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      <div class="title_topic3" id="xps10_pagetitle">Batch Processing</div>
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      <p class="para_topic">Batch Processing in the manufacturing module provides you with the functionality to generate tool paths, post process groups and/or operations, and generate shop floor documentation without having to wait while the job is processed. You can process all three outputs at one time, or create each output individually. Batch Process allows you to focus more of your attention on planning the NC program, while leaving the computationally intensive and possibly time-consuming job of running the program to the system to run in the background.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Benefits to Using Batch Processing</div>
      <ul>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Batch Processing allows you to generate these three forms of output while either working in another NX window, or closing out of NX altogether.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Time is no longer wasted while waiting for these three forms of output to generate. Instead you can either work on another project on your computer while batch processing takes place; or you can send your program to batch at the end of the day, letting it run over night to be ready for you in the morning.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Batch Processing gives you the option to generate all three forms of output at the same time when the system is most free, and you do not have to be present.</p>
         </li>
      </ul>
      <div class="title_division">Batch Processing Output</div>
      <p class="para_division">Batch Processing allows you to be able to generate all three options in one step if desired, or you can generate each of them individually. If only postprocessing or shop floor documentation are required, you must make sure that tool paths for the selected object exist. Then make sure that only the postprocessing box, or the shop floor documentation box is selected.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Accessing and Using</div>
      <p class="para_division">Before beginning the batch process make your selections of the groups and operations that need to be submitted for batch processing in the Operation Navigator. Then, in the context of manufacturing, go to Tools&rarr;Batch Processor and the main dialog for Batch Processing appears as shown below.</p>
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                  <p class="para_note_body">If you use Batch Processing on a regular basis you may chose to have the Batch Processing Icon turned on  <img align="bottom" src="graphics/ico_t_batch_processing.gif" border="0">. To activate this click MB3 on the gray part of the tool bar&rarr; Customize&rarr; &nbsp;Commands&rarr; Manufacturing Operations. From here you can activate this icon.
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               <div class="para_note">
                  <p class="para_note_body">On Windows systems, if the user logs out while the batch process is still processing, the process is terminated. Windows users should lock their workstations instead of logging out, if they need to leave before the batch process has completed.</p>
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      <p class="para_division">This dialog appears with the cue Select objects from Operation Navigator for Batch Processing. You can select the objects from the Operation Navigator and set the parameters for the batch processing. The default settings for this dialog are outputting Internal Tool Paths, in the Background batch mode, with a priority of Medium, as the image shows below.</p>
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               <div class="para_note">
                  <p class="para_note_body"> If Postprocessed Files is selected, by itself or in a group, only single program groups or operations can be output.</p>
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      <p class="para_division"> <img align="bottom" src="graphics/batch_dialog.gif" border="0">  
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      <div class="title_division">Required Output</div>
      <p class="para_division">You can select one or more of the following items as output:</p>
      <ul>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Internal Tool Paths</p>
            <p class="para_item">The default setting for output is Internal Tool Paths only. The box for Internal Tool Paths should be checked if you wish to generate internal tool paths for the selected operations from the Operation Navigator.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item"> <a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('mfggeneral/com_batch_processing.html#com_opts_com_batch_processing_postprcing');return(false);">Postprocessed files</a></p>
            <p class="para_item">The box for Postprocessed Files should be checked if the selected program group or operation is to be postprocessed.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item"> <a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('mfggeneral/com_batch_processing.html#com_opts_com_batch_processing_shpdcs');return(false);">Shop Documentation</a></p>
         </li>
      </ul>
      <p class="para_division">The box for Shop Documentation should be checked if shop floor documentation is to be generated. If this option is selected, documentation for the entire manufacturing setup will be generated.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Processing mode</div>
      <p class="para_division">In the dialog under Processing Mode you have two options: Foreground and Background. The default is set to Background.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Foreground</div>
      <p class="para_division">In Foreground mode the system does not save the part and the processing is performed in interactive mode. This will not allow you to perform any interaction until the processing is complete. Once it is complete you can continue working on the part. This works the same as if the batch option did not exist. That is, processing a tool path in the foreground mode performs the same task as clicking on the Generate Tool path icon. The foreground mode is provided so that you can perform all three tasks in one click for the groups or operations that have been selected in the Operation Navigator.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Background</div>
      <p class="para_division">In Background mode the part file is saved and submitted to a background batch job.</p>
      <ul>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">When using the Background option you can set the Time To Delay and Priority for the background batch processing job. These options are grayed out (inactivated) when the Foreground mode is selected.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">To delay the batch job use the Time To Delay text box to type in the number of minutes you would like the job to delay. For example, if it is 5:00 P.M. and you would like the job to run at 6:30 P.M. when the system will be more free, type 90 in the Time To Delay text box so the job will be delayed 90 minutes.</p>
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                  <p class="para_note_body">If the system crashes before or during the batch job, you only lose the work of the batch job, you do not lose the work that was done before the running of batch. When the system is restored, you will need to open the part and re-submit the batch job.</p>
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      <ul>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Use the Priority selection to prioritize the importance of your batch job. High priorities are processed first, Medium priorities are processed second, and Low priorities are processed last. Select the box next to the priority that matches your job.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Once all the sections of the dialog are complete, select the OK button to begin the batch processing. The dialog disappears and the batch processing begins.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">After submission, the system gives a message stating the following.</p>
         </li>
      </ul>
      <p class="para_division">Batch Submitted, Do Not Save Work Part.</p>
      <p class="para_division">If the submission fails, you will receive a warning stating the following.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Fail to Submit Batch Job </p>
      <ul>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Click OK and the message will disappear. Then close out of this part.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Now you can perform another task in the current NX session.</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">When the batch processing is complete the system sends an Email with a message about the status of the job to the user login ID and the log file is stored in the same directly as the part file. If this directory is right protected then the batch processing will fail. </p>
         </li>
      </ul>
      <p class="para_division">While the background processing is in progress, you should NOT save the submitted part; when the batch job is complete it will automatically save the part file. If you have made changes to the part file and saved them, they will be overwritten with the completed batch save. Likewise if you continue to work in the part file, saving as you go, and you make your final save after the batch job has been completed, then you will overwrite the batch job. For this reason it is recommended that you close the part file and work on a different part. After completion of the background batch processing, you can open the part file to see the processed tool paths.</p>
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                  <p class="para_note_body">A log file with the same name as the part file and containing a .log extension will be generated. This log file contains information about the selected operations and groups. This information includes the name of the object, the name of the log file, start time, end time, and whether the process is successful or not. On completion of the batch job, the system sends an Email to you with this information letting you know the batch job is&nbsp;complete.</p>
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      <p class="para_division">At any point in time, if you want to know the status of the background processing, you can open this log file and check the status.</p><a name="com_opts_com_batch_processing_postprcing"></a><div class="title_division">Postprocessing</div>
      <p class="para_division">If you select the Postprocessed Files box in the Batch Processing dialog, the Select Machine button becomes active. Click this button and the system displays the postprocessing dialog along with the cue line Select a Machine and Specify an Output File.</p>
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               <div class="para_note">
                  <p class="para_note_body">If you select Postprocessed Files, by itself or in a group, the system can only output single program groups or operations.</p>
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      <p class="para_division">The Post Processor dialog displays available post controller names in the Available Machines multi list area. The displayed list contains postprocessors available from the postprocess data file for the current CAM session. Select a machine for postprocessing. If the system does not display the postprocessor you want, select the Browse button beneath the list of posts and browse for more posts (.pui files).</p>
      <p class="para_division">The dialog also displays a path name in the Specify an Output File text area. This path shows where the postprocessed output files are placed. The default directory path is the current work part directory. You can specify a different path by clicking the Browse button which presents a file selection dialog.</p><a name="com_opts_com_batch_processing_shpdcs"></a><div class="title_division">Shop Documentation</div>
      <p class="para_division">If the Shop Documentation box is checked, the button below it labeled Select Template becomes active. Selecting this button brings up the dialog below along with the cue line Select a Documentation Template and Specify Output File. You can select a template for Shop Documentation output from the Available Templates multi list area.</p>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/batch_docs_dialog.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">The path in the text area below Specify an Output File displays a directory path in which the shop floor documentation output files are placed. The default directory path is the current work part directory. You can specify a different path by pushing the Browse button which presents a file selection dialog.</p>
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