The process category is the second level of categorisation of processes. Each process category can be part of 1 or more process type which can be useful of ambiguous process types, for example “Sputtering” vs “Metal deposition”.

In SoloDB the process category is mainly used for search and categorisation, it has no further impact on the steps in runs. It is therefore also no problem to reorganise processes in a later phase when the process classification is more clear.

Via Library > Process categories a list of all process categories can be shown

Image showing an overview of all process categories, the filter on the right can be used to refine the results
Image showing an overview of all process categories, the filter on the right can be used to refine the results

New process categories can be created using the button New category and the process category can be changed using the “pencil-icon”. It is always possible to change or update the process types after all processes have been defined. This has no impact on the steps in runs, templates and monitored processes

Properties

Each process category has 2 extra properties

Property Function
Number SoloDB will number the steps in run to create an operation number. This number needs to have the following format #### where the first digit will be used in the process
Process type Choose 1 or more process type for the process family. If one of the process types can be used as requirement then all processes in this process category can be requirement

There properties can be changed any time, this has no impact on the steps using the processes in the category.