Difference between "b" and "F4"

[allan_boa]

What are the differences between these 2 screens [ "b" and "F4"] ? why should I be using "b" [asset balance] as it seems to provide less information than F4 ?
So why do we have 2 screen with similar [same?] information ?

[montgomeryjlion]

I find them both useful in different ways.
B screen is for getting a full overview of what's going on...Am I losing ground on any commodity, where and what am I buying.
F4 is more detailed, allowing you to change consumer demand, showing exactly what is demanding what.
I use them both, together with a spreadsheet I created that kind of combines the two.
Between the three of them, I have a pretty good idea of how my economy is doing.

But, yes, it would be nice to have it all in one screen with maybe more graphs and tools.

Still, we have to work with what we've got.

Hopefully, down the road, the Phil's can work out a better system, although this one works and I would not say it is a high priority.

[Zap Brannigan]

I'd use F4 most of the time but the 'B' screen is very handy for checking where the goods I want are being traded (and how many in each location) - it's a huge timesaver if you know man. goods are only available in North France rather than checking every trade region or there is nobody buying the available luxury goods in Central America etc. It's a good tool to see how much competition there is for your needs.

[caranorn]

Yep, I also only ever use the Balance to see what goods are traded where internationally, how big offer and demand is etc. For everything else economy related F4...