topic Re: Enabling or disabling a production step in FlexSim Forum

Enabling or disabling a production step

campannetta — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:21:08 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to model a manufacturing line in which some parallel areas can be enabled or disabled. I want to connect a binary parameter to the machines of those areas (1=area is active, 0= area is disabled), in such a way that i can later on modify this parameter as desired to enable/disable such areas.

It should be easy to do as my areas to be disabled are basically linear series of queues and processors as the following example:

queue1 -> processor1 -> queue2 -> processor 2

What I've found in the documentation is that i can set a binary parameter (MyParameter) and i can set as reference the queue1 (the input point of my area to be disabled) and i can put an On Set event "Enable or Disable".

The problem is that it doesn't work. The flowing items go to Queue1 even if MyParameter == 0. Is it because this queue receives parts using a pull from list strategy?

If anyone could tell me what I'm doing wrong, or provide any suggestion, I'd be thankful

Re: Enabling or disabling a production step

FelixMoehlmann — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:50:19 GMT

The "Enable or Disable" option is used to turn Process Flow Sources on and off. Generally all valid options for the reference object should be shown when you sample it. To prevent the queue from pulling items you have two options:

1. When sampling the Queue for the reference field, choose Set Property -> Pull. This is deactive the pull behaviour if the parameter is set to 0.

2. In the Pull Strategy option, open further options by clicking on the arrow in the bottom right corner and use the condition field to only pull items when the parameter is set to 1. No reference to the queue needs to be set in the parameter in this case.

Re: Enabling or disabling a production step

campannetta — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:55 GMT

Thank you very much for your help, I had tried to use option 2, but i have been putting the condition Model.parameters.Parameter1==1 in the Pull requirement field instead of the right one. Would you be able to tell me why it wouldn't work by putting it there? Shouldn't it work the same way?

I'd really appreciate it if you could clarify this aspect to me. In the mean time, thank you for your help

Re: Enabling or disabling a production step

FelixMoehlmann — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:08:45 GMT

The Pull Requirement field is not used when pulling from a list. Filtering the items is done through the query. Pull Requirement only matters when pulling items through a port connection.

Re: Enabling or disabling a production step

campannetta — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:04:53 GMT

All clear now! Thank you again for your kindness