Creating modules

Working with modules is one of the basic strategies to manage the complexity when planning (factory) layouts. The Create module function supports you, in particular

in making object constellations (e.g. cells, standard workplaces) that have been identified as appropriate for standardization available in modifiable form (as templates, samples, types) to other layouts and users;
in the extraction of structures from existing layouts so as to be able to design variants thereof in new, separate (sub-)layouts with independent material flow appraisals (extraction of sub-layouts). This implies the intention to plan and detail sub-layouts over several persons.

Modules in visTABLE®

The term module is used in visTABLE® in connection with the model library. There, modules differ from models in that modules contain multiple models. Such modules are identified in the model library by an M in the lower right corner of the preview image. Modules also serve as the preliminary step for creating mergings. Mergings can be created directly using the Create Module action or explicitly in an Object Manager action.

When modules are dragged into the layout, they appear there as a group of layout objects:

Using modules

User interface

Task area for module creation

Procedure for creating modules

The Create Module function allows you to save multiple or individual models from a layout to the model library, for example, when a specific instance of a model’s properties (e.g., dimension, color, layer assignment, area type) needs to be made easily available to other users via the Shared Library. In this special case, the Create Module function does not create modules, but rather provides modified, new models in the library.

Practical tip

Both the Layer Assignment and the Area Type of the objects in the module are saved. If a module is used in a different layout, the corresponding layers and area types are created automatically unless they exist. It is thus possible to create simple templates for specific layers and area types.

Creating a module from one or several objects

Select the object or objects in the layout that you want to save as a module.
Left-clicking or tapping the Create Module action in the dynamic menu opens the task pane for naming the module.
Enter the module name. It must be at least 3 characters long.
If necessary, select a different destination catalog in which the module should be saved.
Use the Weld switch to decide whether, in addition to the module, a weld of the module should also be saved in the destination catalog.
Complete the action by pressing ENTER or left-clicking or tapping the Create Module button.

To cancel the action, change your selection in the layout area.

Note

Modules cannot be created from CAD objects or IFC objects. If such an object is part of the selection, an appropriate note is displayed when creating the module. The module is stored in the library without the aforementioned objects.

Organizing the storage of the module

All modules are default stored in the visTABLE® user catalog Clipboard in the Own Library. These modules are automatically assigned the following search terms for orientation:

Storage data and time,
Name of the source layout (*.vtlx),
The Module string and
The user name.

To make available the modules to all users, it is recommended to move them to a shared catalog. It is also possible to export or move the modules to other user catalogs. To this end and for the whole organization of the own and shared Model Libraries, the visTABLE® Object Manager can be used.