---
alias: user-guide-protocol-instance-index
description: "A Protocol Instance represents a running workflow based on a defined protocol"
---

# Protocol Instance

:lock: ProtocolInstance.**Show**

## Overview

A **Protocol Instance** is a run-time occurrence of the workflow based on the **Protocol** definition.

A **Protocol Instance** can be associated with one or more **Materials**. There are two important **Protocol Instance** properties which apply to all the **Materials** associated with the **Protocol Instance**:

* Inhibit Ship - the Materials cannot be shipped to another Facility while the **Protocol Instance** is open.
* Inhibit Move From Step - the *Material Step* cannot be changed while the **Protocol Instance** is open.

!!! info
	Protocols are part of *Exception Management* which is a Critical Manufacturing optional module.

```mermaid
graph LR
    A1[Task] --- L1[Protocol Task]
    A2[Material] --- L2[Protocol Instance Material]
    L2 === Main[Protocol Instance]
    Main ===|Related| Main
    A3[Employee] -.- L3[Protocol]
    A4[Chart Rule] --- L3
    A5[Data Collection Parameter] --- L3
    L3 ==== Main
    L1 --- L3
    L2 --- L3
    L3 --- A6[State Model]
    A6 --- A7[State Model State]
    A7 --- L4[Protocol State]
    L4 -.- A8[Roles]
    L4 -.- A9[Checklist]
    L3 --- L5[Protocol Parameter]
    L3 --- L4
    L4 --- L6[Protocol State Parameter]
    L5 --- L6
    L3 --- L7[Protocol Instance Path]
    L7 --- L8[Protocol Instance Path Parameter]
    L7 -.- A8
    L7 -.- L9[Checklist Instance]
    L3 -.- A10[Product]
    L3 -.- A11[Facility]
    L3 -.- A12[Flow]
    L3 -.- A13[Step]

classDef mermaid_title color:#000, fill:#fafafa, stroke:#fafafa, stroke-width:0x, font-size:100%, font-weight:200;
classDef mermaid_start color:#000, fill:#fafafa, stroke:#fafafa, color:#fafafa, stroke-width:0x, font-size:100%, visibility: hidden;
classDef mermaid_businessdata color:#000, fill:#65CDE8, stroke:#65CDE8, stroke-width:0px, font-size:100%;
classDef mermaid_nonbusinessdata color:#000, fill:#B7DEE8, stroke:#B7DEE8, stroke-width:0px, font-size:100%;
classDef mermaid_entity color:#000, fill:#FB9F53, stroke:#FB9F53, stroke-width:0px, font-size:100%;
classDef mermaid_entitylinked color:#000, fill:#FCD5B5, stroke:#FCD5B5, stroke-width:0px, font-size:100%;
classDef mermaid_context color:#000, fill:#B9CDE5, stroke:#B9CDE5, stroke-width:0px, font-size:100%;
classDef mermaid_optional color:#000, fill:#B7DEE8, stroke:#65CDE8, stroke-width:1px, font-size:100%, stroke-dasharray: 5 5;
class Main mermaid_entity
class A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,A10,A11,A12,A13 mermaid_businessdata
class L1,L2,L3,L4,L5,L6,L7,L8,L9 mermaid_entitylinked
class C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6 mermaid_context
class N1,N2,N3,N4,N5,N6 mermaid_nonbusinessdata

click Main "../../../business-data/protocol"
click A1 "../../../business-data/task"
click A2 "../../../business-data/material"
click A3 "../../../business-data/employee"
click A4 "../../../business-data/chart"
click A5 "../../../business-data/parameter"
click A6 "../../../administration/state_models"
click A7 "../../../administration/state_models"
click A8 "../../../administration/security/roles"
click A9 "../../../business-data/checklist"
click A10 "../../../business-data/product"
click A11 "../../../business-data/facility"
click A12 "../../../business-data/flow"
click A13 "../../../business-data/step"
click L3 "../../../business-data/protocol/protocol-instance"
```

{{ generate_index() }}