topic Re: Loading multiple flowitems not working in FlexSim Forum

Loading multiple flowitems not working

Scott_McDavid — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 12:51:43 GMT

[ FlexSim 24.2.2 ]

I have flowitems identified by label. The lable directs where the flowitem should go and prgramatically which transporter is to take it to the location (code below). The routing and transporter code is working, however for the last 2 options, the transporter should load 4 items, not 1. I've tried everything I can think of to do this but the cannot get this to work. The transporter is configured to load 4 items, the queue batches 4 items, is there a specific task to define the quantity. I would have thought to just loop through the load command would have accomplished the requirement.

/**Custom Code*/

Object item = param(1);

Object current = ownerobject(c);

string destination = getlabel(item, "TargetQueue");

Object dispatcher;

if (destination == "queue1") {

dispatcher = model().find("Transporter1");

// Create and dispatch a task sequence for Transporter1

TaskSequence ts = TaskSequence.create(dispatcher);

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, item, outobject(current, 1)); // Travel to the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_LOAD, item); // Load the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, outobject(current, 1)); // Travel to the destination

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_UNLOAD, item, outobject(current, 1)); // Unload the item

ts.dispatch();

return 1; // Send to port 1

} else if (destination == "queue2") {

dispatcher = model().find("Transporter1");

// Create and dispatch a task sequence for Transporter1

TaskSequence ts = TaskSequence.create(dispatcher);

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, item, outobject(current, 2)); // Travel to the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_LOAD, item); // Load the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, outobject(current, 2)); // Travel to the destination

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_UNLOAD, item, outobject(current, 2)); // Unload the item

ts.dispatch();

return 2; // Send to port 2

} else if (destination == "queue3") {

dispatcher = model().find("Transporter1");

// Create and dispatch a task sequence for Transporter1

TaskSequence ts = TaskSequence.create(dispatcher);

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, item, outobject(current, 3)); // Travel to the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_LOAD, item); // Load the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, outobject(current, 3)); // Travel to the destination

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_UNLOAD, item, outobject(current, 3)); // Unload the item

ts.dispatch();

return 3; // Send to port 3

} else if (destination == "queue4") {

dispatcher = model().find("Trolley");

// Create and dispatch a task sequence for Trolley

TaskSequence ts = TaskSequence.create(dispatcher);

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, item, outobject(current, 4)); // Travel to the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_SETNODENUM, item, NULL, 4);

//ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_LOAD, item); // Load the item

for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_LOAD, item);

}

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, outobject(current, 4)); // Travel to the destination

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_UNLOAD, item, outobject(current, 4)); // Unload the item

ts.dispatch();

return 4; // Send to port 4

} else if (destination == "queue5") {

dispatcher = model().find("Transporter2");

// Create and dispatch a task sequence for Transporter2

TaskSequence ts = TaskSequence.create(dispatcher);

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, item, outobject(current, 5)); // Travel to the item

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_SETNODENUM, dispatcher, NULL, 4);

//ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_LOAD, item); // Load the item

for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_LOAD, item);

}

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_TRAVEL, outobject(current, 5)); // Travel to the destination

ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_UNLOAD, item, outobject(current, 5)); // Unload the item

ts.dispatch();

return 5; // Send to port 5

} else {

return 0; // Default: No port

}

Re: Loading multiple flowitems not working

moehlmann_fe — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:41:57 GMT

You are telling the task executer to load the same item multiple times.

While it's good practice to learn coding in FlexSim, I don't really see why you are writing the task sequences yourself. And why in the Send to Port code.

As long as the "Trolley" and "Transporter2" are allowed to load multiple items, I don't see a reason why you can't use the default task sequence generated when the "Use Transport" option is active. All you'd need is a simple 'Object by Case' function to decide which TE is responsible for the transport.

batch-and-transport-by-type.fsm

Some info about how the default logic makes loading multiple items possible (so you can keep your code and adjust it):

The default transport task sequence consists of five tasks: Travel (to pickup), Load, Break, Travel (to dropoff), Unload.

The break task causes the TE's "Break To" code to execute.

The code then checks the TE's task sequence queue for a different sequence to switch to, based on some condition. In effect, the TE can choose to interrupt the current task sequence after the load task and continue with a different one, if available and valid.

Re: Loading multiple flowitems not working

Scott_McDavid — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:09:18 GMT

Transporter2 should only load one item. There is a common queue through which flowitems enter/leave the facility and depending upon the next destination for that flowitem determines the quantity and destination. Addtionally, more than one flowitem type is moving through this queue. It is functioning as intended with the exception of "trolley" only loading one flowitem. When i put this code in "use transport" , neither transporters work.

Re: Loading multiple flowitems not working

moehlmann_fe — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:44:21 GMT

In your code, you have the for-loop for transporter2 as well, so I though it was also supposed to load 4 items.

The code and model I posted is of course just an example. You would need to adjust the code to work within your model (using the "TargetQueue" label rather than "Type" to determine the port and use the correct TE names).

Re: Loading multiple flowitems not working

joerg_vogel_HsH — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:54:39 GMT

here is another example:

BreakTo_moreReceivers.fsm

Re: Loading multiple flowitems not working

Scott_McDavid — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:41:53 GMT

Adding the ts.addTask(TASKTYPE_BREAK); after load corrected the issue, thank you