Limiting the output cell size based on the input cell size

In processes that take input from cells, you can use the sizes of cells from connected incoming processes as attributes for limiting the output cell size, even if you are not using the actual cell data or IDs.

About this task

For example, if you connect 3 processes that each have one output cell, to a Select process, you might use only one of the three incoming cells as the actual data input for the Select process, but you can use the attributes of the other incoming cells to specify the output cell size for the Select process. A solid line connects the process whose output cell is actually used by the Select process; dotted lines connect the processes whose output cells are not used as data input but only have a temporal relationship with the Select process.

Use the Limit output cell size based on sizes of input cells checkbox to specify the input cells whose size attributes you want to use for limiting your current process's output cell size. Some of these options act in conjunction with the Limit output size to value that you specify.

Procedure

  1. Click the Cell size limit tab in the process configuration dialog.
  2. Choose the method by which the limits will be calculated:
    • Largest checked cell: Specifies that the output cell size should not exceed the size of the largest selected input cell. For example, if cells A and B are checked, with sizes of 100 and 200, the size of the output cell for this process would be limited to 200.
    • Maximum size (Above) minus sum of all checked cells: Use this option in conjunction with the Limit output cell size to value specified above. This option specifies that the output cell size should not exceed N, where N is the difference between the number specified in the Limit output cell size to field above, and the sum of all selected input cells. For example, if you entered 1000 as the Limit output cell size to value, and checked input cells A and B with sizes 100 and 200 respectively, the size of the output cell for this process would be limited to 1000 – (100+200) = 700.
    • Size of any checked cells: Specifies that the output cell size should not exceed the size of any of the selected input cells. For example, if cells A, B, and C are checked, with sizes of 100, 200, and 500 respectively, the size of the output cell for this process would be limited to 100.
    • Sum of all checked cells: Specifies that the output cell size should not exceed the total (sum) of all the selected input cells. For example, if cells A, B, and C are checked, with sizes of 100, 200, and 500, the size of the output cell for this process would be limited to 800, the sum of all three of the input cell sizes.
  3. In the list of input cells, select the check boxes for the input cells on whose size(s) you want the output cell size criteria to be based.