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Activation Modes
Nodes have 4 Activation Modes, according to which Resources get redistributed.
Set the Activation Mode of a Pool (or any other Node) in its Functional menu, in Activation.
When a Node fires it pushes or pulls Resources along the Resource Connections that are connected to it. Whether a Node fires depends on its Activation Mode.
A Node in a Machinations diagram can be in one of 4 different Activation Modes:
- Automatically – fires every Time Step. All automatic Nodes fire simultaneously.
- Interactive – fires only when the you click it during Run time.
- On Start – fires only once, immediately after you click the Run button.
- Passive – can fire only in response to a trigger generated by another element.

All 4 Activation Modes apply to ALL types of Nodes!
Interactive Nodes fire after being clicked only when the next Time Step begins. This may make it seem as if the Node didn’t receive the input or that there’s a delay.
🔧 Here are 3 examples of Activation Modes, and their actions (or lack thereof).
- In the Push example, the Blue, Orange, Green and Red Pools are set to push a Resource at any Step their Activation Mode is met
- In the Pull example, the 4 coloured Pools are set to pull a Resource at any Step their Activation Mode is met.
- The Triggered example showcases how another Node on the diagram can act as an activator.
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