3.2.1 Compound Operation

A compound operation represents a group or hierarchy of operations and contains other children operations. A compound operation can also be referred to as a sequence of operations. It can be comprised of different types of operations. The children operations of a compound operation can be single operations as well as other compound operations. For example, a compound operation can include an object flow operation, such as moving a box from one place to another, as a single operation, and a device operation as compound operation, which in turn contains two other single operations, such as opening and closing the lid of the box.

Create New Compound Operation

The New Compound Operation option enables you to create a new compound operation. You can create a new compound operation by following these steps:

1. In the Operation Tree, select the Operation Root or an existing compound operation, which should be the parent of the new compound operation.
2. Create a new compound operation using one of these steps:
   • Select Operations > New Operation > New Compound Operation from the menu bar,
   • Right-click and select New Compound Operation from the context menu,
   • Click the New Compound Operation button on the toolbar.
3. The New Compound Operation window opens.
4. Enter the name of the new compound operation in the Name field. By default, all new compound operations are named CompOp#.
5. If the parent operation is not yet defined, click on the Scope field and click the parent operation from the Operation Tree.

Figure: New Compound Operation from the Operation Tree

Set Current Operation

In order to run the simulation of an operation, it must be first set as the current operation. The Set Current Operation option enables you to set the selected operation as the current operation. You can set a single operation as well as a compound operation as the current operation. You can set an operation as current operation in one of the following ways:

• Select the operation in the Operation Tree and do one of these steps:
  • Select Operations > Set Current Operation from the menu bar,
  • Right-click and select Set Current Operation from the context menu,
  • Click the Set Current Operation button on the toolbar.
• Drag and drop the operation from the Operation Tree in the Sequence Editor. The selected operation is automatically set as current operation and you can play the simulation in the Sequence Editor.

Figure: Set Current Operation