Processing Tools

Building the Model: General Elements > Processing > Processing Tools

Processing Tools

The Tools window provides graphical aids that may be used to define processing records and routing records. It is also used to define the graphical paths that entities follow when moving without a path network between locations.

The Tools window, which appears along with the other Processing windows, can define processing in one of two modes, New Process or Add Routing. Each is explained next. Additionally, Find Process Mode is available. To select a mode, click on the desired button. Each of the modes is described on the next page.

In addition to option buttons (New Process, Add Routing, or Find Process) for the process editing mode, the Tools window contains a list of defined entities as well as the reserved word ALL to represent all entity types. The entity in Processing Tools applies to either the process or routing entity, depending on what is currently being defined.

New Process Mode

New Process Mode is used to create a new process record. A new process is automatically created for the selected entity each time you click on a location.

This mode should be used if you want to create a process for a particular entity at a location. You may even create multiple processes for the same entity and location if you want to re-route an entity through the same location more than once for additional operations. Once a new process is created, the mode automatically changes to Add Routing mode to enable a routing to be defined for the process.

How to define a new process using the Tools window:

Depress the New Process button.
Select the entity for which a new process is to be defined from the Tools window.
Click on the location where the entity will be processed in the layout window. A new process record is created in the edit table. The mode is automatically switched to Add Routing mode and a rubber banding line appears that connects the mouse pointer to the location.
If a different entity is to be output from the process, select it from the Tools window.
Click on the destination location. A new routing record appears in the edit table and the mode switches back to New Process mode.

How to delete a process or routing record:

Click inside the desired record in the Process or Routing edit table.
Select Delete from the Edit menu.

Editing a Routing Path

Once a routing path has been defined you may edit the path (regardless of the current mode) by clicking anywhere on the routing path. This selects the path and allows you to change the source or destination of the routing by dragging the beginning or end of the path to a new location. It also allows you to move any intermediate joint in the path to change the shape. You may also click on a path with the right mouse button to create or delete a joint.

If a process is already defined and a location is moved while in the Location module, the connecting leg of any routing lines will also move.

Add Routing Mode

Add routing mode is used to create multiple routings for a single process record. Suppose an entity, EntA, can travel to one of three locations depending on which is available first. Selecting the New Process mode and then defining the entity process causes the entity to travel from one location to another location. Selecting Add Routing mode afterwards allows you to define a different destination location within the same routing block.

How to add additional routings to an existing routing block:

Select the process record in the Process edit table that needs an additional routing line (you may use the Find Process button to locate the process record).
If you wish to insert the routing record rather than simply append the record to the current routing list, highlight the routing record where the routing is to be inserted and choose Insert from the Edit menu.
Select the Add Routing button from the Tools window. A rubber-banding line is created.
Select the entity in the Tools window to be output in this routing.
Click on the desired destination location. This creates a new routing record in the Routing edit table.

Please Note: To cancel a routing once a rubber-banding line appears, click on the New Process button or click on the originating location.

How to route a current entity to exit:

Click the Add Routing button.
From the Tools window, select the entity for which you want to define a new process.
Click the Locations button in the process record dialog and select the location from which the entity will exit the system. ProModel creates a new process record in the edit table and displays a rubber-banding line from the selected location.
Add joints as needed to define the exit path.
Click the Route to Exit button in the tools dialog.

Find Process Mode

To find a previously created process for an entity type at a certain location, use Find Process mode.

How to find a process for an entity at a location:

Click on the Find Process button.
Click on the desired entity type.
Click on the desired location. The first process found for that entity type at the location will be highlighted in the Edit window.

This option always searches forward in the process list. By clearing the entity field in the tools window, the next process for any entity at the location selected is found. If multiple process records exist for the same entity and location, the edit table indexes forward to the next process record each time you click on the location.

View Routing

The View Routing button in the Processing Tools window causes the process record currently highlighted in the edit table to become centered on the layout.

Snap Lines to Border

When you check this option, ProModel snaps the routing lines to the location’s bounding area rather than a specific position on the graphic.

Show Only Current Entity

When you highlight an entity in the list box, checking this option will show only those routings associated with the entity.