User Guide

Components & Links
Infinite Feedback
Links can be connected from a component into itself to create feedback paths. However, in some circumstances this may create an infinite
feedback loop. If this happens the software will ‘freeze’ the affected link(s). A frozen link is shown as a red dashed or dotted line.
Frozen links continue to function but data flow through them is reduced (but not restricted altogether) to prevent the software locking up.
[Note that links between stream, poly or mono connectors never become frozen as feedback is always allowed in these cases.]
A dashed line indicates that the infinite loop is in the forward direction i.e. left to right as changes are triggered. A dotted line indicates that
the direction is backwards i.e. right to left as data is being gathered.
Frozen links are relatively rare. However, when they do occur they can be easily located because every module that contains a frozen link
somewhere below it is highlighted with a red and white striped border and an adornment saying that there is an error inside.
If you follow the red modules down the hierarchy you'll eventually get to the frozen link(s).
Handling Frozen Links
So how do you deal with frozen links once you've found them?
You may be able to get the behaviour you were wanting to achieve by inserting a Trigger Blocker or by using a Sample and Hold component
that triggers from somewhere else.
It could be that the feedback may only be required in one direction at a time so you could use select components to make sure that data is
only sent in one direction or the other.
Some components have built in handling to prevent infinite feedback from occurring. The Switch components for example (Float Switch,
String Switch etc.) have this kind of behaviour. Inserting one in between frozen links can often solve the problem.
Sometimes a frozen link can simply be removed and the same functionality is retained. The link may have been added as overkill or in error.
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