Rockwell Automation Arena Packaging Users Guide - Manual (Page 74)

A RENA P ACKAGING T EMPLATE U SER ’ S G UIDE
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Assigning and referencing variables
Assigning values to variables
You may not assign values to most of the Arena Packaging template variables. Most
variables are automatically tracked and updated by the Arena Packaging engine. In
general, Arena Packaging template variables are available for reference and animation
purposes only (i.e., status information).
The ONLY Arena Packaging variables to which you may assign values are SpeedFactor
and LostProduction for machines, conveyors, and palletizers. Changing these variables
allows you to change dynamically both the run speeds of equipment as well as their loss
rates.
SpeedFactor variables can be assigned values using the Change Speed Factor action in
Actions modules or dialog boxes. LostProduction variables can be assigned values using
the Change Lost Production action in Actions modules or dialog boxes.
Referencing variables
It is often useful to reference Arena Packaging variables for model animation or control
logic purposes.
R EFERENCES IN ANIMATION OBJECTS
You can animate Arena Packaging variables using Arena animation objects. This allows
you to display graphically the status and dynamics of your processing line, and thus “see”
the effects of complex, interrelated aspects of your system. In particular, status displays
such as variables, levels, histograms, global pictures, and plots are especially useful for
showing the values of variables in numeric or graphical form. You can add status displays
to a model using Arena’s Animate toolbar.
Variables . . Levels . . Histograms Plots . . Global Pictures