Vensim PLE Model Management

Mode Based Interface

The general idea behind the Vensim PLE interface is one of modes. Selecting a particular button puts you in a particular mode. For example, selecting the box variable button allows you to add box variables until you enter a different mode. This is not a hard and fast rule, but it does describe how a user generally interacts with Vensim PLE.

To put this in context, a contrasting approach could be a drag-and-drop scheme. By default, clicking on an object selects it, but dragging icons from a tool area would allow you to drop them in the build window.

The following table illustrates some of the major modes in Vensim PLE:

Select		Choosing this icon allows you to select, move, and resize objects in the workspace.
Locked		When the lock is selected, no changes can be made to the workspace.
Build		These buttons allow you to add objects to the workspace.
Delete		When this button is selected, you can clickon objects in the workspace to delete them.
Equations/Input		This button allows you to click on an object and define the values associated with it. With default settings, underfined objects appear filled in black.
Analysis		Select one of these buttons and click on an objcet to bring up related analytical information (i.e. table, graph, etc.).
Simulation		These buttons run the current model. The former simulates the model once, and the second enters SyntheSim mode.