Define the name of a single process and edit additional information.
1. By default, Names e of processes are generated automatically based on the algorithm type, the image object domains and algorithm parameters. You can edit the name as needed.
Note
Editing the name of a process will disable automatic naming. To return to automatic generation of process names, select the Automatic e checkbox again.
2. Add a comment to your process, which can be displayed in the Process Tree window. Click the Comment f button and edit it in the Comment dialog box.
Figure 113: Comment dialog box
You can also see and add process comments without opening the process and view the comments in rule set documentation.
If you want to hide comments in the Process Tree window, you can change the settings in the Process Editing area of the Options dialog box.
7.3.2.2 Undo Process Editing Operations
Go back to a previous state in process editing by using the undo function. From there you can also go forward by using the redo function. This allows you to go backward or forward in the editing operation's history.
You can undo or redo the creation, modification, and removal of:
• Processes
• Classes
• Customized features
• Variables
Note
You cannot undo the execution of processes.
Note
The undo function does not include image object level operations such as Copy Current Level or Delete Level.
Comment
Document a Process Sequence on page 149
Options on page 456
Note
If referenced rule set items such as a class or a variable are deleted and this action is undone, than only the object itself is restored but not its references.
1. To undo the last operation, select the Undo Process Editing button.
2. To redo the last undone operation, select the Redo Process Editing button.
2. To undo (or redo) multiple previous operations, click the drop-down list button right of the Undo Process Editing button or the Redo Process Editing button on the Tools toolbar. A list of operations is displayed below the buttons:
Figure 114: List of available operations below the Undo button.
• Locate the cursor over the Undo Process Editing button to select an earlier operation to which you would like to roll back. This enables you to go backwards in the operation's history.
• Locate the cursor over the Redo Process Editing button to select a later operation to redo. All intermediate operations will be undone. This enables you to go forward in the operation's history.
3. Toggle the previous operations until you are sure of your selections. With the next operation, the remaining redo operations—listed below the Redo Process Editing button—are deleted.
Options
The undo function is enabled by default in the Options dialog box. You can assign a minimum number of undo items, and a maximum of memory allowed for undo items.
The minimum number of undo items has priority over the maximum memory setting.
To minimize memory usage you can disable the undo function completely.
7.3.2.3 Modify a Single Process
When developing a rule set, you may want to modify single processes to improve the results of image analysis.
1. Go to the Process Tree window and select an process on the process tree.
2. To open the Edit Process dialog box, do one of the following:
• Right-click the process and select Edit Process from the context menu.
• Choose Process > Process Commands > Edit Process on the main menu bar.
• Type Ctrl + Enter .
The Edit Process dialog box opens.
3. Change the settings. For details see the Create a Single Process section.
Undo Process Editing Redo Process Editing Undo drop-down list Redo drop-down list
Options on page 456
Process Tree
Create a Single Process on page 132
7.3.2.4 Execute a Single Process
Executing a single process helps you test a process while developing a rule set. The execution of a single process includes all existing child processes.
Precondition: Delete existing image object levels that are related to the process.
Note
When testing and modifying processes, you commonly want to execute a single process that has already been executed. Before you can do this, you have to delete the related existing image object levels. In most cases, you have to delete all existing image object levels and execute the whole process sequence from the beginning.
To delete image object levels, choose Image Objects > Delete Levels on the main menu bar.
If the execution of a process is not possible at the selected position in the process tree, the Message Console displays a warning message.
Delete Image Object Level on page 197 To execute a single process do one of the following:
• Right-click a process and choose Execute from the context menu.
• Choose Process > Process Commands > Execute on the main menu bar.
• Select the process in the Process Tree window and press F5 on the keyboard.
• If the Edit Process dialog box is open, click Execute.
Note
While the execution of a single process includes all existing child processes, a process also can be executed on a selected image object only. To do this, choose Process Menu > Process Commands > Execute on Selected Object from the main menu bar.
7.3.3 Organize a Process Sequence
Organize a process sequence consisting of single processes that are sequenced and grouped together in a hierarchical structure to perform an image analysis routine as a rule set.
Each process can contain any number of sub-processes. This allows the grouping of processes into functional units. Furthermore, this functionality enables the generation of complex workflows, the restriction of child processes to certain domains, or the tying of child processes to conditions.
Processes are organized in the Process Tree window. Here you can arrange, save, load, and execute them. The Process Tree window provides the development environment.
The process tree defines the structure and the flow control of the image analysis.
To open the Process Tree window do one of the following:
• Choose Process > Process Tree on the main menu bar.
Execute Processes for Testing on page 151
Process Tree
• Choose View > Process Tree on the main menu bar.
Figure 115: Process Tree window.
7.3.3.1 Organizational Processes
Because single processes are the elementary units of rule sets, they have to be organized to build a solution to a specific image analysis problem. You can organize single
processes in different structures:
• Sequence: Append processes to build a sequence.
• Group: Insert processes on a lower hierarchical level to build a group.
• Loop: Re-execute single processes or groups to loop several times. For details about Looping see the Repeat Process Execution section.
1. To organize processes go to the Process Tree window.
2. Right-click a process in the Process Tree window. From the context menu you can choose Append New to arrange them sequential. This will build a successive step.
Alternatively you can choose Insert Child to start a new group on a lower hierarchical level. This will build a subordinate child process.
The Edit Process dialog box opens.
3. Edit the process.
When inserting a child process, we recommend that you begin the new process group with an process using the algorithm Execute child process. This enables easy handling and labeling of child processes.
4. In the process tree structure, an appended process is added below; an inserted process is added indented below.