Step 5. Defining Initial Values of Stocks
Now we are ready to specify initial values of stocks.
We want to set total population (our
TotalPopulation
parameter) as the initial value of
PotentialAdopters
stock.
When you mention some element in initial value of a stock, you should first connect it to this stock with a link.
Link
is used to define a dependency between elements of a stock and flow diagram.
To create a link
- Double-click the
Link
element in the
System Dynamics
palette so that its icon turns into
.
- Right after that, go to the graphical editor and click the element that is mentioned in initial value (TotalPopulation).
- Finally, click the stock
PotentialAdopters.
Please note that it is important to draw the link in the right direction - from the independent variable to dependent.
- You will see the link in the graphical editor.
Analogous to the flow, when it is selected, its end points should be indicated with little green circles. Otherwise, if there is a white circle on some its end, it means that this particular end point was not connected
correctly. To establish the valid connection, please drag this end point onto the variable you want to connect.
Now, when you created the link, you can specify the initial value mentioning the connected parameter.
Define the initial number of potential adopters
- Select the stock
PotentialAdopters.
- In the stock's
Properties, type
TotalPopulation
in the
Initial value
edit box. Use code completion master to avoid typing the whole names of variables and functions. To open the master, click at the desired position in the edit box, and then press
Ctrl space
(Alt space
on Mac).
The list of model variables and functions available in the current context appears. Scroll to the name you want to add, or type the first letters of the name until it becomes visible in the list. Finally, press Enter to insert the name.
Finally you should get
TotalPopulation
specified as the stock's initial value:

We do not need to set up the initial value for the
Adopters
stock explicitly since there are no adopters initially and the stock is already initialized with zero by default.
Step 4. Adding constants
Step 6. Adding dynamic variables