Fork step type.

Hi Experts,
i am learning workflows. could you please explian me the significance of FORK step type with real time example so that i can understand it better.

Hi,
By using fork you execute several process in parallel.
While creating Fork, you have to enter no of parallel branches and necessary branches.
Parallel branches signifies that how many parallel branches you need to meet your requirement.
Necessary branches. signifies that how many branches need to complete to move next step in worklfow.
For example,
You need 3 approval from 3 manager for your leave.
Now create fork with 3 parallel branches and necessary branches 3.
This signifies that after the completion of three branches workflow will process to next step.
If you have made and necessary branches 1 then workflow will proceed to next step if any branch completed.
Thanks and regards,
SNJY

Similar Messages

Isuue regarding Fork step in bpm

Hi,
I am doing a scenario, collecting different idoc types into a flat file using BPM.
In the fork step while doing BPM , I am getting an error while adding more than two branches.
The error is "Maximum limited value is 2".
Please help me out.
Thanks.

Hi Sailatha,
A fork step is used for parallel processing of a(single) message in N number of branches. For example, if you design a fork with 4 branches, each branch receives a msg and then the steps in each branch is carried out.
Follow the below procedure:
The fork by default comes with two branches when you first place it into your process. You need to insert another branch before it allows you to increase the max and so on.
In ur case plz try to change the Default Value 2 which is in properties window to the no. of branches u desire.
Regards,
Vinod.

Changes in fork step

Hi friends,
There is a Schedule manager w/f in production. We have a fork step in w/f. we havd to add 4 more branches. what is the procedure to do that. when I open that w/f in change mode in dev server, it doesn't allow to change no of branches directly.
Please guide me through the procedure to make changes in fork step.
Regards,
Vittalprasad

Hi
Just select the fork, right click on it and those create and insert the step type you need (Activity, decision task, undefined task etc.)
Another option is to insert a step in one of the branches, just beneath the fork - this will also create a new branch.
Regards
Morten Nielsen

How do I make Step Types in the Type palette be "master" versions which all sequence files on a particular should use? (since this only seems to "half work")

The situation I would like is to have a library of step types which sequence developers can use. Therefore if new step types need to be added, or existing ones modified - all that needs to be done is to roll out a new MyTypes.ini (for example), and the code modules/substeps.
Scenarios:
If I create types in MyTypes.ini (make sure "Attach to this file" is checked, so they get saved here). I can then create a sequence file using these step types. No problem so far.
I can open the type palette, modify the step properties, and save. When I go back to my sequence file an asterisk appears (saying it needs to be saved, even if I have opened it from scratch). The properties have been updated to reflect what is in the Type Palette. Still no problem (Type versions are the same in the sequence file and type palette).
This is where the problem appears:
If I change a step type (in the Type Palette) from using a code module to using a Post-Step substep instead (changing the module adaptor to "None") - any instances do NOT update when you open sequence files. (The same happens vice versa also).
Please note that the "Type version" listed in the sequence file DOES match that listed in the Type Palette - the properties are the same but the manner in which the code modules are called is DIFFERENT! This then can lead to to runtime errors if the old code module has been deleted for example.
The only way around this is to open EVERY sequence file that contains an instance of the step type, and make sure that you have "Apply changes to all loaded instances of this type" checked in the step type properties dialog. This is is not a good solution since files could be missed, and is very time consuming if you have hundreds of sequence files!
What I need is that the Type Palette on any particular station contains the MASTER copies of each type. These are loaded whenever a sequence file is loaded and NOT retreived from the sequence file. As discussed above this seems to work when you modify properties - but doesnt work fine if you change the way in which code modules are called.
Am I doing something wrong or is this a limitation?

I had a system recently containing seven sequence files, approx 20 subsequences in each, and around 10-20 steps in each sub-sequence. Every step (except for the NI non-code module types) was an instance of a step type.
Each one of these steps had an Edit sub-step and a code module called through the code module adapter.
In order to make these into "wrapped up" step types it was decided to move the code module to a Post-Step substep (as also done in the NI-IVI step types) - so that developers cannot fiddle with the code prototype or module.
In order to do this I had to open all 7 of the sequence files, make the changes and then ensure that "Apply changes in this dialog to a loaded instances" was checked. This seems to sort of work, but some steps started causing Error 17502 (System Error) when you configure them (call the Edit substep). Over the course of the past few months I have had to effectively check every instance of a type to see if it works (deleting the step and replacing it when it doesnt). Other strange things happened like some of the step type instances now have the "None" (adapter) icon associated with them - but both still work.
The idea of creating a type-def of a step type is a good one, but frustrating that it doesnt seem to fully work. Why should the sequence file also store a version of the step-type - which is what is effectively causing this problem - why not make it so that if you dont have the step types installed in the type palette - TOUGH! Message Edited by RichM on 03-15-2005 06:55 AM

Data Acquisition Step Type

Hi, is there a step type to perform Data Acquisition and Basic comm control such as RS232 and GPIB within teststand ?
This question was raised when I was training one of our Technicians today, he asked/suggested that having a step type which performs Data Acquisition and comm control would reduce there development time down dramatically, They have just started to use Teststand on small cycle test rigs as part of an evaluation stage. They have no experience with LabVIEW or CVI, they basically want a quick and easy way to produce a test sequence with Data Acquisition and comm control.
if there is anything like this at the moment can you possibly reply. If there is not, is this a something which will be avaible in the future ?
Message Edited by ds1638 on 12-09-2008 02:44 PM

Data Acquisition usually refers to a DAQ board from NI so I think what you are looking for is a generic NI-VISA step type and a specific RS-232 step type. I have a NI-VISA step type that was originally written with LabVIEW 6.1 and for use with TestStand 2. I've atached that below. I don't have the .ini file handy and don't have time to recreate it but from the code, you should be able to see what needs to be added to the step properties. The basic step is a modified Pass/Fail Step.
It's not that difficult to create your own custom steps. I've done a lot and it only takes a little while longer than doing a code module in LabVIEW or CVI. The extra time is in creating the edit step.
I've got an RS-232 step type but part of it is product specific so it is proprietary and I can't post that. Look at the VISA example and the other examples of custom step types that are on the developer zone and see how far you get.
Attachments:
VISA IO.zip ‏188 KB

I need to pass data from an Access database to Teststand by using the built in Data step types(open data

base /open SQL Statement etc) the first time i defined the system everything was fine but when i changed the Database (using M.S.Access) the " open SQL Statement" it would show the tables but not thier columns ,I"m using win98 sec edition / Teststand 1.0.1i need to pass data from an Access database to Teststand by using the built in Data step types(open database /open SQL Statement etc) the first time i defined the system everything was fine but when i changed the Database (using M.S.Access) the " open SQL Statement" it would show the tables but not thier columns ,I"m using win98 sec edition / Teststand 1.0.1
When I tried the same thing on another cmputer the same thing
happend
appreiciate u"r help

base /open SQL Statement etc) the first time i defined the system everything was fine but when i changed the Database (using M.S.Access) the " open SQL Statement" it would show the tables but not thier columns ,I"m using win98 sec edition / Teststand 1.0.1Hello Kitty -
Certainly it is unusual that you can still see the tables available in your MS Access database but cannot see the columns? I am assuming you are configuring an Open Statement step and are trying to use the ring-control to select columns from your table?
Can you tell me more about the changes you made to your file when you 'changed' it with MS Access? What version of Access are you using? What happens if you try and manually type in an 'Open Statement Dialog's SQL string such as...
"SELECT UUT_RESULT.TEST_SOCKET_INDEX, UUT_RESULT.UUT_STATUS, UUT_RESULT.START_DATE_TIME FROM UUT_RESULT"
Is it able to find the columns even if it can't display them? I am worried that maybe you are using a version of MS Access that is too new for the version of TestSt
and you are running. Has anything else changed aside from the file you are editing?
Regards,
-Elaine R.
National Instruments
http://www.ni.com/ask

Workflow error in fork step, process control, wait event

I am using fork step in workflow which has 2 parallel branches. In 1st branch i have a user decision step followed by a task for posting PO document in case of approval. In the 2nd branch of fork step I have a wait step to wait for an event followed by the same task for posting document with a process control step after that in the end to cancel the workitem(workitem generated by user decision step in the 1st branch of fork). I created the event by using a custom BOR object.
After the fork step is triggered, i have both a wait event running and workitem generated. When i raise the wait event from SWUE by entering the event, object key etc it works fine i.e., the workitem in the other branch is set of logically deleted and workflow ends.
But if the wait event is triggered from the program i.e., using FM SWW_WI_CREATE_VIA_EVENT, both get an error message in workflow log(SWIA). The message is: Error when executing the binding between work item 000000XXXXXX and flow item 000000XXXXXX where workitem number is the workitem id of the posting document task and flow item id is the workflow parent id

hi,
message is self explanatory.
Activate the event trace SWELS, then do the event with SWUE and within your program (als please use SAP_WAPI function modules).
Now compare the 2 events in SWEL to see what the differences are .
Kind regards, Rob Dielemans

Assignment of Step type and CR step for MDG_S

Hi
This is in continuaton for thread MDG_S workflow.
I original issue which is for MDGS when I assigned WS543000005 to CR type and sumitted CR goes no where,
As as per SWEL it shows No Reciver Found enen though GET_AGENT table is maintained.
In another system I found that WS531000044 is assigned ti CR Type Then I tested it and found that CR creates Work Items also upto final processing.
as per below
Before CR Submission : CR status is 02: Changes to be executed
After CR Submission : CR status is 01:To be considered and Approved
After CR Reviewer approves : CR status is 09: Dependant Data to be processed /Approved
After Purchase reviewer Finalize processing :CR status is 09: Dependant Data to be processed /Approved
After Finainace reviewer Finalixe processing :CR status is 09: Dependant Data to be processed /Approved
Now I can not see CR any where even though CR step 04 and 04 assigned to my user ID
I have some questions as Description in Define Change Request Steps is not Mataching with description in GET_AGENT desesion table.
Also it is observed that step 80 is not assigned to WS531000044 in IMG node Define Change Request Steps but it can be seen in GET_AGENT decesion table and step no 06 and 07 does not appears in GET_AGENT decesion table ( In edit mode).
Can you explain from where assignment of CR steps to CR type in desion table are taken ino accout ?
Why description is not matched for steps under IMG and in decesion table?
Can you explain me releationship between CR step and step type,CR Status and where they \maintained in IMG and how proceeses modelling is diffenent t for determination of Next CR step in case of WS531000044 ?

Please keep in mind that "hard-wired" workflow templates are just that: hard-wired. This means that a specific workflow template (for example WS53100044) will always have the same number of steps, each step will always have the same type and number, agents will always be assigned in the same way, and those can't be altered by configurations. To understand each workflow template's behavior, you can either open that template in transaction PFTC or SWDD, or alternatively, read the exact behavior in SAP Help documentation. You basically need to google the workflow template number and you should be able to find the description of each template's behavior (by the way, the number you type has an extra zero so if you can't find a match on Google, you will know why ).
Now, the assignment of CR steps to CR type is done in the workflow template itself and NOT in the decision table. See the first screenshot:
The step number above "should" correspond to what is in the configuration table (for readability and consistency of documentation purposes). However, if for some reason, it does not, the hard-coded value is the value that will actually be considered. So, in technical terms, the assignment of step numbers in MDGIMG has no influence on how the workflow template will behave. Again, the main purpose is for the corresponding description in the step number configuration table to show on the CR window.
The other thing is the step type. A step type purpose is mainly to indicate what set of buttons will show at the top of the CR window. The fact that step types are represented by numbers confuse a lot of people with step numbers. I would have personally preferred if step types were a 2-char field so that a clear distinction can be made between step types and step numbers. In any case, buttons on the CR correspond to actions and you can see in MDGIMG that you can assign step types to actions. SAP delivers a pre-defined set of step types and associated actions. Those must NOT be altered because they could break the standard workflow templates. However, you can create your own custom step types and link them with as many actions (standard or custom actions) as you like. But again, you can't assign those custom step types to hard-wired workflow templates. You can only use them in your custom workflow templates or in the rule-based workflow.
Now, the question is how does the hard-wired workflow know what step type to use. The answer is easy: you can either find that in the SAP Help documentation or in the workflow template definition in transaction SWDD. For the above screenshot, the step type is 2. You can find that if you double-click the task ID TS75707980 (or display it using transaction PFTC) and look in the "Cntainer" tab. In this case, this task will ALWAYS have type 2. Other tasks are assigned different step types or are more dynamic in the sense that they expect the step type to be passed from the main workflow template calling them. For example TS53200002 will always have type 7, TS60808005 will always have type 5, and TS60807954 accepts the step type dynamically. This last one is the one used in the rule-based workflow (hence it has to read the step type configured in the decision table).
I hope this answers you question. You definitely need some level of workflow design/build knowledge in order to be able to completely understand all of this. Hopefully, this gives you a good starting point.

Creating a step type "launcher" that would insert the appropriate built-in or custom step type at edit time

Hi everybody,
I'm looking for tips, pointers,directions... to be able to perform this operation in TS 4.0 sequence Editor, if it's even possible...
I'm managing a test system with a "home-made" virtual instruments abstraction Layer complementary to IVI classes for instruments which do not have classes defined, customizing the sequence editor accordingly for developpers of my department.
So basically when the instrument is IVI, the developper uses the built-in IVI step-type type and when it is not, he uses the the custom step types that I developped for this particular class of instruments.
However there are classes where I do have both IVI and specific drivers available and I do need to use both in the test sequence.
For example let's say there are two sources of DC power available in the testbench, one being a programmable IVI compliant DC power supply, and the other one composed of fixed "blocks" of DC power supply managed by externals relays and you need to use them both in the test sequence.
What I would like to be able to do in the sequence editor is inserting the appropriate step type at edit time just by selecting the source of power supply (by a ring or enum for eg), and if the first ressource is selected, it inserts IVI step type, and if the second ressource is chosen, it inserts the appropriate custom step type.
Any Ideas on how to accomplish this ?
Regards,
Cyril
Cyril Bouton
Active LabVIEW Developper
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hello Cyril,
Here is an idea that could be done:
You could create a dynamic step by having a step that holds all the properties for both configurations (the superset of the necessary variables) and an extra one that indicates which 'mode' the step is in. Then you create the main Edit substep in whichever language you desire. That substep window will then have a box/dropdown/etc. at the top you can use to choose between modes A & B. When the user changes the value, you would dynamically change the rest of the window to contain the appropriate properties for mode A or B. You then copy the property values in that window to the Step properties, and copy the mode to your variable and you can run the step in that mode. When the step then runs, it checks the mode variable, and depending on its value, it will run the step in mode A or B.
Now we could add a dialog that allows us to choose when we put a step down but we should still allow the user to change later via the Edit substep we create.
I don't think we can create something that inserts a completely different step, but we can have one step that has the ability to do both and we can pick which one we execute. Also note we still don't have the ability to edit the Panels for a step, so we have to use a new window that we call from our Edit substep to complete the step.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Olivier L. | Certified LabVIEW Developer

Programatically Assigning Step Type Properties

I have developed several COM instrument drivers in Visual Basic 6.0 which I can call from TestStand using the ActiveX/COM adapter. However, I would like to be able to create a custom step type for each of these ActiveX servers. Each server provides several creatable classes and a number of interfaces. Ideally I'd like to create a custom step type that references the GUID of my server but have the ability to programatically assign the step properties such as Interface ID and CoClass ID to use the classes and interfaces of my server that I want need to access.
I have noticed that it is possible to create a step type (IEngine.NewStepType method) and set the Automation Adpater. Then I can programatically access its hidden properties (e.g.TS.SData.Call.CoClass). However, I am unsure of how to save and/or access this newly created step type. Where is it stored and how can I insert steps using of the new step type?
I have attached a sequence I've been working on. This has dependencies on a Station global and a server unique to my system but illustrates what I've been trying to do. Do you have any advice of what I need to do next or have any examples available where this sort of thing has been done in the past.
Thanks.

Hi David,
Here is some steps for saving your Step types.
You will need to create a type palette Ini file to hold your step types.
Get a PropertyObjectFile reference by calling Engine.NewPropertyObjectFile(FileType_TypePaletteFile).
Set the path of the ini file with PropertyObjectFile(Path).
Get a TypeUserList reference by calling PropertyObjectFile.TypeUsageList().
Get a count of the number of Types in the TypeUsageList by calling TypeUsageList.NumTypes().
This point create your Step types (as you have done). You will need a PropertyObject reference to your steptypes for use with the TypeUsageList.InsertType().
Using each steptype PorpertyObject reference.
Insert the Type into the TypeUsageList by calling TypeUsageList.InsertType(step type propertyobject ref, index (which will be your count), typeCategoryParam = TypeCategory_StepType)
Call the PropertyObjectFile.IncChangeCount() to indicate file changed.
Increment the count and repeat Insert for each of your step types.
save the ini file PropertyObjectFile.SaveFileIfModified(prompt = TRUE).
Tidy up by releasing references etc.
I know this works for TestStand 2.0.1f1 and hopefully it will work for 3.1. Unfortunately I haven't got 3.x installed on a PC to try it.
Hope this gets you started.
Regards
Ray Farmer
Regards
Ray Farmer

Fork Step in BPM scenario PI 7.1

Hi All,
I have a requirement where in i will have to collect 3 different messages coming from the source and then combine these 3 messages to a single message and sent it to Target System .
To achieve this i came up with a BPM where in fork step was used and inside the fork step i added 3 branches with 3 receive steps to receive 3 different messages from the source .
Problem i am facing here is , the source system might send all the 3 messages or it might send only 2 messages or 1 message as well depening on the scenario .
So when we get only 2 messages frm the source system , fork step goes into waiting state since its waiting for the 3rd message also to come in . In this case i want the BPM to go ahead with 2 messages after a certain specified time (say 2 min) .
I tried adding wait step, deadline branch . Nothing seems to be working .
Please suggest what needs to be done here .
Waiting for your inputs
Regards
Vinay P.

Set Necessary Branches to 1 in the Fork properties. Use the fork inside a block with time out. In timeout branch throw an exception. Define an exception branch for that exception. It should work..!!
VJ

How can I include multiple limits in the sequence file documentation for custom step type?

Hi,
I have a custom Step Type that contains Measurements property under Results. Its type is Array of NI_LimitMeasurement.
I would like to see the values in the sequence file documentation like NI_MultipleNumericLimitTest type.
Is there any trick to do that?
Thanks,
Andras

Hi Andras,
I have made a slight change to the sequencefile 'docgen_txt.seq'.
In the Sequence 'Step Doc' is a section which handles MultipleNumericLimit step type. There is a precondition check on the step 'Add Multiple Numeric Limits' if the step is of type 'NI_MultipleNumericLimit'. As your step type is based on the MultipleNumeric Limit type, I have just removed this precondition and just relied on the existence of Parameters.Step.Result.Measurement. Equally you could add a new section in this sequence to handle your Custom Step Type which is only called when the precodition match your type name.
Now when you run the DocGen tool it handles your custom step type.
Find attached my modified sequencefile 'docgen_txt.seq'.
Just copy the contents of '..\National Instruments\TestStand 3.5\Components\NI\Tools\DocGen' to the User folder. Then place the attached file in the User\Tools\DocGen overwritting the version that is in that folder.
Then launch TestStand and try it out on your sequence file.
If you are using the html version, then you will have to make the same change into Step Doc sequence of the docgen_html sequence file.
Hope this helps
Regards
Ray Farmer
Message Edited by Ray Farmer on 05-19-2007 05:28 PM
Regards
Ray Farmer
Attachments:
docgen_txt.seq ‏184 KB

Java Step Types with Java Virtual Machine higher than java-6u16?

Documentation of Java steps says, that these steps are tested with java version 6 update 16. I am talking about the java step types that can be found in directory <TestStand Public>\TestStand 2010\Examples\Java.
If I install another java version, e. g. java 7, step "Start JVM" will exit with an error "-4" and error message "Could not launch JVM.". While Debugging source code of JavaCall.dll, I figured the failing code line out:
"fpCreateJVM(&jvm,(void**)&env,&vm_args);" is the execution of function "JNI_CreateJavaVM" and returns error code -4.
Till now I could not find out, why the jvm does not start. I guess -4 means "Insufficient memory to create the JVM." (http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/370052J-01/tssuppref/infotopics/java_steps_errors/)
Has anyone an advice for me?

This post gave me a hint: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3400292/jni-enomem-from-jni-createjavavm-when-calling-dll-that-us...
Though my development computer has enough ram, jvm is started within the Teststand process which offers limited memory. I changed JavaCall.c and added parameter "-Xmx64m" to the jvm creation call. Now it works with jre 7.
Because memory space Teststand offers to the jvm is different on different computers, an implementation would be nice that checks how much memory is available and then passes the calculated <MEM> as parameter "-Xmx<MEM>m". Here is an example implementation: https://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1546540

How to insert a new step type into a submenu?

Hi!
I'm inserting a step type into the MyTypes.ini file with c++.
With the code below I managed to put it into a menu (in the step type menu editor it is called "Group").
But I want a sub menu.
How can I put it into a sub menu (in c++)?
Who can help me? Thanks in advance!!!
Here is the code:
property->PutName("StepTypeName");
typeUseage->InsertType(property, 0, TS::TypeCategory_StepTypes);
stepObj->PutMenuGroupName("StepTypeMenuGroup");

TSNewbie,
There is no API method to edit those groups. I can only suggest to use the Step Type Menu Editor to create the group you want and make it a submenu. Then when you call stepObj->PutMenuGroupName("SubMenuGroup") the step type will be in that submenu.
I apologize if this isn't the answer you are looking for.
Ronald Byrd (NI)

Why do I get error -17500 when calling a batch file using the call executable step type?

I am calling a batch file using the call executable step type. If the path to the batch file contains a space I get error -17500 and a message stating there was an error in "Post". For example the path to the batch file is "c:\TestWin\Test Files\...\Program.bat" When I run this I get the above mentioned error, however if I change my directory structure so the path is now "c:\TestWin\TestFiles\...\Program.bat" it runs fine. I use the browse feature to find my batch file so it is not me typing in a path incorrectly. I have removed the batch file and I get a different error stating that it couldn't find the file so it appears that for my error it can find the file but can't run it. I am
sure that this has something to do with the fact that batch files are written in DOS but really don't want to resort to changing my directory structure on all my test stations. Is there any way to fix this problem so I can leave a space in my path?

It appears I have figured it out. This was on another computer so I was unaware of how they used their computer. I like you got it to work in the temp directory and in fact got the program.bat file to work as long as I put it under the temp directory, but when I switched out to my TestWin directory it wouldn't work, so I removed everything from the directory except the batch file it self and it work. What I found out after adding files in one at a time is that the person had a file called "Test" with no file extension in there "c:\TestWin\" directory. Removing this file made it work. Putting the file back broke it. So it appeares that when teststand was running it followed the path saw a space and attempted to grab the "Test" file instead of bro
wsing into the "Test Files" directory. If you create a file in your temp directory called "temp" with no file extension you will see the same problem. Thank you for your help.

Fork step type.

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