Inserting Multiple Sequences in the Process Plan Flow Tab
Use the Insert New Multiple Sequence action to create parallel or alternate sequences within a process plan. To insert a new sequence—either alternate or parallel—you must first select a set of operations that are consecutive and belong to the same parent node.. The system requires this selection to determine the appropriate branching and return operations. You can also select a single sequence or a sequence label before initiating the Insert New Multiple Sequence action.
Prerequisites
• Open the process plan with the process plan node as the top-level selection.
• Ensure that both the branching and return operations are of type Operation or its subtypes.
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Once the action is complete, the system creates one default operation under each new sequence. Newly added operations appear highlighted in blue.
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Sequence Placement Rules
• The system identifies the branching operation as the one immediately before the selected range.
• The system identifies the return operation as the one immediately after the selected range.
• If you select the first operation in the process plan, the system sets the branching operation to open.
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An open branching operation means that the sequence starts in parallel with the main flow. The main process and the inserted sequence begin simultaneously and proceed independently until they converge at the return operation. This behavior is visually represented in the process plan flow, where both the main and sequence paths initiate together and merge later.
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• If you select the last operation in the process plan, the system cannot identify a valid return operation. Select an earlier operation instead.
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When you select the last operation in a process plan, the system does not provide an option to insert a new sequence after it. This behavior occurs because there is no subsequent operation available to serve as an anchor for the new sequence. As a result, inserting a sequence after the last operation is not possible within the current process plan flow structure.
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• If you select the first operation in a sequence, the system uses the branching operation of the parent sequence.
• If you select the last operation in a sequence, the system uses the return operation of the parent sequence.
Procedure
Perform the following steps:
1. Select valid entities in the Process Plan Flow tab. Valid entities include one operation, multiple operations, a sequence or a sequence label.
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In case of multiple operations, you must select a set of operations that are consecutive and belong to the same parent node..
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2. Right-click and select Insert New Multiple Sequence. The Insert New Multiple Sequence dialog box opens. It contains the Define Sequence and Set Attributes step.
3. In the Define Sequence step, specify the following:
◦ Type—Sequence
◦ Category—Select the category of sequence, Alternate or Parallel.
◦ Parent—Displays the name of the parent process plan or sequence..
◦ Operation Type—Select the operation type from the following options:
▪ Operation
▪ Standard Operation
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Operation Type refers to the type of the default operation that the system creates under the new sequence. This operation is the first child of the sequence and inherits the selected operation type. Custom operation types are supported if they descend from the base operation type.
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4. Click Next. The Set Attributes step appears.
The following columns are displayed in the Sequences table:
◦ Number
◦ Name
◦ Location
◦ Default Units
◦ View
◦ Description
◦ Branching Operation
◦ Return Operation
◦ Branching Lag
◦ Return Lag
The Branching Operation and Return Operation values are automatically populated by the system based on the selection you made in the first step. You can also change the values.
5. Click Finish. The Insert New Multiple Sequence dialog box closes, and the sequences are added. The sequences appear in the process plan tree structure and in the Process Plan Flow tab.
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• In the Process Plan Flow tab, the label of the sequence appears between the sequence and the operation.
• When you select a sequence label, the system highlights all operations within that sequence.
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Operation Selection Behavior
• Use Shift+Click to select a range of operations.
• Use Ctrl+Click to to select multiple non-adjacent operations.
This behavior is common across Windchill.
When you use Shift+Click to select operations within a process plan, the system automatically selects all operations between the first and second clicked items, provided they are on the same hierarchical level. This includes both the boundary operations and all intermediate ones. If any previously selected operations exist outside this range or on a different level, the system clears those selections to maintain consistency. This behavior mirrors standard file selection in Windows environments, ensuring intuitive interaction. In contrast, when you use Ctrl+Click to select operations across different hierarchical levels, the system treats each click as an independent selection. Only the explicitly clicked operations remain selected, allowing for non-contiguous, multi-level selection without affecting other chosen items.