How a calculation works

The end results of a calculation are saved as attribute values in the EPC graph. The calculated function attributes are saved at the function nodes of the EPC and the calculated process attributes are saved at the EPC. To track the incremental calculation of attributes, all intermediate results of a calculation for the calculation elements are displayed in the calculation tree. If the result of a calculation element consists of multiple values, these values are displayed in curly brackets and separated by a semicolon.

The result at the root node represents the end result of the attribute calculation, which is saved as a new attribute in one of the attribute containers of the EPC graph or which modifies an existing attribute.

Attribute container

The Attribute container panel includes all attribute containers of the selected EPC. Attribute containers comprise the process represented by the EPC including process attributes and all nodes of the EPC with the respective node attributes. The list of attribute containers includes the attribute source and the attribute target on individual tabs that display read or write access during calculation.

Both access types are displayed in real time, i.e., only during calculation. By placing breaks and using incremental calculation, you can track which attributes are currently being obtained from the EPC and where calculated attributes are saved in the EPC. For this purpose, you can switch between the two tabs Source and Target during the calculation.

Read access

Read access takes place only if a calculation element of the Attribute or Filtered attribute type is being processed. In this case, the name of the relevant attribute container is written in bold and an additional icon is displayed.

Attribute containers whose attributes have been changed by a calculation are graphically emphasized. The color and the icon of an attribute container reveal information about its state. In the normal state, i.e., directly after the EPC is loaded, each attribute container has its original icon and its name is written in black. After the modification of attributes of an attribute container the icon and the text are marked.

Attribute values

Depending on the type of modification, attribute calculation results are saved on the individual tabs of the Attributes panel.

All attributes being read are displayed in a table on the Access tab of the Attributes panel. This table is displayed only during the calculation of a calculation rule and always references the active (currently calculated) calculation element. Since the calculation tree can be run through multiple times, the displayed data always refers to the current run.