Creating CLDs

You can create a high-level causal loop diagram by using the Name Only Modules feature to map out the high-level causal relationships. You can also create a hybrid causal loop diagram from an existing model by changing all converters in the model to Name only converters and then using the storytelling feature to select the elements that you want to include in the CLD.

Both procedures are described below.

Creating a high-level CLD diagram

1. Open a new model file.

2. From the Model menu, choose Model Prefs.

   The Model Preferences dialog box appears.

3. Under "Options", select the Name Only Modules check box.
4. Click OK.
5. On the Model or Map layer, click the Module tool in the toolbar and then click the diagram surface to place modules. Rename the modules to text that describes the connections you want to show. Use connectors to link the modules.
6. Choose the polarity for connectors and flows in your CLD, by right-clicking each connector and then selecting the appropriate polarity (+/s or -/o).
7. Place a text box in the center of the CLD. Open the Text Box dialog box, click the Format for CLD button to reformat the Text Box appropriately for a CLD, and then click OK. In the Text Box, type "R" for reinforcing, "B" for balancing, or any other symbol you want to describe the CLD. If you do not type anything, the software places a "+" sign in the Text Box.

Creating a hybrid CLD from an existing model

1. Create or open the model from which you want to create a Causal Loop Diagram.
2. Go to the Model or Map layer.

3. From the Model menu, choose Model Prefs.

   The Model Preferences dialog box appears.

4. Under "Converters", select Name only.
5. Click OK. The converter icons disappear and only the names associated with the converters remain.
6. Go to the Interface layer.
7. In the Interface layer toolbar, click the button and hold the mouse button down to see the other available button types.
8. Select the button. The pointer changes to .

9. Click the Interface layer to place the new storytelling button on the layer.

   The Create Story dialog box appears.

10. Click the Build Story button.

    The model appears on the Story Building tab.

11. Select the elements that you want to include in the CLD by using one of the following methods:
• Click and drag over all element icons in the model to select them all. Using this method automatically groups the elements into a single group.
• Click the icon for each element that you want to include, one at a time.
• Use SHIFT+click to select multiple elements.
• When an icon is selected, it is highlighted in blue.
12. To deselect any selected element, click its icon again.
13. When you are finished selecting elements, click above the navigation tabs. The Story Building tab disappears, the Create Story dialog box appears again, and the selected elements appears in the Story Sequence box.
14. In the Story Sequence box, select all of the listed elements by using SHIFT+click or CTRL+click.

• If you used only the click-and-drag method to select elements, the elements are already in a single group. Go to step 16.
• If you used any of the other methods to select elements, you need to group them into a single group.

15. Click the Group button to group the elements. For more information about using the options in the Create Story dialog box, see Create Story dialog box.

    Note: If the Group button does not appear, it means that you have multiple groups of elements in the story sequence. To create a single group, select all of the listed elements, click the Ungroup button, select all of the listed elements again, and then click the Group button.

16. Click OK to close the Create Story dialog box.
17. Click OK to close the Button dialog box.
18. Choose the polarity for connectors and flows in your CLD, by right-clicking each connector and flow and then selecting the appropriate polarity (+/s or -/o).
19. You can now view and share your CLD by clicking the storytelling button you created.

Tip: You can also share your CLD by copying and pasting it into a Microsoft Word or PowerPoint document. To copy a CLD, view the CLD by clicking the storytelling button, choose Select All from the Edit menu, and then choose Copy from the Edit menu. You can then paste the copied CLD into another document.

See Also