Perform an active step change (ASC)

Important Considerations
  • When performing an active step change, you cannot have any two steps active at the same time that wouldn’t be active during the normal course of the recipe.
  • The logged in user must have the Batch_Active_Step_Change key.
  • The step you are performing the active step change from must be in a terminal state; that is, Complete, Stopped, Aborted, Stopped_NC, or Aborted_NC. If it is not, the execution of the ASC will issue a STOP to any steps marked as Deactivate .
  • The parent steps of the one you are changing from must be in one of the following states: Held, Running or Ready.
  • The active step change cannot be performed if the batch or the parent step is in a terminal state (Complete, Stopped, Aborted) . However, the operator can reset the batch into the Ready state if the batch is in a terminal state (and the operator has the appropriate key).
Note

The rules for active step change also apply to re-running a step.

  1. Select the batch on the batch list.
  2. Click the Procedure as PFC button on the toolbar to open the PFC screen.
  3. Select the step for the active step change using one of the following methods (based on the Batch Application Manager Advanced setting, Allow Implicit Mode Change).
    Allow Implicit Mode Change Procedure
    Yes
    1. Select the recipe level where you will perform the ASC.
    2. Click the Active Step Change button from the PFC command bar.
    3. Acknowledge the prompt to change to MANUAL mode.

      The mode for the recipe level above the one selected is changed to Manual.

    The active step change buttons are now visible.

    No
    1. Select the recipe at the level above the step you wish to change.
    2. Place that level in MANUAL mode. If the recipe is not in MANUAL mode, you will not be able to complete the active step change.

      That is, if you are performing the step change on an operation, select that operation’s unit procedure and place it (the unit procedure) in MANUAL mode.

    3. On the PFC block diagram, drill into the recipe block where the active step change will take place.
      Note

      If you are at the top level of the recipe, you can skip this step.

    4. Click the Active Step Change button from the PFC command bar.

      The active step change buttons are now visible.

    Important

    When you execute the ASC, a STOP is issued to the steps marked as Deactivate that are not in terminal states (that is, Complete, Stopped, Aborted, Stopped_NC, or Aborted_NC).

  4. Select the steps.
    For Procedure
    Active step change
    1. Select the Deactivate button and the cursor changes to .
    2. Move the cursor to the currently active step(s) that you want to remove (deactivate).
    3. Select the Activate button and the cursor changes to .
    4. Move the cursor to the step(s) that you want to add (activate).
    Rerun a step
    1. Click the Rerun button (the cursor changes to ).
    2. Click any active step(s) you wish to rerun.
    Note

    The click must be made with the cursor’s point in the center of the step, not along the top or bottom as these are reserved areas even when blank. For example, on the Rerun cursor , the cursor is the tip of the arrow.

  5. Click the Execute ASC button. This validates your choices (to rerun or change steps), accepts them and returns you to the PFC View for the level above the step change.
    Note

    If you cancel (that is, do not execute the ASC or step rerun), the step remains in MANUAL mode and you are required to place it back in AUTO mode using the PFC command toolbar.

  6. Select the step where you were working in the recipe level (from the Recipe List on the left side of the display). Place that step in AUTO mode (click the Auto Mode button ).
  7. Click the Start Step button.
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