Before reading this topic, make sure that you are familiar with the Key Concepts About Flow Items first.
You can use the Flow Item Bin to change and customize the visual appearance of the flow items in your simulation model. Using this tool you can:
This section will provide a high-level overview of the most important elements of the Flow Item Bin, as labeled in the following image:
Each element will be explained in the following sections:
The Flow Item List displays all the default FlexSim flow items as well as any custom flow items you add to the Flow Item Bin. When you click on a flow item, it will appear in the Flow Item Preview.
The Flow Item Preview pane allows you to see a visual preview of the selected flow item. You can also use your mouse to edit the size and rotation of the item in the preview pane.
You can use the Flow Item toolbar to add a new custom flow item. You can also use it to copy or reorder the items in the Flow Item List.
The Quick Properties pane will display the properties for the currently selected flow item. You can use these properties to change the shape, color, size, or rotation of the flow item. You can also use Quick Properties to change the flow item's default labels and itemtype. See Flow Item Labels and Itemtypes for more information.
To open the Flow Item Bin:
When an object is selected in the Flow Item Bin, you can see it in the preview pane. You can click the item in the preview pane and the colored cones will appear, allowing you to change the size and rotation of the item. See Moving, Rotating, Resizing 3D Objects for more information about using the colored cones.
You can also use Quick Properties to change the shape, color, size, or rotation of the flow item.
The next two sections about importing custom 3D flow items and shape frames will explain more advanced methods for changing the visuals of a flow item.
To use a different flow item than the default box shape:
To add a label to a flow item: