Sketch Tools

Sketch tools are grouped into a Sketch toolset. Vensim PLE and , PLE Plus have only a built in Sketch toolset, but the other configurations allow you to choose and modify your Sketch toolsets by adding, moving and changing the actions of the different tools.. Customized toolsets can be saved to files and reopened for later use. The built in Sketch toolset (default.sts) contains most of the Sketch tools needed for building models.

Vensim PLE and PLE Plus do not contain the Model Variable, Merge, Unhide Wand or Hide Wand tools.

For the other configurations the Sketch tools can be configured by clicking with the right mouse button on the tool and changing its options. If you change a tool's configuration, you will be asked whether you want to save the Sketch toolset when exiting Vensim. Clicking Yes overwrites the old toolset. Clicking No keeps the old toolset (you will lose your changes). Clicking Cancel allows you to use the Tools menu to save the toolset with a new name before exiting. There is no limit to the number of toolsets you save, but most users find it simplest to use one sketch toolset configured to their needs.

The Sketch tools in the built in Sketch toolset are:

·                Lock — sketch is locked. Pointer can select sketch objects and the Workbench Variable but cannot move sketch objects.

·                Move/Size — move, sizes and selects sketch objects: variables, arrows, etc.

·                Variable — creates variables ( Constants, Auxiliaries and Data).

·                Box Variable — create variables with a box shape (used for Levels or Stocks).

·                Arrow — creates straight or curved arrows.

·                Rate — creates Rate (or flow) construct, consisting of perpendicular arrows, a valve and, if necessary, sources and sinks (clouds).

·                Model Variable — adds an existing model variable and the causes of that variable to the sketch view.

·                Shadow Variable — adds an existing model variable to the sketch view as a shadow variable (without adding its causes).

·                Merge — merges two variables into a single variable, merges Levels onto existing clouds, merges Arrows onto a variable to split an Arrow, and performs other operations.

·                Input Output Object — adds input Sliders and output graphs and tables to the sketch.

·                Sketch Comment — adds comments and pictures to the sketch.

·                Unhide Wand — unhides (makes visible) variables in a sketch view.

·                Hide Wand — hides variables in a sketch view.

·                Delete — deletes structure, variables in the model, and comments in a sketch.

·                Equations — creates and edits model equations using the Equation Editor.

·                Referemce Modes — use to draw and edit reference models (Chapter 20).

To build a model, first select a Sketch tool by clicking on it with the mouse. You can also select a tool by pressing a character on the regular keyboard (not the numeric keypad). Use 1 for the first tool, 2 for the second and so on (0 is the 10th, Q the 11th, W the 12th and so on). Note that this only works when the Build window is active.

Move the mouse to the sketch view and click once with the left mouse button to apply the tool (for Arrows and Rates, first click once, then move the mouse and click once again).

NOTE Sketch tool selection is sticky. That is, the Sketch tool you chose stays active until you choose another — just keep applying it to the sketch.