The traversal process is activated when a workstation is updated according to the deferral states for all the structures posted on the workstation. This implies that all the modifications to a posted structure network reinitialize a new traversal. The result of the modifications on the workstation(s) will be visible according to the display update state.
The traversal of a network starts at element 1 of the root structure. The elements are then processed sequentially and the analysis terminates with the last root element. The initial values of the state list for the traversal process are taken from the PHIGS Description Table.
Traversal causes sequential processing of structure elements, interpreting them as they are encountered in the structure networks. Four types of action may take place depending on which type of element is encountered:
Figure 6.12.2.a