Step parameters control the process values at the step level. A step parameter is called a phase parameter when the step is a phase in an operation. The phase parameter is the origin of all step parameters since the phase is the lowest level of the recipe hierarchy. Phase parameters are defined and their default value set in the phase class. Refer to the Defining Phase Parameters topic for more information on creating phase parameters.
Phase Parameter Categories
Category |
Data Type |
Description |
| Input | Real, Integer, String, Named Set | Phase values downloaded to the controller for use by the phase logic. |
| Report | Real, Integer, String, Named Set | Information sent to the Batch Executive for reporting purposes. |
Step parameters are always inherited parameters (that is, they are the result of referencing one recipe as a subset of another recipe). For example, in a unit procedure, the step parameter is inherited from the operation that the step references. In an operation, the step parameter is a phase parameter since a step in an operation references a phase. Step parameters can not be created for the step at the current recipe level. You must create the parameter at the lower recipe level as a recipe parameter. Then, that recipe parameter becomes a step parameter at the next higher recipe level.