Templates

Release Block

Subsections:

releaseHelp

Description

The Release block releases resource entities from a controlling entity as the controlling entity passes through the block.

The released resources are specified by one or more resource constraints. Each resource constraint is associated with an output resource port defined in the ResourcePorts properties dialog box table. When a controlling entity enters the block, the resource constraints associated with all resource ports are checked for matches. If matched resources are found, they are released from the controlling entity and pushed through the corresponding resource output ports. If a matched resource cannot flow out through the corresponding output resource port, the resource remains with the controlling entity.

Fixed Ports

InEntity

Input entity port for entering controlling entities.

OutEntity

Output entity port for exiting controlling entities.

Properties Dialog Box Controls

Add port

Adds a new resource port (with default values for its fields) to the ResourcePorts table. Each field can be edited directly in the table.

  • The PortName field of the entry is the name of the output resource entity port to use to release a resource entity from a controlling entity.

  • The Units field specifies the desired amount of resource units in the resource to be released from the controlling entity. Its default value is blank, which allows any resource that satisfies the other constraints to be released.

  • The Splittable flag indicates whether the desired resource units can be obtained by splitting a resource with more units than desired.

  • The Separable flag indicates whether the desired resource units can be provided by two or more resource entities jointly.

  • The optional Attributes field can be used to specify a Boolean expression that includes attribute values for the targeted resource entities. You can type the expression in the Attributes field, or you can right-click on the Attributes field and select the Edit option to open the Edit Expression window. For more information about how to write the Boolean expression, see Appendix F: Expressions.

  • The optional Entity Type field specifies the type of the resource entity to be released.

The optional fields are available by clicking the down arrow next to the ResourcePorts table.

Remove port

Deletes the selected resource ports from the ResourcePorts table.

Apply

All entries in the ResourcePorts table are saved to the Release block, and output resource entity ports are created or deleted as needed.

Candidates for Design of Experiments

Factors

None

Responses

None