To install Vensim you need to get and then start the installation program. You can get the installation program from the CD or from our website http://www.vensim.com.
The Vensim CD contains the installation programs for all Vensim configurations for both Windows and Macintosh. The label of the CD will show the version number. Though installers for all configurations are contained, you will only be able to install the configuration you have a registration code for as described below.
You can download Vensim from our website http://www.vensim.com. Your purchase of a Vensim license includes one year of free electronic updates, thereafter you will need to pay the maintenance subscription fee to receive updates and technical support. You can check our website to see what versions are available. The menu item Help>Newer Released will also tell you if a more recent version is available. The direct link for downloading Vensim is http://www.vensim.com/cgi-bin/download.exe. When you enter this you will be asked to enter your registration code (see below). The registration code identifies the product you have as well the date through which you have continued maintenance.
Once you enter your registration code you will be able to choose between the versions of Vensim available to you. You should choose the most recent available version unless there is a specific version you need.
To downloadVensim PLE for educational use go to http://www.vensim.com/freedownload.html.
Windows: The Windows installer is broken into a number of relatively small files. The first of these files has a name that depends on the product (for example, vendss32.exe for Vensim DSS). The remaining files are labeled disk2.vip, disk3.vip and so on. When downloading, be sure to save all the files in the same directory on your computer and it is very important that you do not change the names of any files except the first. The contents of the different files are clearly marked on the download page. The first disk contains the actual program, disk2.vip contains the sample models and disk3.vip through disk6.vip contain the electronic documentation. Vensim DSS has an additional disk7.vip containing the Vensim DLL and support files.
If you only want to install the updated program you can just download the first file.
NOTE Do not try to open the .vip files. The will be used during the installation process but cannot be opened individually. Even if you only want to install the contents of one of them you will need the first (.exe) file.
Macintosh: There are separate installers for the program and sample models on the Macintosh. The program installer is specific to the product configuration while the models are common.
The downloadable Macintosh files are binhex files and need to be converted to Macintosh program files. This will most likely be done automatically by your web browser, if not there are a number of utilities that do this conversion.
Browser based help files: The help files are available as .htm files on the Vensim CD. You can drag these on to your hard drive if you want. To use them open your Web Browser then open the file vensim.htm. You can also view the help files online at http://www.vensim.com/documentation/vensim.htm.