Online Documentation: Configuration
Flow Definition Form / Dialog
All information for a
Flow Definition can be configured on the Flow Definition Dialog. The figure
below shows a screen shot for this Dialog. Below this screen shot the different
entries and sections will be discussed:
The form consists of a number of sections:
The Header section show general information and the 'Main' action button (Prev -
Next). When the Flow Definition is just created the window title will not be updated,
this will happen the next time you open the form.
Buttons to perform actions on the current Flow Definition
- Refresh:
Will query the data for this
Flow Definition from the server. Press this button if you think the information
shown in the form is not up to date.
- Clone:
Will create a new
Flow Definition using the information of this Step Definition.
Note: Do not use 'Clone' if you would like to make a new revision for
this
Flow Definition. Use the Revs tab instead. (see below)
- Recalc:
Will recalculate the Flow Definition input - output combination based on the information
configured on the
Inputs / Outputs tab of the
Step Definitions that are used to make up this total Flow.
- Delete:
Will move the Flow Definition to the Deleted State. Only the System Admin has the rights to
undelete the Flow Definition. A Flow Definition can only be deleted when the Flow
Definition is Pending.
Flow Definition Form - General Tab
The General (Home) Tab is the default tab and the form
opens with this tab on top.
The Name, Flow Number, Revision, 'Flow Definition Type', 'Part / Equipment State
when Active', and 'Part / Equipment State when Done' are Required Fields.
These fields have to be filled out before the Flow Definition can move
to the Active State.
The combination of the Flow Number and the Revision should be unique, if another
Flow Definition exists with the same Flow Number and Revision, the Flow Definition cannot
move to the Active State.
Fields on the General Tab:
- Name:
A descriptive name for the Flow, this name will show up in other listboxes and in
some cases the Name is combined with the Flow Number and the Revision into a single
string.
- Flow Number: (Required Data)
A number for the flow. In case you don't have a numbering system for the flow just
start with e.g. FD01. It is no problem to change these later on, it will not affect
the design of the flows.
- Revision: (Required Data)
In case you are not using
Revision Control, you still need to fill out a value and the combination
of the Flow Number with the revision has to be unique.
- Flow Definition Type (Required Data)
The
Flow Definition Type is used to determine the main purpose of the flow.
- Consume Part: This flow Type will create a new Part Record and consume the input
Part
Record. This type of flow is rarely used.
- Make Equipment: Use this type to create new
Equipment Records
- Make Part: This flow does not require an existing input Part Record. The Part Records are created during
the first step of the flow.
- Use Equipment: This flow type is used for running equipment or to perform
Preventive Maintenance on Equipment.
- Use Part: This flow will have to pick an existing input Part Record.
- Part / Equipment State when Active: (Required Data)
This determines the
State of the Parts on the Travelers (that are based on this Flow Definition)
that are still active.
- Part / Equipment State when Done:
This determines the
State of the Parts on the Travelers when the Traveler finished its last
Step (The state of the Traveler will be 'Closed').
- Calc DateTime
This is the last time this Flow Definition was Calculated for the valid Input -
Output combinations. Pressing the Recalc button will do the Calculation now.
- Calc Messages:
Any Warnings or Error messages that came up during the calculation of the Flow Definition
will show up in this text area. The calculation happens when the Recalc button is
pressed, or when the Flow Definition moves to the Active state.
- Input -> Outputs:
All possible Input - Output combinations for this Flow Definition. ANY -> ANY means
that this Flow Definition will accept any
Part Defintion and will move the
Part Record based on this Part Definition through this flow without
changing the Part Definition.
Flow Definition Form - Advanced Tab
The advanced tab will give you access to Flow Definition
Attributes that are not required. The default setting for these parameters are in
most cases the correct values.
- Part Qty Limit:
Will allow a maximum limit for the number of Part Records that can be added to a Flow Record.
- Category:
Different categories can be used. The categories can be configured on the
Settings Desktop.
- Close Form?:
This setting will determine if the
Traveler Forms that are based on this Flow Definition will close after any
of the steps is signed off.
- Flow Creates Parts: (Required Data)
This setting will determine if the Travelers, that are based on this Flow
Definition,
create or grab parts on the first step for this flow. If the checkmark is
checked, new
Part Records are
created when the Traveler based on the Flow Definition starts.
- Flow Consumes Input:
When this check mark is checked, the input Part Record will be consumed
by a newly created Part Record. Both Part Records will have the same Part Defintion. To change
the Part Definition of the newly created part, use an Input - Output Conversion.
Other Tabs
The
Flow Definition
form has the following tabs besides the General Tab
and the Advanced Tab: