5.24 Creating a Sub-Network

A sub-network is a group of modules that are treated as a single module. In a network, you may use a sub-network as you would a module.

To create a sub-network, select one or more modules, then choose item Create Sub-Network from any selected module's pop-up menu. Selected modules will be replaced by a sub-network graphic and the sub-network editor will activate. Sub-networks may be created in sub-networks. The next section (Editing a Sub-Network) explains the use of the sub-network editor.

A sub-network editor button replaces the CPU time and Progress Bar in the sub-network graphic. See Figure 5.3

Figure 5.3: A Sub-Network in the NetEdit frame

 

A sub-network's editor is activated by pressing the sub-network editor button.

Pressing button UI activates control dialogs of all modules in a sub-network. Control dialogs can be activated individually in the sub-network editor.

In a network, a sub-network behaves as does a module. A sub-network has input and/or output ports (orginating from modules within the sub-network) that can be connected to modules outside of the sub-network. Each sub-network has a pop-up menu and a set of editable notes (see Editing and Displaying Module Notes). A sub-network does not have a log. Logs of individual modules in the sub-network can be viewed in the sub-network editor window (see Viewing a Module's Log).