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Flow Editor

On the Flow Editor you create and edit your Flows. A Flow contains a set of instructions that the Robot executes when you run it.

You build a Flow by placing Nodes on the canvas from the Add item palette, connecting each Node's output to the next Node's input, and configuring each one in its side panel. Execution follows the connections: one Node completes, then the next one starts.

Find your way around the editor​

Everything you need is reachable from the canvas. The controls below are numbered in reading order: the top bar first, then the right-hand panel, then the action bar.

Use the interactive screenshot below — hover, tap or focus any numbered control to jump straight to what it does.

The RobFlow Flow Editor

Hover, tap or focus a number on the screenshot to jump to what it does.

Find your way around

  1. Internet Indicator

    Here you can see if the Robot is connected to the Internet.

  2. View Selector

    The View Selector lets you quickly navigate between Flow Editor, Subflow Editor, Dashboard Editor, Dashboard Viewer, Robot Visualizer, RobVision, Robot Calibration and RobSafety.
    • On the Flow Editor you can create and edit your Flows. A Flow contains a set of instructions that will be executed if you run it.
    • The Subflow Editor is basically the same as the Flow Editor — you can create Subflows here. In a Subflow you can group a set of instructions which can then be used as a single block in the main Flow.
    • On the Dashboard Editor you can create and edit your Dashboards. You can add different Widgets to a Dashboard, so you can decide which information is available and which actions are allowed to be executed via the Dashboard.
    • The Dashboard Viewer is meant to be used in production. You cannot modify the Dashboard here, just use it.
    • The Robot Visualizer displays a live model of the Robot. It looks and behaves exactly like the real Robot. You can also see it inside the Flow and Subflow editors on the left side.
    • In RobVision you can configure and set up your RobVision devices. It will only be available when at least one RobVision device is configured in Robot Config.
    • In Robot Calibration you can calibrate your Robot based on your RobVision device. This will also only be available when at least one RobVision device is configured in Robot Config.
    • In RobSafety you can configure your Safety Parameters for the Robot.

  3. Flow Selector

    New Flow
    Here you can select a Flow out of your Flow Library. You can also create, delete, rename, duplicate, restore, import and export Flows here.

  4. Save Flow Button

    With this button, you can save the current Flow.

  5. Message Log

    2MESSAGES
    Here you will find messages informing you on events and potentially errors your Robot encountered.

  6. Robot Brakes

    BRAKES
    With this button you can engage and release the brakes of the Robot.

  7. STOP Button

    STOP
    Using this button will immediately stop any action the Robot is currently performing, like movements, executing a Flow, etc.

  8. Misc Menu

    This menu contains common things like the Robot Configuration, the language switcher, etc.

Control the Robot

  1. Robot State Drawer

    In this panel, you can view and manipulate the current state of the Robot.

  2. Variables Menu

    Here you can manage your Variables.

  3. Free Motion

    If Free Motion is turned on, you can move the Robot by hand.

  4. Jogging Menu

    Here you can manually steer the Robot. We call this jogging the Robot. You can either jog it in Cartesian Space (in the base- or tool-coordinate-system) or manipulate every Joint separately.

Build and run your Flow

  1. Debug Button

    Debug
    With the Debug Button, you can execute the Flow in its current state in DEBUG mode. The Flow will be executed as long as you keep the Debug button pressed. As soon as you release or leave the button, the Flow goes to PAUSE.

  2. Run Button

    Run
    With the Run Button, you can execute the Flow in its current state.

  3. Flow Config Button

    Flow Config
    Opens the Flow Configuration menu, which holds the settings that belong to the Flow itself. See Flow Config for what you can set there.

  4. Node Selector

    Right-click (or long-press on touch devices) anywhere on the canvas to open the Node Selector menu.

What's in this section​

  • Nodes — one page per Node, grouped by the palette categories (Basic, Logic, Events, Connectors, Groups, Misc). Every Node has an info button (ℹ) in the app that opens the same content shown here.
  • Flow Config — the settings that belong to the Flow rather than to any Node: its name and description, the environment model the cell is drawn with, and the Home Position the Robot must reach before the Flow may start.
  • Cross-cutting topics the Nodes refer to — the tool center point (TCP), blending radius, Expressions and pose Expressions, Workspaces, the safe home position, approach modes, path movement segments, Highlighter Mode and more — are collected under Concepts.
  • Grouping instructions into a reusable block is done in the Subflow Editor.
  • Values a Flow reads and writes are covered under Variables.
  • The 3D model shown on the left of the canvas is the Robot Visualizer.