You are here: Building the Model: Advanced Elements > Attributes > Attributes and the GROUP/UNGROUP Statements
Suppose several entities, EntA, EntB, and EntC, are grouped together and called Batch. See Group and Ungroup for more information. Each of the original entities have attributes with values assigned to them before they are grouped. The Batch is processed for 30 minutes, sent to Loc5 and then ungrouped into the original entities.
The attribute values of the individual entities are not transferred to the grouped entity, Batch. In other words, Att1=0 for the entity, Batch. However, once the entities are ungrouped, they retain their original attribute values. The following diagram graphically shows the concept of grouping.
The logic for the diagram is as follows:
Process Table
|
Entity |
Location |
Operation (min) |
|---|---|---|
|
EntA |
Loc1 |
Att1 = 1 |
|
EntB |
Loc2 |
Att1 = 2 |
|
EntC |
Loc3 |
Att1 = 3 |
|
ALL |
Loc4 |
GROUP 3 AS Batch |
|
Batch |
Loc4 |
WAIT 30 |
|
Batch |
Loc5 |
UNGROUP |
|
ALL |
Loc5 |
... |
Routing Table
|
Blk |
Output |
Destination |
Rule |
Move Logic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
EntA |
Loc4 |
FIRST 1 |
MOVE FOR 1 |
|
1 |
EntB |
Loc4 |
FIRST 1 |
MOVE FOR 1 |
|
1 |
EntC |
Loc4 |
FIRST 1 |
MOVE FOR 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Batch |
Loc5 |
FIRST 1 |
MOVE FOR 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
... |
... |
... |
... |
... |
Please note
You can assign an attribute value to a grouped entity. However, once the entities are ungrouped, they retain the attribute values they possessed before they were grouped.