A Task List step type is used with multi-part operations to collect multiple pieces of data for each logical part by configuring a list of tasks under a single step in a process definition. (Tasks are essentially FactoryLogix activities.)

Process designers define a Task List step in NPI and execute the individual data capture tasks in the Production client application. As additional tasks are added to the design grid (spreadsheet) in NPI, activity prompts display automatically under the Task List step in the Step List on the left side of the Process Definition window, just like all other activity types.

Auto generated tasks.png

In the Settings dialog for a Task List step, tasks (activities) are configured in a grid (spreadsheet) format where rows correspond to the activities/tasks being added and columns correspond to the multiple pieces of data being captured for each task.

Create a Task List step

Log into the NPI client application.
Select Process Engineering , then select an assembly.
In the Process Definition window, double-click the Process Flow in the tree to open it for editing.
Double-click the operation where you want to add the Task List step to open it for editing.
Select the Add button under Step List in the Process tree, then select Task List.
Double-click the Task List step to open the Settings dialog.
Use the following tables to make your selections for the step.
When you're finished making selections for the step, select OK to confirm your choices.

Settings dialog - Basics tab

Option	Description
Name	The name of the step. To apply a step template to the step, select the Apply a Template button, select a step template, then select OK. To save the step as a step template, select the Save as Template button, enter a name for the template, then select OK. For details about creating and saving step templates, see Create a process, step, or operation template.
Operator Interface Template	The Operator Interface template to apply to the step. See Operator Interface templates for more information.
Assigned Workstation	The assigned workstation where the step and activities will be performed by a shop floor operator. See Create a factory and set up factory resources for more information.
Any Order Mode (Activities can be viewed in any order)	All the activities associated with the step may be viewed in any order.
Is Step Required?	The step cannot be skipped by a shop floor operator.
Activities may be executed without starting a unit	Any activities associated with the step may be executed by a shop floor operator without first scanning or entering the UID to start the unit in production.
Frequency	Frequency - The frequency with which activities associated with the step are displayed and performed. Every Item - Activities must be performed for every item. By Item Count - Displays activities for the step every n number of scans. For example, when you select 3, activities will display for every third item, (item 1, item 4, item 7, item 10, and so on). Batch Based - Displays activities using the specified condition: (Select All) - Displays activities for the first and last items in the batch. Start of Batch - Displays activities for the first item in the batch. End of Batch - Displays activities for the last item in the batch. Time Interval - Activities for the step must be performed using the specified conditions. For example, 1 product every 2 minutes for the current batch. At Certain Times of Day - Displays activities for the step at specific times during the day, for example when periodic maintenance is needed to keep a workstation or machine running smoothly. By % of Total - Displays activities (even distribution) for the step each time the specified percentage of the total batch is reached. For example, a value of 10 percent in a 50-piece batch will display the specified step and activities every tenth assembly (10 percent of 50 is 5 over the course of 50 assemblies). This condition might be useful for periodic inspection of items in a batch. Operation Session Based - Displays activities for the step each time an operator logs in to begin a new session.

Settings dialog - Task List Settings tab

The Task List Settings tab of the Settings dialog lets you specify the number and type of data fields that will be captured by the added tasks. On the right side of the window, a spreadsheet and controls allow you to enter the number of fields and the number of tasks—rows correspond to the activities/tasks being added and columns correspond to the multiple pieces of data being captured for each task. As you specify the number of fields, the Fields drop-down adjusts automatically to display a list of all fields that can be selected; selecting one of these will establish the context for the remainder of the field-level settings.

Process Flow designers can specify how many tasks a particular step includes and how many pieces of data each task will capture. These settings apply to all units processed through the step in Production. Additionally, Production users can add custom tasks for individual units to accommodate additional work and measurements that arise "on the fly".

When the process flow designer enters values in both the Number of Fields and Number of Tasks fields, a region of the design grid (spreadsheet) is highlighted representing the area where values can be entered. Designers can provide values—or formulas that will calculate values—that will appear when units are processed in the activity task list in Production. Depending on a particular column’s Mode settings, shop floor users either will or won’t be able to override these values.

The Preview pane allows you to format the task list using spreadsheet controls similar to those in Microsoft Excel or other popular spreadsheet applications.

Task List step example

Option

Description

Task Definitions

Info

Important

Use the options in the Task Definitions area to specify the settings for each task (the item selected in the Fields drop-down).

Number of Fields - Specifies the number of fields for the task list.
Fields - Specifies the starting cell for the selected field (headers), A1, B1, or C1, for example.
- Header - Specifies the header title to use for the selected field (that is, the value that the field will be named when displayed in Production).
Mode - Specifies the mode for each field:
- Display Only - The value is not editable (the value supplied by the process flow designer is always used).
- Record Data Field - The value can be edited. The process flow designer can provide a default value, but the value can be overridden by the shop floor user).
- Record Calculated Field - The value is not editable. The process flow designer provides a formula that is evaluated during unit processing in Production and the resulting value is used.

Note

For Display Only fields, the process flow designer can specify values that will be displayed to Production users when the activity is being completed. Default values can also be specified for fields that enable data capture. Standard formulas can be specified for values that will be calculated based on the contents of other task fields. The Home, Insert, Formulas, Data, Review and View tabs in the design grid allow for a variety of formatting and additional spreadsheet manipulation.

Data Type - Specifies the type of data for each task in the spreadsheet:
- None - No specific type is required; the value can be any type.
- True/False - The value can be either True or False.
- Date/Time - The value must be a validdate/time value.
- Numeric - The value can be any numeric type.
- Text - The value must be a character string.
- Stamp - This is a special data type that captures approvals and does activity tracking.

Note

Stamp type fields (such as Engineer and Mechanical in the following illustration) represent a signoff by one or more people. When Stamp is selected as the field Data Type, additional settings display, allowing control over who can complete the field and whether or not the person entering the field content must have his or her credentials re-verified. This allows for a different set of individuals to be responsible for signing off on values than those who entered the values in the first place.

Requirement - Specifies whether the value is required or not required.
Not Required -The user can skip this field and the underlying activity can still be marked as complete.
Required - The activity cannot be marked complete until a value is provided for this field.
Number of Tasks - Specifies the number of tasks (rows) for the selected field.
Allow creation of new task(s) - Allows or disallows the creation of additional tasks in Production on an as-needed basis. (While tasks defined in NPI apply to all units being processed through a Task List step, new tasks added in Production will only apply to the individual unit currently being worked on.)

Preview

The Preview area of the Task List Settings tab is a robust spreadsheet control, much like Microsoft Excel. The various tabs and controls allow you to customize the task list data:

Home - Adjust font settings, number formats, apply conditional formatting, control sheet rows and columns, sort data, fill adjacent cells with data automatically, and apply simple calculations to data.
Insert - Insert tables, pivot tables, pictures, and charts to summarize worksheet data visually using a variety of charts. Charts display data series visually to make data interpretation easier, and show the relationship between different data series. There are also options to insert a hyperlink or symbols for use with your task list data.
Formulas - Perform calculations on data in cells using formulas. A formula is a string expression that starts with the equals sign ("="). Formulas can contain constants, math operators, functions, cell references, and so on. You can create and edit formulas directly within cells or in the formula bar.
Data - Sort data by text (A to Z or Z to A), numbers (smallest to largest or largest to smallest), dates and times (oldest to newest or newest to oldest) in one column. Use commands on the Data tab Sort & Filter group to activate filtering, reapply a filter, or remove all the filters in a worksheet.
Review - Add comments to worksheet cells, show/hide comments, add password protection to a worksheet, and allow users to edit specified ranges of cells in a worksheet.
View - Turn the display of gridlines and worksheet headings on/off, zoom the worksheet view in/out, and freeze/unfreeze worksheet panes.

Settings dialog - Option Codes tab

Option

Description

Option Codes

Displays a list of available option codes.

Note

Option codes are only used with configurable (CTO) assemblies.

Use the Apply Option Codes button to move selected option code(s) to the Assigned Option Codes column.
Use the Remove Option Codes button on the right side of the window to move selected assigned option code(s) back to the Option Codes list.

Note

For details about option codes, see Option codes for configurable assemblies.

Assigned Option Codes

Displays the option codes assigned to this step.

Use Logical Expression

Select the Use Logical Expression Use Logical Expression button button on the right side of the dialog to define option codes for a step in the form of a logical expression (comprised of available option codes plus the logical operators: AND, OR, and NOT, and brackets to identify precedence).

Logical expressions for option codes

Task List step and activities in Production

When an Task List step is performed in the Production client application, the list of contained tasks (which are essentially FactoryLogix activities) are presented in a grid view. As a shop floor user navigates to the different tasks in the Activity Navigator, the focus moves to the associated item in the list; moving to a new item in the list will move focus to that task in the Activity Navigator. Fields that were defined as Display Only can't be edited and default values entered by the process flow designer for recorded values are displayed, but can be overwritten by the user. Shop floor users don't have to complete the tasks in order and can jump back and forth between them, but if fields were designated as required, the user must provide values for them before the Task List step as a whole can be marked as complete. As soon as all required fields are entered for all tasks, the system marks all the activities in the list as complete and moves the user to the next step in the process flow.

If Allow Creation of New Tasks was selected by the process flow designer, the Add New Task button will be active in Production. Selecting the Add New Task button will cause a new empty row to be added to the task grid. The field constraints defined by the designer (Mode, Data Type, Required, and so on) will apply to fields of this new entry as well, but the new task will only be applicable to the currently processed unit; subsequent units will only have the original task definition unless new tasks are added to these as well. Users can enter values into the new task’s fields, or if the field constraints allow it, formulas that reference other field values in this task or the other tasks.

Task List step and related activities in Production