File

About

Tells you the version of Ravel and/or Minsky that you are using.

Upgrade

Will upgrade you to the latest release of Minsky, and if subscribed for Ravel updates, also install the latest version of Ravel.

New System

Clear the design canvas. If you have made changes and haven't saved them, you will be prompted to save before the canvas is cleared.

Open

Open an existing Ravel or Minsky file. Ravel files have the suffix of ``rvl'', Minsky files have the suffix of ``mky''. Technically they are identical, with the only difference being that RVL files contain a Ravel while MKY files do not.

Recent Files

Provides a shortcut to some of your previously opened Ravel (or Minsky) files. Ravel files have the suffix RVL and Minsky files have the suffix MKY.

Library

Opens a web-based repository of models for the Minsky simulation system.

Save

Save the current file.

Save As

Save the current file under a new name.

Insert File as Group

Insert a Ravel/Minsky file directly into the current model as a Group.

Dimensional Analysis

As processing networks get more complex, it is useful to attach units to the data. Dimensional analysis then checks that the mathematical operations are allowable—rejecting, for example, adding feet to metres.

Export Canvas as

Export the current canvas in svg, pdf, eps, tex, or m format for use by other programs. The current canvas (which varies depending on which Tab you have open) can be exported in a number of different formats:

SVG

This is a ``vector graphics'' format which can be inserted into word processing (such as Word or OpenOffice) or presentation (Powerpoint etc.) documents.

PDF

This saves the currently displayed canvas as an Adobe Acrobat file .

EMF

This saves the canvas in an enhanced form of the WMF (Windows Metafile) vector graphics standard, for use in documentation programs like Powerpoint and Word. This is only available in the Windows version of Minsky.

Postscript

This saves the canvas in an encapsulated form of PDF.

Portable Network Graphics

This saves the canvas in a bitmap file (PNG) for use in paint and photo programs, etc.

LaTeX

This exports the equations in a model in a mathematical formatting language called L^ATEX. This file can be imported into mathematics programs like MathType to document the mathematical logic in your model. If you are a L^ATEX user yourself, you can load this directly into your preferred L^ATEX editor.

If your LaTeX implemention doesn't support breqn style, untick the wrap long equations option, which can be found in the preferences panel under the options menu.

Matlab

This exports the model as an ``.m file'' for importing into the algebraic program Matlab. This enables the analysis and simulation of your model in a MatLab compatible system, such as Matlab itself https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MATLAB or Octave http://www.gnu.org/software/octave.

Log simulation

This Minsky-specific command outputs the results of simulated variables into a CSV data file for later use in other programs.

Recording

This Minsky-specific command records the states of a model as it is being built for later replay.

Replay recording

This Minsky-specific command replays a recording of model states.

Quit

Exit the program. Ravel will check to see whether you have saved your changes. If you have, the program will close; if not, you will get a reminder to save your changes.

Debugging use

Items under the line are intended for developer use, and will not be documented here. All programs have bugs! If you experience one, please report it via the SourceForge ticket system.

Redraw

Redraw may be useful if the screen gets messed up because of a display bug. For example, a bug could cause items on the canvas to be scaled differently. Redraw could overcome this problem without requiring you to exit the program.