Create tokens using a Schedule Source

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In FlexSim, most process flows begin with the creation of tokens,

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which are used to represent physical or abstract items flowing through a model.

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This involves setting the arrival method to control when and how tokens enter your process flow.

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The Schedule Source activity is one of four token creation methods

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and allows you to specify a quantity of tokens to arrive at a specified time interval.

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Typically, you select an arrival source in your Library, add it to your ProcessFlow,

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and then set the Quick Properties to meet the needs of your model.

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In this case, a process container is already set up in the ProcessFlow with a Schedule Source included.

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Select the Schedule Source to open the corresponding Quick Properties.

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Click the table to edit it.

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By default, the table includes columns for Time, Name, and Quantity.

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You can also Add Labels to include additional columns.

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These new columns, such as the “Type” column added here, will add additional data to the created tokens in the form of labels.

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For this example, 2 of Type 1 are set to arrive at 10 minutes, 2 of Type 2 at 20 minutes, and 2 of Type 3 at 30 minutes.

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Here, both Quantity and Type are set to specific values, but you can also set these as distributions.

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To see the simulation in action, select the Scheduled Source Dashboard, click Reset, and then click Run.

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On the Dashboard, you can see that two of Type 1 arrives, shown in red, then ten minutes later, two of Type 2 in green,

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then two of Type 3 in blue.

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Click the Schedule Source to view the Quick Properties again and notice that Repeat Schedule is selected,

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which means this schedule will repeat continuously, as you can see on the Dashboard.

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Now that you know how to use the Schedule Source activity to set a quantity of tokens to enter your model at a specific interval,

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take some time to review the remaining token creation methods, so that you can select the best method for your model.