# Variable Formats for Publish and Subscribe Links

When using Publish and Subscribe to create a link into a model, the recipient variable must conform to certain rules. Following is a description of locations in your model that will support a link and the corresponding format for the data.

1) For successful subscription by your model, editions can contain numbers only - no graphics or equations. See the previous section for directions for setting up an edition from a model.

2) A graphical function created within a flow or converter can hold up to 1500 data points (numeric format only). See Chapter 4 for details on creating graphical functions. The data will be linked to the Output column on the top, right side of the dialog. You must select the entire column to complete the link. To select the entire column at once, click once on the word Output at the top of the column.

3) Reservoirs and Ovens, or flows and converters without inputs, can be recipients of a single constant value.

4) Queues and Conveyors can be the recipient of single or multiple constants for their initial values, but multiple numbers must be separated by commas.

[Note: If the data is being imported from a spreadsheet, a column of commas can be created alongside the column of data. Copying them together will bring the data in the necessary format.]

If the data does not conform to these requirements, when you attempt to click OK to exit the dialog, the erroneous data will become highlighted, and you'll encounter an error message such as the one shown in Figure 8-10. To fix the problem, simply choose Subscription Options... from the Edit menu (the item becomes available whenever a Subscriber is selected). Then, click the Cancel Subscriber button. Next, click OK. This will allow you to correct the data in the Edition before reinitiating the subscription process.

Figure 8-10 Subscribing to an "Illegitimate" Edition

Subscriber Options... under the Edit menu enables you to configure the way in which subscribing occurs in your model. When you select a locus that has been designated as a Subscriber, you'll gain access to the Subscriber Options... menu item. [You also can produce this dialog by double-clicking within a subscription locus.] Figure 8-11 describes the resulting dialog.

Figure 8-11 Subscriber Options Dialog