Coding Advice Needed for Beginner

[vedant_g1]

[ FlexSim 18.1.1 ]

I just joined an internship where I have to use FlexSim for process flow simulation.

I have completed all the process flow tutorials and just getting familiar with the software.

I saw that you could write your own code in the script editor and run it.

I wanted to ask, in all the tutorials I did, there was no coding at all so I was wondering what are the scenarios in which users need to write their own code?

Any response and advice would be greatly appreciated.

PS: I am not trying to avoid coding, I actually want to do it since I am a CS major so I was curious when the programming would be useful.

[joshua_s]

Process Flow really does help eliminate most of the need for hard coding, there have been a couple occasions where I've needed to manipulate arrays. One area in specific where there is no way around the code is in packaging if you have a very specific way you want things stacked. You can usually add some pretty complicated references in the editable text fields of process flow activities if needed before having to add a lot of custom code.

[JordanLJohnson · Accepted solution]

At the most basic level, code shows up almost everywhere in FlexSim, usually accessing or manipulating label values. You'll see a lot of token.MyLabel looking stuff. All users end up typing or choosing that kind of code from pick options.

More complicated code is not very common. Here are some cases where I have used code on projects:

• Custom item positioning (like @Joshua S mentioned)
• Complicated List fields, for advanced sorting/scoring of list entries
• Task Executer routing, to make sure pickers follow a route, and pick along the way
• Auto-building models, based on input tables

I would recommend that you become very familiar with all 3D objects and activities. That way, you will understand what is available "out of the box." Then, when you approach a problem, you can first try to see if the built-in objects can handle the logic. If they cannot, then consider writing code.