Recent Updates

Most Recent Additions

  • Context Menu. If you rigth-click on the create an insight canvas a drop down menu will appear from which you can slect primitives to add to the canvas as the point you're clicking at. [12.05.18]
  • JavaScript Engine Testing. The simulaiton engine is being rewritten in Javascript to improve the performance of simulations becasue the calculations will be done in the broswer rather than on the server. If you hold the "SHIFT" key when you click the "Run" button the new Javascript engine will be run. Please forward any comments to Gene Bellinger systemswiki@gmail.com.  [12.05.18]
    • Incompatibilities with the new JavaScript engine:
    • VB commans (looping, multiline logic, etc) aren't supported,
    • The "time" function is tagged with units in the new verison. "seconds", "years" and other functions aren't taggged, what this means is that in hte old engine {1 meter/day}*time with time in years you would get {2 meters/day} in the new version you get {1 meter/day} * {365 day/year} * 2 = {370 meter}
    • The initial stock value for a conveyor stock is now averaged over the enire set of stock compartments,
    • The "tank" stock serialized mode is no longer supported
  • Edit Notes Dialogue. The notes field is now a one line field though once you click in the field if you click on the down arrow on the righ an edit dialogue will open in which you can easily edit notes associated with primitives. [12.05.13]
  • Java Scrip Simulaiton Engine. While not actually enabled in this release you can run it using the "runModel2()" API command. [12.05.10]
  • Extended API. Functions ot mainpulate Inisght Maker models by programming the new Button primitive. Please refer to API Docs. [12.05.10]
  • Improved Error Message Styling. [12.05.10]
  • Improved Unit Selection Interface. Unit folders are now closed by default. No more scrolling to find what you're looking for. A folder has also been added at the top of the list which will contain a list of the units used in your model. [12.05.10]
  • Text Primitive Notes. Text primitives are now structured such that the text field itself is the label of the field and you can add notes to the label. This will result in the "i" being displayed when you mouse over the text field. This actually supports the creation of text and link causal loop diagrams with the ability to elaborate on the elements of the diagram. [12.05.10]
  • Improved Ghost Function. Ghosts will now mirror their source appearance even if the original source was an image. [12.04.15]
  • Results Exporting. There are now export buttons on the Simulation Results window. Charts will be exported as .png files and Tables will be exported as .csv files. [12.04.15]
  • Buttons. The initial entrant into the controllability domain is provided with the Button primitive. You can write JavaScript associated with a Button and employ a number of predefined functions. [12.04.15]
    • runModel(); //Run the model
    • expandFolder(getType("Folder")); //Expand all folders in the model
    • collapseFolder(getType("Folder")); //Collapse all folders in the mode
    • // Ask the user for a value, set the primitive named "Birth Rate" to that value, and then run the model
      • var birth_rate = showPrompt("Set the birth rate:");
      • setValue(getName("Rabbit Birth Rate"), birth_rate);
      • runModel();
    • getValue(primtive)
    • showChoice("Prompt") //returns a boolean
    • showURL("url") //opens a new window with the url
  • Edit Description Enhancement. The Edit description dialogue, in the model create/modify window, is now rezieable and provides some HTML formatting controls for the description text. [12.03.25]
  • New Primitive and Connections Icons. Replacement icons have been installed for Stock, Variable, Converter, Use Links and Use Flows. The idea was to provide icons which were a bit more pictorially representative of what the item was used for. [12.03.19]
  • Units Button in Equations Editor. When you open the Eduqations Editor dialogue for Stock, Flow, Variable, or Converter you will find a button at the bottom of the dialogue to access the Units dialogue. This was added as a work around for small display winows in Google Chrome and IE. In those two broswers if you can't see the Units field in the parameters window when you scroll down to it and click on it the dialogue doesn't open but rather scrolls back up so you can't see it. This does not appear to happen in Firefox. Note no actual functiality has been changed. [12.03.17]
  • Text Links. One can now use the Link tool to create links between Text and other Text or other Primitives. This is often quite useful when developing Rich Pictures. [12.01.01]
  • Label Positioning. The text label associated with primitives can now be positioned at the Middle, Top, Right, Bottom or Left of the primitive using the Label Positon parameter of the object. [11.12.21]
  • Entry Page. The main entry page for new users and if you're not logged in has been updated hopefully to prove a more inviting view. The main entry page for logged in users has also been streamlined. [11.12.14]
  • Make an Insight. When you enter this page there is now a working model on the page with some notes on developing an insight. It was felt this would be more useful than a blank canvas. [11.12.13]
  • Note Display. If you mouse over an element for which a note has been added a small "i" appears in the upper right corner of the element. If you click on the "i" the note will be displayed in a note window that will persist until you either click the "i" again or click the close box in the upper right corner of the note window. [11.12.01]
  • Equation Editor Acccess. If you mouse over an element that can have an embedded equation a small "=" sign will disply in the upper left corner of the element. If you click this element it will open the equation editor window. [11.12.01]
  • Share Insight. Share buttons for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Email have been placed in the description panel on the right of the "Make an Insight" screen. [11.12.01]
  • Insight Discussion. This link at the top of the "Make an Insight" screen now takes you to the discussion thread for the insight. On this thread you can choose to subscribe/unsubscribe from the discussion assocated with an insight and you can choose to make a post to the discussion. [11.12.01]
  • Display Reconfigure. The display primitive has been removed from the Primitives segment of the toolbar. Once you run a simulation a display configuration window will be displayed. This will allow you to configure the displays as you deem appropriate. As data for all items generated during the simulation you can reconfigure the displays and view them as you deem necessary without having to run the simulation again. [11.11.30]
  • Picture HTML Label. The label field of the Picture primitive may now contain HTML code. This makes it easy to code HTML for the label to contain a link to a URL for further information. [11.11.24]
  • Recent Insights. Additional panel added to main Insight Maker page which shows insights recently created or updated [11.11.19].

General Release Additions 11.10.21

  • Primitive Images. You can now replace the image for Stock, Variable, Display, Converter and Picture either with an image from the drop down or with a URL reference to an image on the web.
  • Primitive Alignment Grid. When you move primitives on the canvas there are automatic alignment lines which appear to assist in aligning primitives. To override the grid click the item and hold down the ALT key when moving the item.
  • Smart Converters. If there is an input to a Converter it automatically takes the input as base for the converter rather than time.
  • Insight Styling. There are additional styling options such as setting the background color of the diagram itself.
  • Graphs. Hovering over lines on a graph now shows the X and Y coordinate values and you can turn specific lines on or off by clicking on their label in the legend. Graphs are resizable.
  • Scratchpad. A scratchpad has been added which will allow you to draw, with a mouse or pen tablet, over the canvas portion of the page. This is a temporary facility for the purpose of explaining models during a presentation or making a video. The drawing is not saved though may be turned off so you can access the model layer and then turned back on. There are options for multiple colors as well as multiple layers of undo and area erase.