Customer Support Hub
Need help with Stella? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.
How do I get started?
Unsure how to start? We can help with that! Here are some great free resources and paid courses that will help you on your way to building valuable models.
Learn the mechanics of Stella and iThink with our online tutorials, webinars, and online documentation.
We also have many additional presentations and videos that you may find useful on our YouTube channel.
If you are looking to learn more about Systems Thinking and Dynamic Modeling, we have excellent online courses ranging from beginner to advanced courses.
Are there any online resources?
Here are some great free resources and paid courses that will help you on your way to building valuable models.
The following resources are free on our website:
We offer a selection of excellent online courses that can be purchased on our training page.
We also have an active online users group where users ask and answer questions. You can sign up for it here.
The System Dynamics Society has a large selection of online resources that may be useful for you.
Where do I find sample models?
We have a large selection of sample models published on our model hosting site, the isee Exchange. You can review all our models here.
The isee Exchange is an open hosting site where all model authors can publish their simulations or models. You can review the full directory and search for specific models here.
Where can I learn more about Systems Thinking?
Do you have academic licenses?
Yes! We have discounted licenses for the University and K-12 levels. You can review the license options and eligibility on our education page.
How do I find new features?
How do I share models with others?
For sharing just models, authors can upload their models under 1mb to the isee Exchange and share their models via direct link.
For private sharing, users can download the free isee Player software and open the model locally.
For sharing full simulations with interfaces, we outline several options on our publishing options page.
You can also review our hosting options on the isee Exchange on our Exchange options page.
What is covered by Technical Support?
Technical Support is provided by telephone or email and includes software installation support,
troubleshooting, and general software "how-to" questions. Our support team is available Monday
through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, except on holidays.
What is NOT covered by Technical Support?
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Complex modeling questions requiring expertise in system dynamics, agent-based modeling, or discrete
event modeling. Our Technical Support team is primarily focused on addressing technical issues related
to our software products and assisting users with operational and functionality concerns. While we strive
to provide guidance on using our tools effectively, advanced questions are outside the scope of tech
support. Our consulting services can assist with these questions.
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Research-related problems, especially those specific to individual cases or research projects. Our
support is not a substitute for domain-specific research consulting. We recommend seeking domain-specific
expertise or consulting resources for research-related inquiries that extend beyond the technical aspects
of our software.
Where can I find an answer besides contacting Technical Support?
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Modeling Support Bundle: Our support bundle offers direct assistance building a
model. Work directly with an expert for personalized modeling guidance. This eight-hour
bundle offers a deep dive into understanding your issue, framing queries in system dynamics,
and building your model.
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Consulting: Consider our consulting services, where our experts can work with you to
uncover the structure of your specific challenges and collaboratively explore solutions to
improve your outcomes. Consulting services can provide in-depth support for complex modeling and
research needs, going beyond what standard technical support can offer.
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Documentation: Our interactive online documentation holds all the information for beginners
to advanced users. Including examples and demo videos, this is a great resource for specific questions.
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Tutorials: Learn the mechanics of Stella and iThink with our online tutorials. Broken into small
manageable videos, the tutorials walk you through the basics of building a model.
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Webinars: Review our webinars which dive deeper into specific features of our software and present examples.
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YouTube: We also have many additional presentations and videos that you may
find useful on our YouTube channel.
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Resources for Learning: For newcomers to Systems Thinking and System Dynamics, our Resources for Learning page
is the perfect starting point. It includes recommended books, online training, public workshops, and formal
training, each tailored to different learning stages and interests.
How can I connect with other Stella users?
For guidance and interaction with fellow Stella users and modelers, visit the Stella Users Network page.
It's a great platform for asking questions, offering answers, and learning more about Stella and modeling.
We encourage trying this group before reaching out to support, as it allows your queries to be seen and
answered by the community, often more quickly. Plus, you might find your question already asked and resolved there.
Still have questions?
Our FAQ page may have the answers.
You can also ask a question in our chat box or contact either customer support or tech support directly with the links below: