Entity Batch Creator

Create batch of entities

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  • Library:

  • SimEvents

  • Entity Batch Creator block

Description

The Entity Batch Creator receives the expected number of entities and creates a batch entity that contains all these entities. The batched entity is an array of entities. Any acquired resources have to be released using a Resource Releaser block before batching an input entity.

To customize actions when entities enter, exit, or are batched or blocked, enter MATLAB® code in the Entry action, Exit action, Batch generate action, or Blocked action field of the Event actions tab. For more information about event actions, see Events and Event Actions.

You can write MATLAB code to manipulate the attributes of the batched entity. For example, to access attributes after an entity batch is generated, select Batch generate action and use the code. 

entity.batch
If the number of entities in a batch is 4, then entity.batch is a 4-by-1 structure array. To manipulate Attribute1 of the third entity in the batch enter the code.

entity.batch(3).Attribute1

You can reference batched entity attributes in event actions. You cannot reference them in:

  • Priority queues — Do not set Priority source parameter to PriorityAttribute.

  • Entity Server block — Do not set Service time source parameter to Attribute.

  • Output Switch block — Do not set Switching criterion parameter to From attribute.

To output the batch as a bus object, select the Bus object parameter. Consider creating a bus object for the batched entity when:

  • Sending or receiving a batched entity to or from a MATLAB Discrete-Event System block.

  • Sending or receiving a batched entity to or from a Discrete-Event Chart block.

  • When passing full entity data to a Simulink Function block.

  • When converting a batched entity to a signal using the Message Receive block.

Ports

Input

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Input entity port for entities entering the block.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | enumerated | bus | fixed point

Output

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Output entity port for batch entities exiting the block.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | enumerated | bus | fixed point

Number of entities that have arrived at the block.

Dependencies

To enable this port, click the Statistics tab and select the box labeled Number of entities arrived, a.

Data Types: double

Number of entities that have departed the block.

Dependencies

To enable this port, click the Statistics tab and select the box labeled Number of entities departed, d.

Data Types: double

Number of entities that remain for the next batch.

Dependencies

To enable this port, click the Statistics tab and select the box labeled Number of entities remaining for the next batch, rem.

Data Types: double

Selecting this check box outputs 1 for a pending entity in the block, and 0 otherwise.

Dependencies

To enable this port, select the Statistics > Pending entity in block, pe.

Data Types: double

Parameters

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Specify the number of entities in a batch.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: NumberOfEntitiesInBatch
Type: character vector
Values: '4' | scalar
Default: '4'

Specify the name of the batched entity that is created after combining incoming entities.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: EntityTypeName
Type: character vector
Values: 'Batch' | character vector
Default: 'Batch'

Specify whether to output the batched entity as a bus object.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: BusObject
Type: character vector
Values: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Specify names to be attached to the input entities, which can be used for referencing these entities in the batched entity.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: InputEntityName
Type: character vector
Values: 'batch' | character vector
Default: 'batch'

Specify the behavior of the entity on certain events. For example, the Entry action is called when the entity enters the block. To customize actions when entities enter, exit, or are batched or blocked, enter MATLAB code in the Entry action, Exit action, Batch generate action, or Blocked action field of the Event actions tab. For more information about event actions, see Events and Event Actions. For an example, see Manage Entities Using Event Actions

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: EntryAction, BatchGenerateAction, ExitAction, BlockedAction
Type: character vector
Values: MATLAB code
Default: ''

Number of entities that have arrived at the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: NumberOfEntitiesArrived
Type: character vector
Values: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Number of entities that have departed the block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: NumberOfEntitiesDeparted
Type: character vector
Values: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Outputs the number of entities still in the block for the next batch of entities.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: NumberOfEntitiesRequiredForNextBatch
Type: character vector
Values: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Indicates whether an entity that is yet to depart is present in the block. The value is 1 for a pending entity, and 0 otherwise.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: PendingEntity
Type: character vector
Values: 'on' | 'off'
Default: 'off'

Model Examples

Group Entities Using Batching

Group Entities Using Batching

Create, process, and split batched entities using Entity Batch Creator and Entity Batch Splitter blocks. In the model, An Entity Generator block is used to represent produced parts in a facility. The parts are batched by an Entity Batch Creator block. A batch is processed by an Entity Server block. When the processing is complete, the batch is split into individual parts by the Entity Batch Splitter block for their delivery.

See Also

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Introduced in R2016b

SimEvents Documentation

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