Product Configurator Maintenance

You use this program to create and maintain a configuration structure for a product which is typically manufactured-to-order, assembled-to-order or sold in many different configurations.

A configuration consists of all the selection criteria, options, components and operations that can be used to create a product.

Toolbar and menu

Field Description
Configuration Enter the code of the configuration to create or change.
Confirm Deletions Enable this to be prompted to confirm the deletion of selections, criteria, options and components. These are deleted without warning when this option is not enabled.
Load Tree views

This option lets you decide whether you want to display tree views after entering a configuration code. Deselecting this option will improve performance as the program only displays the required information filtered according to your chosen options or selections.

Details

Use this pane to maintain the General configuration details, run time Options and Defaults for the configuration.

Field Description
Save

Saves the information for the configuration.

The warning displayed only applies when running a SQL Server based company (as defined in Company Maintenance).

If you used the Configurator SQL to ISAM Copy program to convert your SQL tables to C-ISAM format, then the changes you make here are saved to the SQL tables and not to the C-ISAM files.

However, the configurations as defined in the C-ISAM files are used in Sales Orders and Jobs.

Therefore, to apply the changes you made here to Sales Orders and Jobs, then you need to run the Configurator SQL to ISAM Copy program to copy the SQL tables to the C-ISAM files.

Password

Select this to use the Password System program to set a password which must be entered before the configuration can be used.

General

Field Description
Description Enter a description for the configuration.
Comment

Enter the text to display as a comment line in a sales order or quotation before the merchandise and miscellaneous lines when no parent is created by the configuration.

Engineer Enter the name of the person responsible for defining the configuration.
Status
Option Description
Under development Select this if the configuration is still being developed and you do not want it to be used in the system.
Available to use Select this to indicate that the configuration can be used in the system.
Availability  
Start

Indicate the first date from which the configuration is available for use in the system.

A date of 00/00/00 indicates that the configuration is available immediately.

Expiry

Indicates the last date that the configuration will be available for use in the system.

A date of 00/00/00 indicates that no expiry date is required.

Where used Indicate the SYSPRO modules in which the configuration can be used.
Sales orders

Select this to be able to use the configuration in the Sales Orders module.

If the option to create a stocked parent was selected (Options tab), then you can create a job and/or bill of materials from the configuration.

If the option to create a non-stocked parent was selected (Options tab), then you can create a Job from the Sales Order or an Estimate from the configuration.

If the option to create a stocked parent was enabled (Options tab) then back orders must be allowed (in Customers) as the quantity required for that parent is automatically placed on back order.

Quotations and estimates

Select this to be able to use the configuration in the Quotations module.

If the option to create a stocked parent was enabled (Options tab) then you can create a Bill of materials to make the parent.

If the option to create a non-stocked parent was enabled (Options tab) then you can create an Estimate for the parent.

The non-stocked parent created from Estimates or Quotations is classed as a bought-out item.

If any non-stocked items are used to configure a stocked parent, they will be ignored when creating a Bill of materials for the Quotation or Estimate.

Work in progress

Select this to be able to use the configuration in the Work in Progress module.

The configuration must be able to create a parent part when it is used in Work in progress.

If you select this option, then you can create a job from this configuration. If you create a job for a stocked parent, a bill of materials structure and routing is also created.

Any job created using the Configurator is automatically placed on hold if the Place on hold option is enabled (Defaults tab).

Any job created using the Configurator is automatically confirmed if the Job confirmed option is enabled (Defaults tab).

Any non-stocked items used to configure a stocked parent are ignored when creating a Bill of Materials structure and routing.

Bill of materials structure and routings

Select this to be able to use the configuration in the Bill of Materials module.

When you select this option, you can create a structure and routing for a stocked parent from this configuration.

The configuration cannot create a non-stocked parent part when run from Bill of Materials.

You can only change the default routing if the Alternate routings option (Bill of Materials Setup) is enabled.

  • Any non-stocked items used to configure a stocked parent are ignored when creating a Bill of Materials structure and routing.
  • Operations are ignored if the parent part type is a Planning bill or Kit part (kit type or sub type).

Options

Field Description
Run time The options you enable here determine which options are available when running the configuration.
Ask quantity required

Enables the entry of the required quantity of a configured product at run time.

When this option is not enabled, the quantity defaults to 1.

Ask warehouse Enables the warehouse from which stocked components are drawn at run time to be over-ridden.
Allow alternate stock Enables the substitution of a component with an alternate stock item at run time.
Allow alternate warehouses

Enables the use of alternate warehouses for components if there is insufficient stock of the items in the default warehouse at run time.

You cannot access this option if you selected to create a stocked parent, non-stocked parent, or both.

Consolidate merchandise lines This field is reserved for future use.
Selection criteria as comments

Enable this if you want the selection criteria strings to generate comment lines at run time.

The comment line is inserted in a sales order or quote before the merchandise and miscellaneous lines when no parent is created by the configuration.

If you enable this option and access the Configurator Wizard program from the Non-stocked tab of the Quotations program, then the physical quotation lines are not automatically created; only the estimate (or BOM) is created, because there is no facility to store notes against a non-stocked item. This means that no narrations are copied into the quotation when the line is completed through quotations.

If you enable this option and access the Configurator Wizard program from the Stocked tab of the Quotations program, then the quotation line for the item (either stocked or non-stocked), is created automatically and the narration lines are copied into the quotation.

User defined comments Enable this to be able to enter user defined comments against a configuration at run time.
Retain configuration libraries

Enable this to be able to save configurations of a product in a library for repeated use.

You can save the configurations in a library after you have tested them or used them in a module such as Sales Orders.

Allow in process configurations

Enable this to be able to maintain a configuration from a sales order or quotation line, when the line is linked to a configuration.

This option is only available when:

  • the Sales orders and/or Quotations and estimates options are enabled on the General tab of this program.

  • the Retain configuration libraries option is enabled on the Options tab of this program.

  • you are generating a parent part (i.e. the Stocked, Non-stocked or Both stocked & non-stocked options are enabled at the Type field on the Options tab of this program).

  • generating a non-stocked parent, you select to create an Estimate structure and routing along with the parent.

When this option is enabled and the configuration was used to create the Sales order or Quotation line, then you can re-configure the configuration when maintaining the Sales order or Quotation line (using the Product Configurator option in the Sales Order Entry, Quotations or Estimates program).

Parent

These options determine the types of parent parts which can be created and how they are created.

These do not apply when None is selected for the parent Type.

Type
Option Description
None Select this if you do not want the configuration to generate a parent part.
Stocked

Select this to generate a stocked parent part.

Non-stocked Select this to generate a non-stocked parent part.
Both stocked & non-stocked Select this to generate both stocked and non-stocked parent parts.
Generate parent code and description

Enable this to automatically generate a stocked/non-stocked code and description for the parent part.

When this is not enabled, the parent code and description must be entered manually.

Allow override of generated fields Enable this to be able to change the parent code and description which is automatically generated.

If you select the option: Parent code generation basis - Selection criteria, then you can change both the parent stock code and its description.

If you select the option: Parent code generation basis - Prefixed, you can only change the stock code description, but not the stock code itself.

Use product class inventory defaults

Enable this to use the default entries defined against the product class when you create a parent part.

When you enable this option, you need to use the Defaults function of the Stock Codes program to assign entries to fields according to the Product class to which the stock item belongs. You can then use the default entries assigned to the product class when you create a parent part belonging to that product class.

Parent code generation basis You can only access the Parent code generation basis options if a parent type of stocked, non-stocked or both stocked and non-stocked is selected and the Generate parent code and description option is selected.
OptionDescription
Selection criteria

Enable this to generate the parent part code and description from the selection criteria strings.

The parent code and description strings must be defined against the selection criteria (Maintain Selections).

Prefixed

Enable this to use a prefix to generate a parent part code.

The Prefix entered here and the number specified at the Next field is used to generate the parent code.

Prefix Indicate the prefix to use to generate the parent part.
Next Indicate the number to use to generate the parent part.
Sales orders This only applies when the Where used - Sales orders option is enabled (General tab).

You can only access the Print discount options when the Discount entry required option is selected.

Discount entry required

Enable this to be able to enter a discount amount or percentage against the total value of all the components and operations selected when configuring a product in Sales Order Entry.

If you are not creating a parent, then the discount value or amount is returned to the sales order as a negative value miscellaneous charge line.

Print discount on delivery note Enable this to print a discount miscellaneous charge line on delivery note documents.
Print discount on invoice Enable this to print a discount miscellaneous charge line on invoices.
Print discount on acknowledgement Enable this to print a discount miscellaneous charge line on order acknowledgement documents.

Defaults

Field Description
Sales orders  
Component warehouse

Enter the default warehouse from which to draw the stocked components.

This warehouse is only used when:

  • the Ask warehouse option is selected (Options tab) and
  • the Override components' warehouse to use option is selected when running a configuration

The branch defined against the order header is used when all of the following apply:

  • you define a configuration from within Sales Order Entry
  • no warehouse is entered here
  • the option: Branch to be warehouse (Sales Orders Setup) is selected

The default warehouse defined against your operator code (Operators) is used if:

  • the option: Branch to be warehouse (Sales Orders Setup) is not selected

    or

  • you are defining a configuration from within the Job Entry program

    or

  • you are defining a configuration from a stocked line in the Quotations program

If no default warehouse is defined against your operator code then the company warehouse (Company Maintenance) is used.

If no default company warehouse is defined, then you have to enter a warehouse before you can use the configuration.

Stocked product class

Enter the default product class to assign to the stocked components/operations of a configuration.

If this is left blank, then the product class assigned to the stock code is used.

Non-stocked product class Enter the default product class to assign to the non-stocked components/operations of a configuration.
Labor product class Enter the default product classes to assign to the labor components/operations of a configuration.
Discount product class Enter the default product classes to assign to the discount components/operations of a configuration.
Work in progress These options only apply when you enable the Work in Progress option at the Where used field (General tab).
Classification

Indicates the group of jobs to which to assign this job.

Any non-blank entry made here is validated. However, you are only required to make an entry here if the setup option: Job classification required at the time of creating a job is enabled (Work in Progress Setup).

You can use the job classification as a selection criterion when printing reports in the Work in Progress module.

If you are numbering your jobs by job classification, then the next number for this classification is assigned to the job on the Trial Load screen.

There are a number of programs in SYSPRO from which you can configure a default entry for this field. The job classification assigned to the parent stock code takes precedence. If this is blank, then the job classification assigned here is used. If this is blank, then the default job classification assigned to the operator is used (Operators). If this is blank then you must manually enter a job classification.

Job priority Indicate the priority of the job by entering a number in the range 1 to 99 (where 1 indicates the lowest priority and 99 indicates the highest priority).
G/L account Indicate the ledger account to which the work in progress values must be posted when a job is created.
Sequence checking required Enable this to indicate that sequence checking on operations is required when creating a job.
Job confirmed

Enable this to confirm the job by default.

This only applies when you create a job from within the Configurator itself (i.e. when you run the Configurator from within Sales orders or Work in Progress).

This default is not carried through to any Bill of Material or Estimate created.

The reason is that by the time you create a job from a quote, the program cannot know whether the estimate you are using was manually created or created via product Configurator. Likewise if you run Configurator from within BOM Maintenance, then when you create the job it cannot know whether the BOM comes from a configuration or whether it was manually maintained.

Place on hold Select this to place the job on hold by default.
Parent  
Product class

Indicate the default product class to use when generating a parent part.

A parent product class must be entered if the Use product class inventory defaults option is enabled (Options tab). In addition, the product class you enter must be defined as a default product class against the parent part (Stock Codes).

This does not apply when a Parent type of None is selected (Options tab).

Bill of materials

Routing

Indicate the default route to use when creating a bill of materials for the generated parent part.

The default BOM Routing setting against Configuration is not used when creating a stocked item via Product Configurator. It only applies when Product Configurator is run form Bill of Materials.

However, if costing by warehouse is in use and alternate routings are required, then when you run Product Configurator from Sales orders, Quotations or Jobs and select to create a Bill of Materials, then the route against your warehouse is used when creating Bills of Materials and Jobs.

This only applies when the Where used - Bill of materials structures and routings option is enabled (General tab).

Allow override

Select this to be able to change the default routing.

This only applies when the Where used - Bill of materials structures and routings option (General tab) and the Alternate routings option (Bill of Materials Setup) are enabled.

Selections and Criteria

Details of Selections and Selection Criteria defined against the configuration are displayed in a tree view.

Field Description
Only show options This lets you limit the tree view to only display the selected option and its components.
Sequence Enter the sequence number of the selection for which you want to view information.
Browse This lets you browse product configuration selections.
Print

This prints the information currently displayed in the listview, Report or output pane.

Configuration This column displays the configuration with its Selections and Criteria in a tree view.

Various options can be selected by clicking on a Selection or on a Criterion.

Selections The Selections are displayed below the configuration code in the tree view.

You can click on a Selection to select one of the following options:

SelectionDescription
Add a selectionSelect this to add a Selection.
Change a selectionSelect this to maintain a Selection.
Delete a selection

Select this to delete the currently highlighted Selection and its Criteria, valid Selection Criteria and selection criteria Dependencies.

Once a selection has been deleted, the other Selections are renumbered to maintain the correct sequence. When Selections are re-sequenced, the program goes through all of the configuration calculations changing affected calculation fields.

If a Selection is deleted and it is used in a calculation, the Selection sequence number is replaced by xxx (e.g. SEL001 will become SELxxx).

You are prompted to confirm the deletion only if you selected the Confirm Deletions option.

Copy a selectionSelect this to copy the currently highlighted Selection.
Change selection sequenceSelect this to change the sequence of the currently highlighted Selection.
Criteria The Criteria are displayed below the individual Selections in the tree view.

You can click on a Criteria to select one of the following options:

SelectionDescription
Add criteriaSelect this to add a Criteria to the Selection.
Change criteriaSelect this to maintain the selected Criteria .
Delete criteria

Select this to delete the currently highlighted Criteria from the Selection.

You are prompted to confirm the deletion only if you selected the Confirm Deletions option.

Change criteria sequence

Select this to change the sequence of the currently highlighted Criteria.

Description This displays the description for the configuration or for the Selection depending on the configuration line type.
Add Select this to add a Criteria for the Selection.
Copy Select this to copy the currently highlighted Selection .
Selection Criteria Validation Select the Edit option to indicate the valid Selection Criteria combinations which are available when the configuration is run - see Selection Criteria Validation.

If you select the Edit option against a Selection line then you can indicate the valid selection criteria for that entire Selection.

If you select the Edit option against a Criterion line then you can indicate the valid selection criteria for that specific Criteria.

Multimedia Select Play to use the Multimedia program to view any multimedia objects assigned to the highlighted Selection or Criterion.

Options and Components

Details of the Options and Components defined against the configuration are displayed in a tree view.

Field Description
Only show options This lets you limit the tree view to only display the selected option and its components.
Sequence Enter the sequence number of the option for which you want to view information.
Browse This lets you browse product configuration options.
Print

This prints the information currently displayed in the listview, Report or output pane.

Configuration This column displays the configuration with its options and components in a tree view.

Various functions can be selected by clicking on an Option or a Component.

Options The options are displayed below the configuration code in the tree view.

Select an Option to display the following menu:

Add Option Select this to add a new Option.
Change Option Select this to maintain the Option.
Delete Option

Select this to delete the highlighted Option.

You are prompted to confirm the deletion only if you selected the Confirm Deletions option.

Copy Option

Select this to copy the highlighted option.

You can also copy the Components or Operations, Selection Criteria Dependencies, Component Dependencies and multimedia objects attached to the option.

Edit Multimedia Select this to use the Multimedia program to change maintain any multimedia objects assigned to the Option.
Play Multimedia Select this to use the Multimedia program to view any multimedia objects assigned to the Option.
Change Options Sequence

Select this to change the position of the Option within the configuration.

You can only access this option if more than one Option is defined for the configuration.

When you select this option, the following message is displayed:

"Changing the option's sequence may affect dependency links associated with either the option itself, or any components/operations attached to it. The same applies to any other options affected by this move. Do you wish to continue?

If you select OK, then you can change the Option's sequence. If you select Cancel, then no action is taken and you are returned to the Options and Componentstree view.

Dependencies Select this to define the Dependencies for the Option.
OptionDescription
Selection CriteriaSelect this to maintain the Selection Criteria dependencies for the option.
ComponentsSelect this to maintain Component dependencies for the option. This is only available for Component option types not listed under the first option of the configuration (i.e. the Option with the lowest sequence number).
Components The Components are displayed below the individual Options in the Options and Componentstree view.

Select a Component to display the following menu:

Add Select this to add a Component to the Option.
Change Select this to maintain the Component using.
Delete Select this to delete the currently highlighted Component from the Option.

You are prompted to confirm the deletion only if you selected the Confirm Deletions option.

Query Select this to use the Product Configurator Comps & Ops for Configuration program to view details of Components and Operations for the configuration.
Edit Multimedia Select this to use the Multimedia program to change maintain any multimedia objects assigned to the Option.
Play Multimedia Select this to use the Multimedia program to view any multimedia objects assigned to the Component.
Change Components Sequence Select this to change the sequence of the currently highlighted component within the Option.
Dependencies Select this to define the Selection criteria and/or Component dependencies.
Selection Criteria Select this to maintain the dependencies for the Selection criteria.
Components Select this to maintain the component dependencies.

This option is not enabled for Components under the first Option (i.e. the Option with the lowest sequence number).

Operations The Operations are displayed below the individual Options in the Options and Componentstree view.

You can click on a Operation to select one of the following options:

Add Select this to add an Operation to the option using the Operations program.
Change Select this to maintain the currently highlighted Operation using the Operations program.
Delete Select this to delete the currently highlighted Operation from the Option.

You are prompted to confirm the deletion only if you selected the Confirm Deletions option.

Query Select this to use the Product Configurator Comps & Ops for Configuration program to view details of Components and Operations for the configuration.
Edit Multimedia Select this to use the Multimedia program to change maintain any multimedia objects assigned to the Option.
Play Multimedia Select this to use the Multimedia program to view any multimedia objects assigned to the Operation.
Change Operation Sequence Select this to change the sequence of the currently highlighted Operation using the Operations program.
Dependencies Select this to define the dependencies for the Operation.
Selection Criteria Select this to create links between selection criteria and the operation currently highlighted.
Components Select this to create a dependency link between the Operation currently highlighted and other Options, Components, or Operations.

This option is not enabled for Operations under the first Option (i.e. the Option with the lowest sequence number).

Description This displays the description for the configuration.
Option Type This indicates whether the Option is a Component or an Operation.
Add Select this to use the Product Configurator Header Maintenance program to maintain either an Operation or a Component depending on the Option Type of the line.
Copy Select this to use the Product Configurator Header Maintenance program to copy the currently highlighted Option.
Play Select this to use the Multimedia program to view any multimedia objects assigned to the Operation or Component.

Notepad

You use this pane to assign free format notes to the configuration.

Options

An option can either be a group of similar components or a group of similar operations.

By grouping similar components or operations into an option, you can make that option dependent on a component or selection criteria. In doing this, you do not have to define the dependency of each individual component or operation.

You must define at least one option for a configuration, as this is the only way of including components and operations in a configuration.

Add/Maintain Option

This screen is displayed when you when you click on an Option in the Options and Components and select Add or Change.

  • A maximum of 999 options can be defined.

  • The fields that are enabled depend on whether you are adding a new option or maintaining an existing option.

Field Description
Add Select this to add a new option.
Save Select this to save the details for the option.
Sequence Indicate the position of the option within a configuration.
Edit Select this to use the Multimedia program to assign multimedia objects to the option.
General  
Description Enter a description for the option.
Option type This can only be defined when you are adding a new option.
OptionDescription
List of componentsSelect this if the option consists of a list of components.
List of operationsSelect this if the option consists of a list of operations.
Ranges to be used in this option Select this to define the minimum/maximum number of components or operations that can be included for the option.
Component quantity This applies only to List of components option type.
Minimum Indicate the minimum quantity of components that can be included in the option.
Maximum Indicate the maximum quantity of components that can be included in the option.
Quantity per This applies only to List of components option type.

The quantity per unit of measure is used to limit the range of components that can be included in a configuration.

For example:

You are making a computer which only has space for two memory chips and must have a minimum of 4MB and a maximum of 32MB of memory. You would enter a quantity per unit of 1MB, with minimum of 4 and maximum of 32.

Type

Enter a description for the quantity per unit of measure. This description is displayed when your run the configuration.

Minimum Enter the minimum quantity of components (in the quantity per unit of measure) that must be selected for the option.
Maximum Enter the maximum quantity of components (in the quantity per unit of measure) that can be selected for the option.
Number of operations This applies only to List of operations option type.
Minimum Enter the minimum number of operations that must be included in the option.
Maximum Enter the maximum number of operations that can be included in the option.
Total run-time

This applies only to List of operations option type.

The system calculates the total run times (minimum and maximum) as the sum of the run times of all the operations included in the option.

Type

Enter a description for the run time. This description is displayed when your run the configuration.

Minimum Enter the minimum run time allowed for the operation.
Maximum Enter the maximum run time allowed for the operation.
Component offset  
Offset by Indicate whether the offset must be defined by operation or in days.
OptionDescription
DaysSelect this to be able to indicate when the component must be available to make the parent part as a number of days.
OperationSelect this to be able to indicate the operation number for which you need the component.
Days Enter the number of days before the job completion date in which the component is required.

The number of days entered is offset backwards from the finish date of the job.

For example:

If the component is required 7 days before the completed manufacture date, then you would enter 7 here.

An entry of 0 indicates that the component is required on the date a suggested job is due to be completed.

This field applies when you select the Offset by as Days.

Option

Indicate the Option number for which you need the component. This Option must be for operations.

This field applies when you select the Offset by as Operation.
Operation Indicate the operation number, within the Option, for which you need the component.

This field applies when you select the Offset by as Operation.

Sequence

Changing the option's sequence may affect dependency links associated with either the option itself, or any components/operations attached to it.

The same applies to any other options affected by this move.

Current sequence

This indicates the current sequence for the option.

New sequence Enter a new sequence for the option.

This field is only enabled if more than one option is defined.

Last maintained item

This displays details of the last option added or changed during the current run of the program.

This is only displayed once you add or change at least one option.

Sequence This indicates the sequence of the last option added or changed.
Description This indicates the description of the last option added or changed.
Type This indicates whether the last option added or changed consisted of a list of components or a list of operations.

Copy Option

This enables you to create a new Option in the configuration by copying an existing Option from the configuration.

You cannot copy a Component Type Option to an Operation Type Option or vice versa.

Field Description
Copy Select this to create the new option according to the information you entered and selections you made.
Copy from These fields display the details of the Option from which the new Option will be created. i.e. The Option you selected to copy from the listview.
Sequence This is the sequence number of the option.
Description This is the description of the option.
Option type This indicates whether the option consists of a list of components or a list of operations.

You cannot copy Component Option types to Operation Option types or vice versa.

Copy to Indicate the options for creating the new Option.
Sequence Enter the sequence number for the option that will be created by the Copy function. This cannot be the same as the Copy from sequence.

When you enter an existing sequence number, the following message is displayed:

"Changing the option's sequence may affect dependency links associated with either the option itself, or any components/operations attached to it. The same applies to any other options affected by this move. Do you wish to continue?

If you select OK, then the new option is created with the sequence number entered here and the sequences of the existing options are renumbered.

Changing the option's sequence may affect dependency links associated with either the option itself, or any components/operations attached to it.

The same applies to any other options affected by this move.

Description Enter a description for the new option.
Copy attached components Select this to copy the components attached to the original option to the new option.
Copy selection criteria dependencies Select this to copy the selection criteria dependencies attached to the original option to the new option.
Copy component dependencies Select this to copy the component dependencies attached to the original option to the new option.
Copy multimedia Select this to copy the multimedia objects attached to the original option to the new option.

Sequence

This enables you to change the position of an Option within a configuration.

This screen is displayed when you select the Change Options Sequence option for an option in the tree view of the Options and Components pane.

Changing the option's sequence may affect dependency links associated with either the option itself, or any components/operations attached to it.

The same applies to any other options affected by this move.

Field Description
OK Select this to change the option's sequence.
Cancel Select this to leave the option's sequence as it currently is.
Current sequence This indicates the option's current sequence.
New sequence Enter the new sequence for the option.

Components

A Component is either a stocked or non-stocked item which is attached to an Option.

You can include the same component multiple times within the same configuration.

A component can be made dependent on selection criteria and/or on a previous component in the sequence. The availability of a particular component during configuration then depends on what selection criteria or components were previously chosen.

From the Options and Components listview, you can select to add new components to an Option, change existing components against an Option, resequence Components within an Option and define the Dependencies for components.

Maintain Component

This screen is displayed when you select the Add or Change option against a Component in the tree view of the Options and Components pane.

Field Value
Add Select this to add a new component to the Option.
Save Select this to save the component information you entered.
Sequence

This defaults to the current position of the component within the Option.

Enter the required sequence number for the component.

This determines the order in which the components are presented when configuring a product.

Edit Multimedia Select this to maintain multimedia objects against the component.
Narrations Select this to attach a BOM standard narration or a free format narration against the component.
Component Details  
Non-stocked

Select this to use a non-stocked item as a component. This enables you to enter a non-stocked code in the Stock code field below.

If you are defining a configuration which created a stocked parent part, then any non-stocked items used to configure the stocked parent part are ignored when creating a Bill of Materials for a quotation or estimate.

This is irrespective of whether or not the component is mandatory. The reason is that the system needs to create a bill of materials in order to calculate the cost of the parent item and non-stocked items cannot be included in a Bill of Materials

However, if you create a sales order, you can create a job for a stocked parent item that includes non-stocked components, as the Work in Progress module caters for both stocked and non-stocked components.

Stock code

Enter the code of the item to use as a component.

A stocked item cannot be used if it is defined as:

  • a Notional part(Stock Codes)
  • a Planing Bill
  • a Kit part and the item being made is not the parent of a Kit

If you select the Non-stocked option, then you can enter the non-stocked component code.

For non-stocked items, you can browse on non-stocked codes created defined within the Quotations module (Browse on Non-Stocked Codes) providing the Quotations module is installed.

Description Enter a description for a non-stocked component or change the default stock description to use for sales order lines and quotations only.

The description is not applied to material allocations in jobs, but only for component lines added to sales orders and quotations.

Type
Option Description
Optional Select this if you want the person configuring a product to be able to select the component, but not change the quantity required.
Mandatory

Select this if you want a component to be included automatically in a configuration.

A mandatory component/operation is included automatically in the configuration, provided it has not been excluded by being dependent on another selection or component which is not selected.

Range Select this if you want the person configuring a product to be able to select the component as well as the quantity required.
Min quantity

Enter the minimum quantity of this component which must be selected.

If you want to enter a minimum quantity of zero for the component, then you must specify a non-zero entry at the Scrap quantity field (defined within the BOM structure information function).

Max quantity Enter the maximum quantity of this component which can be selected.
Use selection criteria value

Select this to use the value held against a criterion to calculate the number of components required.

For example:

If 200 spokes are required for one wheel on a bicycle and the value 2 is selected against the criterion Wheels, the system automatically calculates that 400 spokes (component) are required.

Selection Enter the sequence number of the selection to use to automatically calculate the component quantity required.

This is only enabled when you select Use selection criteria value.

Calculation attached Select this to use formulas to calculate the number or size of components required.
Quantity per Enter the unit quantity per for this component.
Summary code Enter a summary code (in the range 0-5) for the component. This code is used to group items together for reporting purposes.
Estimate markup percentage

Enter a markup percentage to be added to the component when creating an estimate.

A percentage of up to 999.99 or no less than 100.00- can be entered.

This percentage is directly related any additional cost associated with the component in Estimates. It is applied to the cost of the component that is rolled up to the cost of the parent when creating a quotation.

Exclude price from parent price Select this to exclude the cost of the component from the price of the parent item. This applies if you are creating a parent item from the configuration.
Print on delivery note

Select this to print the component on delivery note documents.

This option is disabled if you are creating a parent part.

Print on invoice

Select this to print the component on invoice documents.

This option is disabled if you are creating a parent part.

Print on acknowledgement

Select this to print the component on order acknowledgement documents.

This option is disabled if you are creating a parent part.

Create sub job for component

Select this if you want the system to automatically create a sub job for this component.

If a Bill of Materials exists for the component, then the sub job is created with labor and material allocations. If no Bill of Materials exists for the component, then a sub job is created without any material or labor allocations.

This option is only available for stocked components.

Sequence This enables you to change the position of the component within the Option.
Current sequence This indicates the component's current sequence.
New sequence Enter the new sequence for the component.
Last Item

This displays details of the last component added or changed during the current run of the program.

This is only displayed once you add or change at least one component.

Sequence This is the sequence number of the last component added or changed.
Non-stocked This indicates that the last component added or changed was a non-stocked item.
Stock code This indicates the stock code of the last component added or changed. If the Non-stocked field is ticked then this is a non-stocked item code.
Description This is the description of the last component added or changed.

Component Narrations

This screen is displayed when you select the Narrations option.

Field Description
Narration code

Indicate the BOM standard narration code to enter for the component.

These narration codes are defined using the Browse on Standard Narrations program.

Specific Narrations Select this to use the Admin Notepad Editor (Monospaced Text) program to define free format notes for the component.

If you define variable narrations, then the variables are replaced with the appropriate values when running the Product Configurator.

This only applies if you indicated that Structure narrations are required (Bill of Materials Setup).

The following narration variables can be defined:

  • %SELnnn - Selection criteria values
  • %SDESnnn - Selection description
  • %CDESnnn - Selection criteria description
  • %CNAMnnn - Selection criteria name
  • %CVALnnn - Selection criteria values
  • %CMPaaa/bbb - Component qty entered
  • %CFGaaa/bbb - Component qty per cfg.
  • %PARQTY - Configuration qty
  • %QTY - Qty entered
  • %9.999 - Fixed value
  • %VALn - Stored value
  • %PI - 3.1415926535
  • %RES - Calculation result
  • %FORMn - Calculation formulae line (1-9)
  • %CALCn - Calculation value line (1-9)

Once narration variables are defined against a component, they are copied to:

  • the estimate when you select the Configurator option from the Quotations program.

    Once you have run the Configurator and the line has been added to the quotation, the component narrations can be viewed against the estimate by selecting the Narrations option from the component maintenance screen of the Estimates program.

  • the structure when you select the Configurator option from the Structures and Routings program.

    Once you have run the Configurator from the Structures and Routings program, you can view the component narrations against the estimate by selecting the Narrations option from the component maintenance screen of the Structures and Routings program.

  • the job material allocations when you select the Configurator option from the Job Entry program.

    Once you have run the Configurator from the Job Entry program, you can view the component narrations by selecting the Narrations option form the Maintain Allocations screen.

Component Additional Information

This pane enables you to enter details of a non-stocked component and to enter structure details if the component is used in a bill of materials.

Field Description
Non-stocked information This section is only enabled for non-stocked components.
Unit of measure Enter the unit of measure in which the component is held.
Unit cost Enter the cost, per unit, of the component (in local currency).
Unit mass Enter the mass of a single unit of the component.
Product class

Enter a product class for the component.

If a default non-stocked product class was entered against the configuration for non-stocked components, it will override the product class entered here.

Price

Enter the price of the component in local currency.

The price of a component would not apply when creating a non-stocked parent using the product configurator through quotations (this uses the quotation pricing options for the estimate created).

When you create a sales order for a stocked/non-stocked parent through the product configurator and you select a non-stocked component, the price of the component is rolled up to the parent.

When you create a quote or sales order from the product configurator and you're not creating a parent, if a component is a non-stocked component the price against the component is applied against the quotation/sales order.

Price unit of measure Enter the unit of measure on which the price is based. If the unit of measure is not held on file, you will have to enter a conversion in the Factor field.
Factor Enter the conversion factor between a unit of measure that is not held on file and the price unit of measure.
Commission code Enter the code used to calculate commission on the component.
Tax code The tax code displayed here is the default sales tax code assigned to non-stocked items (Company Tax Options Setup) but can be changed.
GST code

This field is displayed if your nationality code is set to CAN (Company Maintenance) and you are using the Canadian GST system (Company Tax Options Setup).

The GST code displayed here is the Default GST code assigned to non-stocked items (Company Tax Options Setup) but can be changed.

BOM Structure Information This section enables you to enter structure details if the component is used in a bill of materials
Scrap percentage Enter a percentage factor by which the quantity per must be increased, to take account of scrap. For example: An entry of 15% here (for a quantity per of 1) results in an allocation of 115 of the component when you create a job for 100 of the parent.
Scrap quantity

The quantity entered here increases the allocation quantity for this component, calculated at the time of creating a job.

For example: If you enter 5 for the scrap quantity (and have a one-to-one parent/component relationship) then when you create a job to make 20 of the parent, the allocation for the component is 25. Note that if a job is created where the quantity to make is anything other than the EBQ, you will probably encounter a variance on the job.

If you add the scrap percentage and scrap quantity to a parent/component relationship, then the allocation is increased by the scrap percentage and the scrap quantity is added to this figure.

For example: Given a one-to-one parent/component relationship, if the scrap percentage is 10 and the scrap value is 5, then when you create a job to make 60 of the parent, the component allocation would be 71 (i.e. 60 x 10% = 6 and 60 + 6 + 5 = 71).

Structure on date

Indicate when the component must become active in the structure. An entry of 00/00/00 indicates that the component is active from the date of entry.

You can only access this field if you indicated that Structure on/off dates are required (Bill of Materials Setup).

Structure off date

Indicate when the component must be de-activated from the structure. An entry of 00/00/00 indicates that structure off dates is not required.

You can only access this field if you indicated that Structure on/off dates are required (Bill of Materials Setup).

Include component in kit issues Select this to indicate that the component must be used during kit issues.
Issue scrap automatically Select this to issue scrap automatically during kit issues and for this to be included on any factory documentation.
Optional component on sales order

Select this to be able to make the decision at the time of order entry concerning whether to include the component on an order. Otherwise the component is regarded as mandatory and is inserted automatically into the sales order.

You can only select this option if you indicated that single level bill of materials are required (Sales Orders Setup).

Print component on order documents

Select this to print component order lines on your order documents. You can override this option if the component is defined as optional.

This option is only enabled for stocked parent parts that are kit types. You cannot print the components on sales order documents for non-stocked or stocked parent parts that are not kits.

If you select this option, then when the configuration is used to create a stocked parent part and a bill of material the same option (i.e. Print component on order documents), is automatically updated against the component on the Bill of Material Structure (Structures and Routings).

Maintain Component Calculations

You use this pane to create formulae to calculate a component's base quantity.

The base quantity is calculated by multiplying out any component dependency factors, selection criteria values and the configuration quantity.

Up to 5 formulae can be used in a calculation. Each formula consists of a result with four fields and can be rounded if required.

If any entry used in the calculation, such as a selection, is deleted or moved within the configuration, the calculation must be checked manually as it may have become invalid. It is therefore imperative that no changes are made to a configuration once calculations have been attached.

The calculation is only saved when you select the Save option from the Maintain Component screen.

The options in this pane are only enabled when you select the Calculations attached option in the Component Details pane.

Field Description
Add Select this to add a new calculation to the option.
Insert Select this to insert a new calculation before an existing calculation.
Change Select this to change an existing calculation for the option.
Delete Select this to delete calculations that are no longer required.
Copy Calcs Select this to copy an existing calculation from another component.
Ignore component

Select this to exclude the component from selection if its calculated quantity is zero or if the calculated quantity falls outside the minimum/maximum quantity/runtime range.

If the calculated result against a component is less than the minimum quantity/runtime, then the minimum quantity/runtime is used. Similarly, if the calculated result against a component is greater than the maximum quantity/runtime, then the maximum quantity/runtime is used.

If a mandatory component's calculated quantity is zero, it is not selected. If this option is not selected, then an error is displayed if a component's calculated quantity is zero.

Maintain Calculation This screen is displayed when you Add or Change a calculation and the Calculations attached option is enabled.
FieldDescription
Result 
RES

This is the resultant BASE quantity to be applied to the component. At least one calculation must have this result.

A calculation can have a negative result if you want to create negative allocations against a job.

VALnThis is a value that can be used in subsequent calculations for this component where n is the number 1-9.
Op

Enter the operand symbol representing the function to perform on the two adjacent fields.

The following operands are available:

  • + Add
  • - Subtract
  • X Multiply
  • / Divide
  • C Cosine
  • S Sine
  • T Tangent
  • R Square root
  • E Exponentiation

If you select sine, cosine, tangent or square root then you will be unable to add further mathematical functions.

If you select exponentiation, then only the field prompt is enabled for you to enter the value of the power for the exponentiation. You will be unable to add further mathematical functions.

For all trigonometrical functions the values are input in degrees and the program converts these into radians and the output is displayed in radians (1 radian = 180/PI = 57.295780 degrees; 1 degree = PI/180 = 0.01745329 radians).

Field

Enter the expressions to include in the equation.

The following can be entered:

  • SELnn

    A selection criteria value where nnn is the selection sequence number.

  • CMPaaa/bbb

    The component base quantity where aaa is the option sequence and bbb is the component sequence. This is the quantity defined against the component or, in the case of a range component, the quantity entered.

  • CFGaaa/bbb

    As above, but this is the actual quantity required for each configuration parent (i.e. The sales order quantity divided by the configuration quantity).

  • PARQTY

    The configuration quantity.

  • QTY

    The quantity defined against this component or, in the case of a range, the quantity entered.

  • 9.999

    A fixed value with a maximum of 3 decimal places.

  • VALn

    Result from previous calculations where n is the number 1-9

  • PI

    A value that is an approximation of pi; the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The value for PI will be rounded to 5 decimals and the result will be rounded to 3 decimals.

Selections

Select this to choose a selection to insert into the calculation.

A selection can only be used in a calculation if the Associate values with criteria option has been selected.

A maximum of 999 selections can be added.

ComponentsUse this function to select a component to insert into the calculation.
Round resultSelect this to round the result of the calculation.
Decimal placesIndicate the number of decimal places required for the calculation's result.
OKSelect this to accept the entries you made and to add the calculation to the Maintain Component Calculations listview.
CloseSelect this to return to the previous screen.
Copy Calculations

This screen is displayed when you select the Copy Calcs option

Field Description
Option/seq Enter the option and the option's sequence from which to copy the calculation.
OK Select this to copy the calculation from the option you entered in the previous field.
Cancel Select this to return to the previous screen.

Sequence

This enables you to change the position of a Component within an Option.

This screen is displayed when you select the Change Components Sequence option for a component in the tree view of the Options and Components pane.

Field Description
OK Select this to change the component's sequence.
Cancel Select this to leave the component's sequence as it currently is.
Current sequence This indicates the component's current sequence.
New sequence Enter the new sequence for the component.

Operations

An operation is work that has to be carried out in a particular work center.

Operations can be defined as internal operations (work carried out within your company) or subcontract operations (carried out for you by an external supplier).

Maintain Operation

This screen is displayed when you select the Add or Change option against an Operation in the tree view of the Options and Components pane.

Field Description
Add Select this to add a new operation.
Save Select this to save the information you entered for the operation.
Sequence

This indicates the current position of the operation within the Option, but can be changed

Edit Multimedia Select this to use the Multimedia program to add or maintain multimedia objects assigned to the operation.
Narrations

Select this to enter notes against the operation.

If you indicated that Standard narrations are required for operations (Bill of Materials Setup) then you can add specific narration text to the operation or retrieve text assigned to a standard narration code.

Work Center

Indicate the work center in which the operation must be performed.

The description assigned to the work center is displayed by default, but can be changed.

The fields and options available for entering operation details depend on the type of work center you enter.

The operation is defined as internal if the work center you enter is assigned to an internal cost center.

The operation is defined as subcontract if the work center you select is assigned to a subcontract cost center.

Operation Narrations

This screen is displayed when you select the Narrations option.

Field Description
Narration code

Enter the standard narration code you require.

These narration codes are defined using the Browse on Standard Narrations program.

Specific Narrations Select this to use the Admin Notepad Editor (Monospaced Text) program to define free format notes for the operation.
Close Select this to return to the previous screen.

Internal Op Details

These fields and options are displayed if you entered an internal work center at the Work Center field. i.e. If the work center you select is assigned to an internal cost center (Cost Centers).

Field Description
Work center description This indicates the description of the work center.
Operation type
Option Description
Optional Select this to be able to select the operation, but not change the run time required when you run the configuration.
Mandatory Select this to automatically include the operation in the configuration of the product.
Range Select this to be able to select an operation and enter the run time, within a given range when you run the configuration.
Maximum units Indicate the maximum number of productive units available in the work center that can be used on the operation.
Set-up time Indicate the time taken to ready a specific machine, process or work center for use.
Startup time Indicate the time taken to gradually bring the specific machine, line or work center up to full production speed.
Startup quantity Indicate the quantity of components manufactured during the start up period.
Min run time Enter the minimum amount of run time allowed for this operation.
Max run time Enter the maximum amount of run time allowed for this operation.
Teardown time Indicate the time taken to close down the specific machine, line or work center used for the operation after work is complete.
Wait time Indicate the amount of time between the end of a current operation and the start of the next operation.
Movement time (days) Indicate the time required for the operation to move between work centers.
Work center rate indicator Enter the work center rate to use to calculate the cost of the operation.
Calculations attached Select this to define calculations attached to the operation.
Milestone operation

Indicate whether this is a milestone operation.

Milestones are used when machines operate in tandem and bookings are made only after a series of operations.

Inspection You use these fields to indicate the level of inspection required for the operation.
OptionDescription
NoneSelect this if you do not want to inspect the operation.
SampleSelect this to inspect a sample of the operation.
FullSelect this to perform a full inspection on the operation.
Use selection criteria value as a factor Select this to use the value held against a criterion to calculate the run time required.
Use value as a factor against setup time Select this to use the value held against a criterion to calculate the set-up time required for internal operations
Selection to use Enter the sequence number of the selection to which to apply the factor.
Configuration multiplier

Enter the factor by which the run time must be multiplied for each product during configuration.

For example:

You could use the multiplier if an operation for a product is identical except that the run time is twice as long if certain selection criteria are chosen.

You would add two identical operations, except the multiplier for the second operation would be two. You would then make this operation dependent on the selection criteria that would make its run time twice as long.

Markup percentage Enter the percentage by which to mark up an operation's cost when calculating the selling price of a configured product.
Summary code Enter the summary code (in the range 0-5) for the operation. This code is used to group similar items together for reporting purposes.
Exclude operation value from calc parent price Select this to exclude the cost of the operation from the price of the parent item. This applies if you are creating a parent item from the configuration.
Print on delivery note Select this to print the operations as miscellaneous charge lines on delivery notes.
Print on invoice Select this to print the operations as miscellaneous charge lines on invoice documents.
Print on acknowledgement Select this to print the operations as miscellaneous charge lines on order acknowledgment documents.
Sequence This enables you to change the position of an internal operation within an option.
Current sequence This displays the current position of the operation within the option.
New sequence Enter the new sequence for the operation.
Last Item

This displays details of the last operation added or changed during the current run of the program.

This is only displayed once you add or change at least one operation.

Sequence This is the sequence number of the last operation added or changed.
Work center This is the work center of the last operation added or changed.
Description This is the work center description of the last operation added or changed.
Internal Op Additional information

You use this pane to indicate additional operator, machine and tool set details for the operation.

Field Description
Number of pieces

Enter the number of pieces required for this operation.

For example: If this operation is to make spokes for bicycle wheels, then you would enter 60 spokes (pieces) for each wheel.

Maximum operators

Enter the maximum number of operators allowed to process the operation.

The maximum number of operators cannot exceed the number of operators assigned to the work center.

Machine Enter the code of the machine used to carry out the operation.
Minor set-up Indicate the minor adjustments or changes which need to be made to a specific machine, process or work center before it is ready to use.
OptionDescription
CodeEnter the code of the minor setup required before a specific machine, process or work center is ready to use.
TimeEnter the time taken to ready a specific machine, process or work center for use.
Toolset  
Number Enter the number of the tool set used for an operation.
Quantity Enter the quantity of tool sets required for the operation.
Consumption Enter the amount of tool sets used for the operation.
Maintain Internal Op Calculations

You use this pane to define calculations to attach to an internal operation.

You create formulae that will calculate the unit run-time of an operation.

The run time is calculated by multiplying out any component and operation dependency factors, selection criteria values and the configuration quantity. Up to 10 formulae can be used in a calculation.

Each formula consists of a result with four fields and can be rounded if required.

The options in this pane are only enabled when you select the Calculations attached option in the Internal Op Details pane.

Field Description
Add Select this to add new calculations.
Insert Select this to insert a new calculation before an existing calculation.
Change Select this to change existing calculations.
Delete Select this to delete calculations that are no longer required.
Copy Calcs Select this to copy an existing calculation from another operation.
Ignore operation

Select this to exclude the operation from selection if its calculated run-time is zero or if the calculated quantity falls outside the minimum/maximum quantity/runtime range.

If the calculated result against an operation is less than the minimum quantity/runtime, then the minimum quantity/runtime is used. Similarly, if the calculated result against an operation is greater than the maximum quantity/runtime, then the maximum quantity/runtime is used.

If a mandatory operation's calculated run-time is zero, it is not selected. If this option is not selected, then an error is displayed if an operation's calculated run-time is zero.

Maintain Calculation This screen is displayed when you Add or Change a calculation.
FieldDescription
Result 
RESThis is the resultant BASE quantity to be applied to the operation. At least one calculation must have this result.
VALnThis is a value that can be used in subsequent calculations for this operation where n is the number 1-9.
Op

Select the operand symbol representing the function to perform on the fields:

The following operands are available:

  • + Add
  • - Subtract
  • X Multiply
  • / Divide
  • C Cosine
  • S Sine
  • T Tangent
  • R Square root
  • E Exponentiation

If you select sine, cosine, tangent or square root then you will be unable to add further mathematical functions.

If you select exponentiation, then only the field prompt is enabled for you to enter the value of the power for the exponentiation. You will be unable to add further mathematical functions.

For all trigonometrical functions the values are input in degrees and the program converts these into radians and the output is displayed in radians (1 radian = 180/PI = 57.295780 degrees; 1 degree = PI/180 = 0.01745329 radians).

Field

You use the fields to enter the expressions to include in the equation.

The following can be entered:

  • SELnn

    A selection criteria value where nnn is the selection sequence number.

  • CMPaaa/bbb

    The component base quantity where aaa is the option sequence and bbb is the component sequence. This is the quantity defined against the component or, in the case of a range component, the quantity entered.

  • CFGaaa/bbb

    As above, but this is the actual quantity required for each configuration parent (i.e. The sales order quantity divided by the configuration quantity).

  • PARQTY

    The configuration quantity.

  • RUN

    The run time defined against this operation or, in the case of a range, the run time entered.

  • 9.999

    A fixed value with a maximum of 3 decimal places.

  • VALn

    Result from previous calculations where n is the number 1-9

  • PI

    A value that is an approximation of pi; the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The value for PI is rounded to 5 decimals and the result is rounded to 3 decimals.

Selections

Select this to choose a selection to insert into the calculation.

A selection can only be used in a calculation if the Associate values with criteria option has been selected.

A maximum of 999 selections can be added.

ComponentsSelect this to select a component to insert into the calculation (Product Configurator Comps & Ops for Configuration).
Round resultSelect this to round the result of the calculation.
Decimal placesIndicate the number of decimal places required for the calculation's result.
OKSelect this to accept the entries you made and to add the calculation to the Maintain Internal Op Calculationslistview.
CloseSelect this to return to the previous screen.
Copy Calculations

This screen is displayed when you select the Copy Calcs option.

Field Description
Option/seq Enter the option and the option's sequence from which to copy the calculation.
OK Select this to copy the calculation from the option you entered in the previous field.
Cancel Select this to return to the previous screen.

Subcontract Details

These fields and options are displayed if you entered a subcontract work center at the Work center field i.e. If the work center you select is assigned to a subcontract cost center (Cost Centers).

Field Description
Work center description This indicates the description of the work center.
Operation type
Option Description
Optional Select this to be able to choose whether to include the operation when running the configuration.
Mandatory Select this to automatically include the operation in the configuration of the product.
Supplier

Enter the code for the supplier of the service (operation).

The supplier code held against the work center (Work Centers), is displayed as the default, but can be changed.

P/order stock code Enter the stock code of the item to be entered on the purchase order.
Quantity per Enter the quantity of the service required to make a single product.
Unit of measure Enter the unit of measure to be used as the order and price unit of measure.
Unit value Enter the subcontract value of the operation for each unit of the product.
Time required in days  
Lead time This is used to establish the date on which a purchase order should be raised to reserve capacity at the subcontractor.
Offsite time Enter the number of days that the component is off site. The entry made here is added to any dock to stock days to determine the elapsed time.
Dock to stock

Enter the number of days required for the inspection of an item on return from the subcontract operation.

The entry made here is added to the offsite time to establish the elapsed time of the operation.

Movement time Enter the time taken moving an item from one work center to the next.
Inspection Indicate the level of inspection required for the operation.
OptionDescription
NoneSelect this if you do not want to inspect the operation.
SampleSelect this to inspect a sample of the operation.
FullSelect this to perform a full inspection on the operation.
Planner

Enter the code of the person planning the operation.

The planner code held against the work center (Work Centers), is displayed as the default, but can be changed.

Buyer

Enter the code of the person buying the items required for the operation.

The buyer code held against the work center (Work Centers), is displayed as the default, but can be changed.

Number of pieces Enter the number of pieces involved in the operation.
Tool set number Enter the number of the tool set used for the operation.
Use selection criteria value as a factor Select this to use the value held against a criterion to be applied to the unit value.
Selection to use Enter the sequence number of the selection to which to apply the factor.
Configuration multiplier Enter a factor by which the entered unit value must be multiplied for each product during configuration.
Markup percentage Enter the percentage by which to mark up the operation's cost when calculating the selling price of the configured product.
Summary code Enter the summary code (in the range 0-5) for the operation. This code is used to group similar items together for reporting purposes.
Excl op val from calculated parent price Select this to exclude the cost of the operation from the price of the parent item. This applies if you are creating a parent item from the configuration.
Print on delivery note Select this to print the operations as miscellaneous charge lines on delivery notes.
Print on invoice Select this to print the operations as miscellaneous charge lines on invoice documents.
Print on acknowledgement Select this to print the operations as miscellaneous charge lines on order acknowledgment documents.
Sequence This enables you to change the position of an internal operation within an option.
Current sequence This displays the current position of the operation within the option.
New sequence Enter the new sequence for the operation.
Last Item

This displays details of the last operation added or changed during the current run of the program.

This is only displayed once you add or change at least one operation.

Sequence This is the sequence number of the last operation added or changed.
Work center This is the work center of the last operation added or changed.
Description This is the work center description of the last operation added or changed.

Sequence

This enables you to change the position of an Operation within an Option.

This screen is displayed when you select the Change Operations Sequence option for an Operation in the tree view of the Options and Components pane.

Field Description
OK Select this to change the operation's sequence.
Cancel Select this to leave the operation's sequence as it currently is.
Current sequence This indicates the operation's current sequence.
New sequence Enter the new sequence for the operation.

Selections

A selection is a group of similar criteria. Criteria are the choices within a Selection. Therefore, a Selection could be color and the Criteria for the selection could be red, green and blue.

Add/Maintain Selection

This screen is displayed when you click on a Selection in the Selections and Criteria pane and select the Add a selection or Change a selection option.

You can define a maximum of 999 selections.

The fields that are enabled depend on whether you are adding a new selection or maintaining an existing selection.

 

Field Description
Add Select this to add a new selection to the configuration.
Save

Select this to save the selection information you entered.

The listviews are not refreshed when saving, but will update when the Maintain Selection pane is closed.

Sequence Enter the sequence required for the selection. This defaults to the next available sequence in the configuration but can be changed to a lower sequence number.
Edit Select this to use the Multimedia program to add or maintain multimedia objects assigned to the selection.
General  
Description Use this field to describe the selection.
Short description Use this field to add a short description for the selection.
Selection type A selection can either be mandatory or optional. If it is mandatory, then one of the selection's criteria must be selected when the configuration is run.
OptionDescription
Mandatory

Select this if a criterion attached to this selection must be chosen during configuration.

Mandatory selections that do not have valid criteria to choose from are ignored during configuration.

OptionalSelect this to be able to skip this selection during configuration. The person running a configuration does not have to choose any of the criteria from the selection.
Selection criteria comments  
Include criteria selected in comments

Select this to display the selection criteria as comments on sales order documents.

You can only access this option if you selected the Selection criteria as comments option, in which case the option is selected by default.

Value options  
Associate values with criteria

Select this to specify a range of values against a criteria which, when selected, can be used to automatically calculate the components/operations.

For example:

If 20g of plastic is required to make one wheel on a chair and the value 4 is selected against the criterion Black Wheels, the system automatically calculates that 80g of plastic is required for the component Plastic.

Incremental value

Select this to specify that only a value divisible by an increment can be entered.

For example:

If you define a minimum value of 2 and maximum of 10 with an increment of 2 then only the values 2,4,6,8,10 are allowed.

Number of decimals Specify the number of decimals allowed for a value.
Value prompt

Enter a group description for the criteria fields Minimum, Maximum and Increment (e.g. Volume or Value).

These fields are requested against the criteria.

Parent code generation

You cannot access these fields if the Parent code generation basis is set to Prefixed.

You can check the generated parent code by listing the configuration or running the Configuration Wizard in Test mode.

Include criteria string in parent code Select this to define a string against the criteria to be part of the parent code.
String type You can only select this if the stock code key is defined as alphanumeric (Company Maintenance).
OptionDescription
AlphanumericSelect this to generate an alphanumeric criteria string.
NumericSelect this to generate a numeric criteria string.
Start position

Enter the position within the key that this string must be inserted.

The start position can be from 1 to 15.

Care must be taken when defining the criteria string length and position.

For example:

If selection 1 starts at position 1 and has a length of 7 (criteria string - 1234567) and selection 2 starts at position 5 and has a length of 5 (criteria string - 12345), the generated parent code is 123412345, (i.e. 567 from selection 1 is overwritten).

Length

Enter the length of the string to be defined.

The maximum length allowed is 15 characters.

The length of the string is determined by the Start position (e.g. if you select a start position of 5, the maximum length allowed is 10 characters).

Parent description generation  
Include criteria string in parent description Select this to define a string against the criteria to be part of the parent description.
Start position Enter the position within the key that this string must be inserted. The start position can be from 1 to 30.
Length

Enter the length of the string to be defined. The maximum length is 30 characters.

The length of the string is determined by the Start position (e.g. if you select a start position of 10, the maximum length allowed is 20 characters).

Sequence

This enables you to change the order in which the selections are presented when running a configuration.

The fields are only enabled when more than one selection is defined.

Current sequence This is the current sequence of the selection.
New sequence Enter a new sequence for the selection.
Last maintained item

This displays details of the last selection added or changed during the current run of the program.

This is only displayed once you add or change at least one selection.

Sequence This is the sequence number of the last selection added.
Description This is the description of the last selection added.

Sequence

This screen is displayed when you click on a Selection in the Selections and Criteria pane and select the Change selection sequence option.

Field Description
OK Select this to change the current sequence to the new sequence.
Cancel Select this to return to the previous screen without changing the sequence.
Current sequence This is the current sequence for the selection within the configuration.
New sequence Enter a new sequence for the selection.

Copy Selection

This screen is displayed when you click on a Selection in the Selections and Criteria pane and select the Copy a selection option.

Field Description
Copy Select this to create the new selection according to the information you entered and options you selected.
Copy from These fields display the details of the selection from which the new selection will be created (i.e. the selection you selected to copy from the tree view).
Sequence This is the sequence number of the selection.
Description This is the description of the selection.
Short description This is the short description of the selection.
Copy to These fields enable you to define the copy options.
Sequence Enter the sequence number for the selection that will be created by the Copy function.
Description Enter a description for the new selection.
Short description Enter a short description for the new selection.
Copy criteria Select this to copy the selection criteria attached to the original selection to the new selection.
Copy invalid selection criteria Select this to copy the invalid selection criteria attached to the original selection to the new selection.
Copy selection criteria dependencies Select this to copy the selection criteria dependencies attached to the original selection to the new selection.
Copy multimedia Select this to copy the multimedia objects attached to the original selection to the new selection.

Criteria

Criteria are the available choices within a selection.

Selection criteria are used to adapt a configuration to a customer's requirements. For example: you may have configurations which are identical except that a color difference requires the issue of a slightly different material.

Selection criteria can also be used to decrease the number of options/components/operations that can be chosen when running the configuration. This is done by linking options/components/operations to selection criteria. By selecting color, for example, the operator could choose from the criteria red, blue or green. The rest of the components and operations would then be dependent on the color chosen.

Add/Maintain Criteria

This screen is displayed when you click on a Criterion in the Selections and Criteria pane and select the Add criteria or Change criteria option.

Field Description
Add Select this to add a new criterion to the selection.
Save Select this to save the details you entered for the criterion.
Sequence

This indicates the position of the criterion within the sequence.

Edit Select this to use the Multimedia program to add or maintain multimedia objects assigned to the criterion.
General  
Selection This indicates the position of the criterion within the sequence.
Description Enter a description of the criterion.
Name Enter a short description of the criterion.
Value These fields are enabled if the Associate values with criteria option is selected for the selection.
Minimum Enter the minimum value allowed for the criterion.
Maximum Enter the maximum value allowed for the criterion.
Increment

Enter the increment by which the value must be divisible.

For example:

If you define a Minimum value of 3 and Maximum of 12 with an Increment of 3, then only the values 3, 6, 9, 12 are allowed.

You can only access this field if the Incremental value option is selected for the selection.

Parent and comment generation strings  
Code

Enter the criterion string that is used to generate a parent code when this criterion is selected.

You can only access this field if the Include criteria string in parent code option is selected for the selection.

Description

This displays the criterion string that is used to generate a parent description if this criterion is selected.

You can only access this field if the Include criteria string in parent description option is selected for the selection .

Comment

This displays the default comments that are printed/displayed when this criterion is selected.

If values are associated with this criterion, then the selected value can be displayed as part of the comment by inserting ~ where you want the value to be displayed, (e.g. ~ wheels ^ ).

To prevent the criteria comments from overlapping, enter a ^ at the end of the comment line to force a new line.

You can only access this field if the Selection criteria as comments and Include criteria selected in comments options are selected.

Comment notes These notes are displayed to assist you in defining the Comment.
Sequence

These fields are only available if more than one criterion is defined against the selection.

Current sequence This is the current sequence of the criterion within the selection.
New sequence Enter a new sequence for the criterion.
Last Item

This displays details of he last criterion added or changed during the current run of the program.

This function is only enabled after you have added or changed at least one criterion.

Description This is the description of the last criterion added or changed.
Sequence This is the sequence of the last criterion added or changed.

Sequence

This screen is displayed when you click on a Criterion in the Selections and Criteria pane and select the Change criteria sequence option.

Field Description
OK Select this to change the current sequence to the new sequence.
Cancel Select this to return to the previous screen without changing the sequence.
Current sequence This is the current sequence for the criterion.
New sequence Enter a new sequence for the criterion.

Selection Criteria Validation

This enables you to indicate the valid selection criteria combinations which are available when the configuration is run.

You link the selection criteria to indicate which other criteria can be selected when a specific criterion or selection is chosen. This prevents the selection of invalid combinations of selection criteria and ensures that the configuration functions correctly.

This screen is displayed when you select the Edit option in the Selection Criteria Validation column of the Selections and Criteria pane.

When you selected the Edit option against a Selection line, you can indicate the valid selection criteria for that entire Selection. When you selected the Edit option against a Criterion line, you can indicate the valid selection criteria for that specific Criteria.

Field Description
Save Select this to save the changes you made.
Save and Close Select this to save the changes you made and to return to the previous screen.
Close Select this to return to the previous screen.
Source Selection This indicates the Selection for which you are currently setting the valid options.

This Selection is displayed in bold type in the tree view.

This field is only displayed when you select the Edit option in the Selection Criteria Validation column of a Selection.

Source Criteria This indicates the Criteria for which you are currently setting the valid options.

This Criteria is displayed in bold type in the tree view.

This field is only displayed when you select the Edit option in the Selection Criteria Validation column of a Criterion.

Selection Criteria Validation  
Configuration All the configuration's Selections and Criteria are displayed in this tree view.

The Selection or Criterion for which you are currently maintaining the valid options is displayed in bold type.

Valid

Enable this to set the highlighted Selection or Criterion as a valid selection together with the Source Selection/Criteria.

The Criteria attached to the Source Selection cannot be made invalid (i.e. you cannot deselect the Criteria under the Source Selection).

Dependencies

Dependencies are used to link various parts of the configuration to ensure that the Options, Components and Operations selected produce a valid product when the configuration is run.

By limiting the number of options, components or operations that can be chosen, you can ensure that the configuration is run correctly

Dependencies can be created for:

  • Selection criteria

    These are dependency links between selection criteria and options, components or operations

  • Components

    These are dependency links between a component and other options, components or operations.

Dependent Selection Criteria

These are dependency links between Selection criteria and Options, Components or Operations.

If an Option/Component/Operation is dependent on more than one Criterion within a Selection, then only one of these must be selected to allow selection when the configuration is run.

Similarly, if a Component is dependent on a number of Criteria (all of which are attached to different Selections) then all of these Criteria must be chosen before the Component can be selected when the configuration is run.

This screen is displayed when you select the Dependencies > Selection Criteria option from the Options and Components pane.

Field Description
Save Select this to save the dependency information you entered.
Save and Close Select this to save the dependency information you entered and to return to the previous screen.
Close Select this to ignore any changes you made and to return to the previous screen.
Source Option

This displays the source Option/Component/Operation for which you are maintaining selection criteria.

Select All

Use this option to select all criteria.

This is useful if a component is dependent on many criteria, as you can then deselect those which are not valid.

Deselect All Use this option to remove all the dependency links.
Dependent Selection Criteria  
Configuration All available Selections and Criteria are displayed in this tree view.
Selected

Select this to make the source Option/Component/Operation dependent on the highlighted selection criterion.

You can only select the source object if you selected this criterion during configuration.

Configurator Component Dependencies

These are dependency links between a Component and other Options, Components, or Operations.

A Component can be made dependent on Selection criteria and/or on a previous Component in the sequence.

Once a link is created, when you run the configuration, you will only be able to select certain Options, Components or Operations, when selecting the Component on which they are dependent.

You can add more than one Component as a dependency of another Component. However, you must ensure that all the components used as dependencies can be selected (as part of the selection criteria) before that Component becomes available.

This screen is displayed when you select the Dependencies > Components option on an Option, Components or Operations line in the Options and Components pane.

Note that you cannot select to create any Component dependencies for the first Option of the configuration (i.e. the Option with the lowest sequence number).

Field Description
Save Select this to save the dependency information you entered.
Delete Select this to delete the dependency currently highlighted in the listview.
Source option This displays the Option for which you are defining the component dependencies.

This is displayed if you selected the Dependencies > Selection Criteria option against an Option line in the Options and Components pane.

Source component This displays the Component for which you are defining the component dependencies.

This is displayed if you selected the Dependencies > Selection Criteria option against a Component line in the Options and Components pane.

Source operation This displays the Operation for which you are defining the component dependencies.

This is displayed if you selected the Dependencies > Selection Criteria option against an Operation line in the Options and Components pane.

Link  
Global

Select this to create a global dependency link between the Source Option/Component/Operation and a Component in the configuration.

If you create a Global link, then when you run the configuration and select the Component, the link becomes valid and the Option, Component or Operation dependent on that Component can be selected.

Specific

Select this to create a specific dependency link between the source Option/Component/Operation and a Component in a specific Option.

If you create a Specific link, then when you run the configuration, the link becomes valid only when a specific instance of the Component is selected.

A Specific link should be created when the same Component is used in several different Options, Operations or with other Components.

This is particularly useful if you are using calculations that are dependent on certain quantities, thus making the Component/Option/Operation dependent on the Component with the correct quantity being selected.

Option

Indicate the Option that the source Option/Component/Operation must be dependent on.

This only applies to Specific links.
Sequence

Indicate the Sequence number within the Option that the source Option/Component/Operation must be dependent on.

This only applies to Specific links.
Component

Enter the component stock code to link to the source Option/Component/Operation.

You can use the Browse icon to view all components defined for the configuration (see Product Configurator Comps & Ops for Configuration).

This only applies to Global links.

Description This indicates the description of the stock code entered in the Component field.
Factor

Enter the factor you want the component quantity to be multiplied by when it is selected on running the configuration.

Validation message This indicates whether the link is valid. An entry other than 'Valid' indicates that there is a problem with the link.

Hints and tips

  • Stock code descriptions against existing configurations can be changed. See Hints and tips in the Configurator Purge program.

  • You can select multiple rows in listviews using the Ctrl or Shift keys on the keyboard.

Note and warnings

Program access

  • This program can be accessed from the Configuration Maintenance program.

Limits and restrictions

  • Up to 999 selections (each with 999 criteria) and up to 999 options (each with 999 components or operations) can be defined.