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This environment is about discovering the implications of interactions through experiences while doing things. Along this path you will be introduced to concepts and ways to use aspects of the software as they are needed. You will not be asked to spend lots of time off somewhere else reading reference materials. Your time will be spent building and exercising models. Enjoy your journey along the way.

In this module you will download and install the software you need to support your journey along this path of discovery and start becoming familiar with the software environment.

[edit] You Need Some Software

On the Simtegra web site you can download a copy of the MapSys software for Windows. Why MapSys?

• Because the software is amazingly easy to use,
• The demo version is quite up to the task, so there's no cost involved.
  • The only difference between the demo version and the full version is that the demo version is limited to a model with four stocks or less. Which is quite sufficient for getting started.
• When you need to purchase a full version an Education version is $20 and a commercial license is $95, which seems quite reasonable considering the capability of the software.

Download MapSys

Once you fill out the form and submit it you will receive an email from Simtegra with a URL for downloading the demo version of the software. Once the file is downloaded just execute it and MapSys will be installed.

[edit] Working Environment

If MapSys wasn't opened in the previous step please open it now. The straight forward nature of the environment should be immediately evident. Help documentation is available under the Help menu though you shouldn't need it during this introduction.

In the MapSys window you should see:

• Title Bar: which should read "Model 1 - Simtegra MapSys"
• Menu Bar: which reads File, Edit, View, Simulation, Window, Help
• Main Toolbar: which shows icons for New, Open, Save All..., etc.
• Modeling Toolbar which shows a set of tabs that read Digram_1, Diagram_2, Diagram_3 with modeling tools on the line below it.

Your MapSys window should look like Fig. 1 at the moment. Take a few minutes to mouse over the various icons just to see what the icon labels are. Don't worry about trying to remember them. We'll describe the tools as you need them along the way. The open area directly below the Modeling Toolbar is where you will construct your model.

Fig. 2 provides information on additional segments of the MapSys working environment.

There may be other windows to the right of the workspace and we'll talk about these when appropriate.

Now would be a good time to work with the Stock, Flow, Auxiliary and Link tools to get familiar with them. Here are some guidelines as to what works:

• Stock. May be increased or decreased by a Flow
  • Place a couple stocks in the working environment
• Flow. May be an inflow or outflow to a Stock
  • Connect a Flow into and out of a Stock, and from one Stock to another
• Auxiliary. Used to compute intermediate values
  • Place a couple of Auxiliary variables in the working environment
• Link. May connect (try creating each of the following connections)
  • Stock to a Flow or Auxiliary
  • Flow to an Auxiliary or Flow
  • Auxiliary to an Auxiliary or a Flow
  • Flow, Auxiliary, or Stock to a Stock to establish its initial value

Note that once you place an element on the workspace you can double-click on its label, which will highlight, and then you can type a new title for the element. Note that you can type Enter as part of a label so it appears on multiple lines. Once you've created a label you can click on it and move it round the element it is a label for. Go ahead and try this. If you feel like peeking, click here.

Now you're ready to sketch your first model.

Next: Sketch a Model

[edit] References

Additional Resources Online Courses * Content Guide * Bookmarks Feedback to Gene Bellinger