Creating Dataflows - Connecting Steps

Data processing in dataflows is done in steps. A common pattern is that a step continues processing the properties or objects you created or modified in a previous step. 

For example, if you run the Split Objects tool for defining the locations in the model, you want to use another step to set the property information for the objects.

There are three basic ways to keep the data flowing between the steps. 

Using Targets and Groups

Most of the steps have a target(s). A target is a set of objects that the step processes or uses in the processing.

Target can be defined in many ways; however, you will notice that most of the time, the best way is by using groups.

You can create the groups at the beginning of the dataflow and use them as a target for multiple steps.

Many tools and dataflows also create groups as a result. Another option is to use these generated groups as targets in the following steps.

Using Properties

Many tool and dataflows create properties as a result, for example, the calculate quantities tools. You can use these properties created or modified by a previous step in the following steps. 

Using Connection Properties

Many tools and dataflows create connection properties and connection between objects. You can use the connection properties created by the previous step in the following steps to further enrich the connected objects.