====Flow Patterns====

The **Flow Patterns** [[firstsite:start|FirstSite]] analytic is designed to look across any relationships that allow properties to flow down them.

It works in a very similar way to a [[sequence|Sequence]] analytic, examining values down the relationship path

For details on what it does and how it works, please read the Sequence analytic details.

===Differences Between Sequence and Flow===

  * Sequence analytics are based on //logical// relationships, while flow analytics are based on //physical// relationships.

  * Instead of combining //all// of the available properties into a single analytic, flow analytics break your flows up into isolated pieces - there's a unique test for each individual system that uses the relationship.

  * Flow analytics might work in the //upstream// instead of the //downstream// direction. For example, compressed air systems will usually start at the **source** (the compressor) while environmental river flows will usually start at the **destination** (the sea).