Copy or move
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Contents |
Overview
The Copy or Move page allows you to transmit an object or its properties from one level to another or to create a new object with a new name. The page has two different but related modes: copy and move. Copying an object and not changing its name has the effect of copying the properties from one level to another (for example, copying the cost of an ingredient, or the nutrient requirements in a formula.) Copying an object with a different name results in a new object that mirrors the source object. Moving an object transfers the object and its properties from the source (current) level to the target level. You can rename an object when you move it. The only operation that can be performed when the source and target levels are the same, is copying with a new name.
Visibility
Copying with the same name requires that the object be visible at the target. If you are copying to a higher level and the object is not visible, you will receive an error on the Validation page. You must first move the object to the target level. If you are copying to a level that is not one of the direct ancestors or descendants of your current level -- typically to a parallel (or sibling) level -- then the object will be moved to level the where it can be seen from both the source and the target. The is called the 'level of common visibility'.
Typical uses
The copy page has many functions. Four obvious ones are:
- Creating a new formula or ingredient from an existing one. Copying saves you from entering dietary restrictions or nutrient values from scratch. You need modify or add only those items that are different from the original.
- Saving or backing up formula
- Copying ingredient costs or nutrients values from one level to another
- Moving a new formula from a test level to a level where it is more visible when it is ready for public access
- Copying a ratio from one diet to another
Saving Formula
There are 2 basic ways to save a formula:
- Copy to the same level with a new name
- Copy with the same name to a different level.
Method 2 is the preferred method. Method 1 should be used to create a new formula based on a old one. Method 1 a poses the following problems when used for the same diet:
- Backed up versions will start cluttering up the list of formulas in the workshop.
- You can't compare cost or nutrient values changes, because changing an ingredient cost or nutrient value changes it for all
formulas at the same level.
Cost or Nutrient changes
To see the effect of cost or nutrient values changes without changing the at the current level, you can view the formula at another level. At a lower or higher level, you can copy the formula to that other level (think of it as a folder), and specify that you want to copy costs and nutrient values. Then alter the costs or nutrient values at the new level and solve the formula. If you want to ensure that everything about the formula is the same before making changes, copy it to a level that has no changes to the formula, the ingredient costs and the nutrients. If you view the formula at the target level, you can check "Show changed items only" to see if anything has changed. Be sure to check all Workbench screens: Nutrients, Ingredients, Ratios. If want to create a pristine copy, copy the formula to an outside level (see below) where the formula is not currently visible.
Target level
The Copy page allows to pick the target level. The target level is the level where the objects or values are being sent. The target has one of four relationships to the current level. I can be:
- Higher
- Lower
- The same
- Outside (neither and ancestor or descendant of the current level.
Creating a new level
How do you create a new level? You can do it from the Levels page in the Setup area, but to make it easy there is a "New Control Level" button on the Copy page. Normally a new level is created under the level you are currently at. But if you are not at your root level (the level you sign in at), you can check the box that says "Create a control unit at the same level as the current one." This creates a sibling control level. When you return to the Copy page, you can pick the new level as the target level.
Check boxes
The Copy/Move Page has several check boxes that control how the copy (or move) behaves. When you copy a formula, by default all boxes are checked. These include the boxes to copy cost and nutrient values. If these boxes are left checked, then costs and nutrients values for all available ingredients in the formula (whether or not they are in the solution) will be copied from the current level to the target level. (This won't happen if you are copying to the same level with a new name, or copying to a lower level.). Typically you would want to do this the first time you copy a formula into a newly created level. That will establish a base set of prices and nutrient values, which you can then modify. Once you have established prices and values for a level, you will most likely want to uncheck the boxes for copying cost and nutrient values. Otherwise the prices and values in the current level will replace those in the target.
Starting a copy or move
The start a copy or move, click the "submit" button on the copy page. Before the copy or move executes, the application shows you the validation (preview) page that tells you what is about to happen. If you see that many ingredients are going to have their prices or values copied and you don't want that to happen, click the cancel button and you will go back to the Copy page. The boxes you checked and the items you selected will remain as you left them.
Copying a formula to a new parallel level may take a 1-2 minutes if you allowing the copy to bring over ingredient values. If you are not, or if you are copying to the same level with a new name, the copy should go fairly quickly..
Once you have copied a formula to a new level, you can then go to that formula in the workbench and then flip back and forth between levels (using the current-level drop down) to see how different prices and values affect the solution. If you are creating a new diet with a different name at the same level, you can flip back and forth between diets by using the formula drop down. In this case, the prices and values will remain the same (or if you change a price or value for one diet, it will also change for the other). In this case you would changing nutrient requirements or adding or taking away ingredients.
The above are just suggestions. You will find many different ways to use levels.
