Constraint editor

Constraint editor

When adding or removing operations to a route the operations will be added with a default constraint from the previous operation end to the new operation start. The constraint editor allows further editing of the network:

• remove existing constraint lines
• add new constraint lines
• edit existing constraint line properties

Notice that it is also possible to edit the network manually by editing the Depends on column.

The following provides an overview of how to achieve different results with the constraint editor.

Starting point	Intermediate step	End result	How-to
			1. Remove the constraint between cutting and welding 2. Add new constraint between cutting and painting
			1. Remove constraint between welding and painting 2. Add new constraint between cutting and painting
			1. Add new constraint between cutting and painting

Constraint types

The properties of the different constraints vary depending on the object types of the selected constraint source and destination. The following table lists how the editor supports and visualizes the different constraint types.

General features of the constraint editor

This chapter lists the general editing functionality of the constraint editor.

Maneuvering within the graphics view

To zoom in and out click the + and – buttons or simultaneously press the Ctrl key while using the mouse scroll wheel.

To move all objects to a different position, press and hold the left click button of the mouse anywhere in the white background and move the mouse.

To move a single object left click with the mouse anywhere on the object and drag it with the mouse.

Click reset to return to the left upper corner of the view port, reset to normal zoom level and position objects at their default calculated position.

Select “Expand routes” to view the subjacent operations in place of the routes.

Select “Skip layout” to have the constraints drawn as direct lines between objects. If not selected, constraint lines will not be drawn through objects.

Adding a new constraint line

1. Press and hold down the Ctrl key while dragging the mouse from the source object (e.g. operation or route) to anywhere on the destination object. A dashed line will be drawn while dragging.
2. While the mouse arrow is on top of the destination object, and still with the Ctrl key pressed, let go of the left mouse key

Note that it is possible to add constraint lines with both one to many and many to one relations ships between source and destination.

Selecting a constraint line to edit

To select a constraint left click anywhere on the constraint line with the mouse. Once selected the constraint line color turns red and the right side property editor becomes enabled. The properties depends on the type of constraint selected, but as an example it is possible to specify anchor in/out for both source and destination etc. Any value provided will overwrite the default value specified on the operation, route or project.

Removing an existing constraint line

Select the constraint line by left clicking anywhere on the constraint line with the mouse. Once selected press the Delete key on the keyboard. Removing a constraint cannot be undone!

Constraint options

The constraint options are listed in the right panel of the constraint editor, and are grouped in options applicable for constraints between operations and between routes (routing options are only visible when editing Route Networks). Selecting a checkbox in the left column of checkboxes, means that the corresponding option on the operation or route is overridden.

	Route constraint ID	Identifier (ID) of the constraint. Used for troubleshooting.
	Hardlink	The destination object will follow immediately after the source object. Locks the source and destination objects together so they are moved as one entity. If you are looking for a “hardlink option” with the ability to flex the time between two operations, look at the Max span option.
	Synchronize resource	Source and destination operations will be synchronized to use the same resource. If a operation is then moved to another resource – the other will be moved simultaneously to the same resource. Scheduling note: During scheduling some limitations are in place. The first operation in a synchronize resource group finds the “best” resource and the remaining operations with “synchronize resource” are bound to stick to this resource (even though better resource combinations might be available!)
	Always visible	The constraint will always be visible in the gantt chart, regardless of whether or not the source or destination is selected.
	Src. anchor	Source anchor – The anchor going out of the source object.
	Src. queue time	Source queue time – Outgoing queue time from the source object.
	Src. transport time	Source transport time – Transport time from the source object.
	Dest. anchor	Destination anchor – The anchor going into the destination object.
	Dest. queue time	Destination queue time – Ingoing queue time to the destination object.
	Max span	Available from v7.4: A maximum no. of hours allowed between two operations during scheduling. If the max span limitation as an example is manually broken by Gantt chart drag/drop of an operation, the constraint line will become red. Also, this will cause the operation to turn red in color mode “Broken constraints”. The current implementation does not work with Max span settings for both incoming and outgoing constraints to/from the same operation. The scheduling will warn about this in case this is modelled.
	Quantity factor	Will be multiplied by quantity specified on the project/previous level, to calculate the needed output quantity of the next level.
	Quantity from previous	The output quantity from previous level (route) is multiplied by the quantity factor.
	Lot size	If the quantity of the project is 10 and lot size is 5, 2 production orders will be created with quantity of 5 each.
	Join previous lots	“Join previous lots” is not selected in the below example. (Quantity is 4 and lot size 2)

Same as above, but this time “Join previous lots” IS selected. Lots are merged into one production order.

Group by lot

Only to be used if source and destination routes will produce the same number of lots/production orders, based on quantity, quantity factor and lot size. (If this is not the case, excess source or destination production orders will not be connected) This option will group the lots/production orders in “pairs” so a source lot/production order will be connected to a single destination lot/production order. Please see the below example. Lot size is set to 2 on both “Drill” and “Bend” and “Group by lot” is NOT selected.

Same as above, but this time “Group by lot” IS selected.