yes, if i pull the app window back to my Laptop Screen it works just fine and the color selector pops up as intended. It only has an issue when the Vensim window is on one of the external monitors. Also when it 'freezes' after selecting the color change option box, ESC does bring it back... so yeah, I would imagine your guess was correct: that instead of having having the color selection box 'drop down' it must be appearing somewhere in the 'etherel.' [I would be happy to provide some more screen shots if that helps, but now that i have a workaround, that's all I need to complete my coursework.. thank you very much!]

Thank you for helping me figure out a working solution, I really appreciate it!

Cheers,
Jake
Administrator
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Re: Color Scheme/Freezing Issues with MacOS?

Post by Administrator »

Thanks for pointing this out to us. It will be fixed in the next release of Vensim.
Advice to posters seeking help (it really helps us to help you)
http://www.ventanasystems.co.uk/forum/v ... f=2&t=4391

Units are important!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27509559
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