In phases, we recommend that you create all branching and looping after the second step. This allows the recipe to be put into manual mode before the loop or branch begins, and permits an Active Step Change. With an Active Step Change, you must put the step preceding the step you want to control into manual mode. Since the initial step in a recipe is a placeholder, it cannot be put into manual mode. Therefore, if the loop or branch begins on the second step, you cannot perform an active step change on that loop or branch. The best approach is to begin the loop or branch at the third step and put the second step into manual when needed to control the third step.