| How to configure product variants and generate product structures |  |
| The procedure to configure product variants and generate product variant structures is composed of a number of separate steps. The product variant configuration process differs dependent on the module it is initiated from: Product Configuration (PCF) in Manufacturing. Sales Control in Order Management Project Control (PCS) in Manufacturing. Project Budget (PTC) in Project. Project Planning and Requirements (PSS) in Project. If you initiate a product variant from Product Configuration, you must define a product variant code before you start the configuration process. The product variant has the Standard Variant reference type. In the other instances, Product Configuration (PCF) module, the Sales Control module, the Project Control (PCS) module, the Project Budget (PTC) module, or Project Planning and Requirements (PSS), ERP LN generates a product variant code so you can start the configuration immediately. The product variant has one of the following reference types: Sales Quotation, Sales Order, Budget, Project, Standard Variant, or TP Project. The configuration process The configuration process section consists of the following subsections: To configure a product variant To select an option value To validate an option value To validate an option set To validate a product variant To configure a product variant Open the Product Variants (tipcf5501m000) session, and start the details session. Determine the generic item for which you want to configure a product variant. Start the configuration process from the Product Variants (tipcf5501m000) details session. ERP LN reads the generic configuration structure and searches for the option set for the top of the product structure. If the option set is found, the set is displayed in the Product Configurator (tipcf5120m000) session; go to step 6. If the option set is not found, nothing is displayed in the Product Configurator (tipcf5120m000) session; go to step 10. ERP LN reads the first option set of the generic item. Refer to subsection To read option sets. Click the Option field of a product feature. Double click '...' to display the valid options. The options are displayed in the Options by Product Feature and Generic Item (tipcf1110m000) session. Select the desired option value. Refer to subsection To select an option value. ERP LN validates the selected option value. Refer to subsection To validate an option value. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for each new feature. After you selected a option for each product feature, ERP LN validates the entire option set. Refer to subsection To validate an option set. Click the next group button to prompt ERP LN to search for the next (lower level) option set for the item. ERP LN searches for the next option set and performs the constraint section Validation for the components of the generic bill of material. ERP LN checks if another option set is available on this level. If Yes, go to step 5. If No, go to step 13. ERP LN validates the product variant. Refer to subsection To validate a product variant. To read option sets ERP LN reads the product features of the generic item and searches for the first product feature (the first option set) of the generic item in the top of the structure. ERP LN checks if a product constraint is linked to the product feature. If Yes, go to step 3. If No, go to step 7. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the Before Input constraint section. ERP LN checks if the input or display of option values is allowed. If Yes, go to step 5. If No, go to step 6. ERP LN checks if there are any additional features for which steps 2 through 4 must be performed. If Yes, go to step 8. If No, go to step 7. If the input of an option value is not allowed, ERP LN initializes the option with the value defined in the Before Input constraint section, and continues the procedure from step 8. If input and display are not allowed for any of the options, ERP LN disables the option field. Such option sets are called invisible option sets. Invisible option sets are option sets in which the input or display of an option value is not allowed for any product feature. These invisible option sets are automatically initialized and subsequently validated by the product configurator. Select the option values. Option values are discussed further in the To select an option value subsection. ERP LN searches for the next product feature of the first option set. To select an option value Double click the Option field of the product feature for which you want to select an option value. ERP LN checks if a product constraint is linked to that product feature. If Yes, go to step 3. If No, go to step 5. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the Before Input constraint section. ERP LN checks if the input or display of option values is allowed. If Yes, go to step 5. If No, go to step 6. Zoom to the allowed options. Click '...' to display all valid features in the Options by Product Feature and Generic Item (tipcf1110m000) session. To compose the list of allowed options, ERP LN carries out the Validation constraint section of the relevant constraints for each available option. Go to step 7. If the input of an option value is not allowed, ERP LN initializes the option with the value defined in the Before Input constraint section. Continue the procedure from step 9. Select the option value. ERP LN validates the option value selected. Refer to subsection To validate an option value. Check whether another product feature is present for which options must be selected. If Yes, go to step 1. If No, go to step 10. ERP LN validates the option set. Refer to subsection To validate an option set. To validate an option value The option value is only validated: If the input of an option value is allowed for the product feature. If the option value is not empty. ERP LN checks if the options are selective (that is, a set of option values of which you can select one), or whether you must type a value yourself. If selective, go to step 2. If not selective, go to step 3. If a product feature has selective options, ERP LN checks if the selected option value is part of a set assigned to the feature. Then ERP LN checks if the selection date falls within the validity period of the option. If the product feature has no selective options, ERP LN checks if the entered option value falls within the option value domain. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the constraint section Validation, which determines whether the selected option value is allowed. ERP LN checks if the selected option value is allowed. If Yes, go to step 6. If No, go to step 7. Double click the Option field of the next product feature. If you entered a value that is not allowed, you can call the constraint expression involved. You can record an extensive description or explanatory text that relates to the product variant option by selecting the record in the Options by Product Feature and Generic Item (tipcf1110m000) session, and click Text.. To validate an option set Option set validation occurs for each product feature of the product variant option set. ERP LN performs this step before searching for another option set and before terminating the configuration process. ERP LN reads the first product feature of the option set. ERP LN reads the product constraint and carries out the Before Input constraint section. ERP LN checks if the input or display of option values is allowed. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5. ERP LN checks if the options are selective. If Yes, go to step 7. If No, go to step 8. If the input of an option value is not allowed, ERP LN initializes the option with the value defined in the Before Input constraint section. ERP LN performs the Parameter Substitution constraint section. You can give the option a fixed value in this constraint section. This value may or may not be calculated with a formula. If the product feature has selective options, ERP LN checks if the option value selected is part of a set assigned to the product feature. Then, ERP LN checks if the selection date falls within the validity period of the option. If the product feature has no selective options, ERP LN checks if the option selected falls within the option value domain. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the Validation constraint section, which determines whether the option value selected is allowed. ERP LN checks if the option value selected is allowed. If Yes, go to step 11. If No, go to step 12. ERP LN reads the next product feature of the option set. If you have selected an option value that is not allowed, you can correct the option value. To validate a product variant The product variant is only validated if you have selected an allowed option value for each product feature of each option set. Note You can validate a range of product variants in the Validate Product Variants (tipcf5200m000) session. The generation process After you configured a product variant, you can continue to generate the product variant using the following sessions: Generate (Project) Structure for Product Variant (tipcs2220m000) session. Generate (Budget) Structure for Sales Quotations (tdsls1201m100) session. Generate (Project) Structure for Sales Orders (tdsls4244m000) session. The generation process is explained in the following subsections: To generate a product variant structure To generate item data To generate a variant routing To generate a purchase/sales price To generate a product variant structure Select the product variant for which you want to generate the product variant structure. Click Generate to start the process. ERP LN reads the generic product structure and searches for the first item in the top of the structure. ERP LN reads the product constraint linked to the bill of material component and performs the Validation constraint section. ERP LN determines whether the item is part of the generic product structure. If Yes, go to step 6. If No, go to step 7. ERP LN reads the item type of the item. If the type is Generic, go to step 8. If it is another item type, go to step 7. ERP LN searches for next item on this level. ERP LN searches for the product variant and reads the selected features and options. ERP LN includes the item in the variant structure. ERP LN generates the product variant structure on the basis of the features and options selected. The following are generated consecutively: product variant item data, purchase/sales price, bill of material, and routing. Refer to the subsections below for more information. ERP LN checks if the item is a generic, purchased, or manufactured item. If the item is Manufactured, go to step 7. If the item is Purchased, go to step 12. ERP LN continues the search for the next item on the next lower level. The procedure is resumed from step 4. ERP LN generates the item data, the purchase and sales data, the bill of material and the routing of the product variant. To generate item data ERP LN reads the first line of the generic item data. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the constraint section Validation. ERP LN determines if the item data element can be included in the variant structure. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5. ERP LN includes the data element in the product variant structure. ERP LN reads the next line of the item data. ERP LN reads the first component of the generic bill of material. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the constraint section Validation. ERP LN determines if the component may or may not be included in the variant structure. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5. ERP LN performs the constraint section Parameter Substitution. Using the formulas of this constraint section, ERP LN calculates the length, width, number of units, and net quantity of a bill of material component. ERP LN includes the bill of material component in the product variant structure. ERP LN reads the next component. To generate a variant routing ERP LN reads the first operation of the variant routing. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the constraint section Validation. ERP LN determines if the operation can be included in the variant structure. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5. ERP LN performs the constraint section Parameter Substitution. Using the formulas of this constraint section, ERP LN calculates the setup time and the run time for the operation. ERP LN includes the operation in the product variant structure. ERP LN reads the next operation. To generate a purchase/sales price ERP LN reads the first line of the generic price list. ERP LN reads the product constraint and performs the constraint section Validation. ERP LN determines if the price list line can be included in the price structure of the product variant. If Yes, go to step 4. If No, go to step 5. ERP LN performs the constraint section Parameter Substitution. Using the formulas of this constraint section, ERP LN calculates the purchase/sales price or the surcharge/discountpercentage. ERP LN includes the price list line in the purchase/sales price structure of the product variant. ERP LN reads the next price list line. Related topics PCF procedures |