Model Preferences

The Model Prefs command (available on the Model menu when you are viewing the Map or Model layer) displays the Model Preferences dialog. Use the Model Preferences dialog to set the visual characteristics of the model diagram on the Map and Model layers. The Model Preferences dialog is shown in Figure 3-17.

Each option in the Model Prefs dialog is described below.

Diagram Size

Adjust the width and height values to change the size (in pages) of the Model.

Page Sequence

Use these radio buttons to determine page sequencing.

Diagram Grid

Adjust the width and height values to change the size of the Diagram Grid. Then, choose the Align to Grid command from the Model menu to align selected Model elements to the grid.

Options

• Show pages – Select this check box to show page numbers and boundaries on the diagram and to print page numbers on the diagram.
• Disable Posters – Select this check box to disable any message posters built into your model.
• Disable Gray Drawing – When Sub-models are present, selecting this check box will cause main level building blocks to be drawn in a solid color (rather than in a gray scale) whenever one or more Sub-models are open.
• Hide Poster Titles – Select this check box to hide poster titles.
• Division by Zero Alert – Select this check box to cause an alert message to pop up when division by zero occurs and to reveal the identity of the offending model variable. When this check box is not selected, the model will continue to generate data when division by zero occurs.
• Opaque Decision Diamonds – When Sub-models are present, selecting this check box causes opaque backgrounds to be drawn for all Sub-model spaces. If you do not select this check box, the background will be transparent.
• Enforce Unit Consistency – Select this check box to enforce a unit analysis of all model entities when you click OK to exit an equation dialog or when you check unit consistency for the model. If there is any unit inconsistency, the software will place a "!" on the inconsistent icon in the diagram. You must then resolve the inconsistency before you can run the model.
• Show Numerical Values on Hover – Select this check box to activate Tooltip functionality for model entities when a model simulation is paused or stopped. With the model paused or stopped, roll the cursor over model entities to see their current value. In addition, small graphs will be displayed for all entities that have been loaded into table pad or graph pad pages. To display hover graphs for all model variables, select the Analyze Mode check box in the Run Specs dialog.
• Update Numeric Displays Once per Time Period – Select this check box to cause numeric displays to update once per simulation time period. Checking this box minimizes the frequency of screen redraw as a simulation progresses, thus speeding the unfolding of simulation results. Recommended on the Macintosh platform when there are multiple numeric displays in a simulation control panel on the Interface layer.
• Save Run Output to File – Select this check box to have the software save a model's output for all variables for all time periods to an external file that can then be opened by spreadsheet and other applications. This makes it possible to do post-processing of model output using, say, statistical routine. It also means if you neglected to enter a variable into a Graph or Table Pad page prior to doing a simulation, you may chart the variable without having to re-run a simulation.
• Use Lettered Polarity – Select this check box to have the software display s/o labels rather than +/- labels when polarity is shown.
• Disable Discrete Animation – Select this check box to disable the discrete animation for Conveyors and Queues.
• Name Only Modules – Select this check box to have the software display module names only, instead of both module names and icons. This option is useful when you are creating Causal Loop Diagrams that contain modules.

Converters

Use these radio buttons to control the size of the Converters on the diagram.

Animate

Click an icon to select variable types for animation. A box will appear around selected types. Click again to de-select.

Name Font / Name Size

Pop-up menus allow you to choose different font types and sizes for the names of building blocks and objects.