As you've already discovered, patients can be created on-the-fly by using the "Create Companions" picklist option found in several different triggers scattered throughout a model (e.g. Activity Finished Activity, Entry Trigger, Message Trigger, etc.). You may also use the createcompanion() command directly if you would like.
When a patient is created in this manner, there is a simply reference link made between the companion patient and the patient used to create the companion, but you do not have to use this link if you do not want to. If you do need to reference a companion, then use the getcompanion() command.
When a companion is first created, the list of activities that have been predefined for the track used as the template to make the companion will be scanned. Any activities in the list which satisfy the predecessor, start time, and start condition requirements will begin. Typically, the first activity is the one with a blank predecessor list, so it is the one to start, but it does not need to be. If you do not want any of the activities to start, either give them all a bogus predecessor, or the better way is to uncheck the "Predecessors" box. If this is all old news to you, and you still are having problems with your first activity starting on companions when you first create them, please post your model and let me take a look.
Cliff
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