Shortest Queue

The switch selects from the AVAILABLE paths, the path that links to the Capacity Object (i.e. Queue, MultiServer, PickUp, Dispatcher, Splitter (and Spatial link??) that is holding the least number of items.

When an item looks through the switch to determine a path to take, the switch first determines which paths are available to be taken. Available means that there is room to receive the item in the next object with capacity.

The switch then selects the path that links to the queue or objects with the shortest length, i.e. the least number of items held by it.

Choosing between empty queues takes into account the subsequent capacity object, with idle objects selected before non idle (occupied) objects.

Empty objects (Dispatchers, MultiServers and PickUps/DropOffs) are selected over objects that are occupied.

If you think it is possible that ALL paths could be blocked when an item looks through the switch, you will need to select the Gating option “Switch can Block Items”, to avoid a run-time error.

Read more about Gating Options.