You can use this function to create product models for configurable products, which you can use in Product Configuration. Configurable products are products for which different options are available.
Product master data is bundled in a product model. The product model is a container for modeling data. It contains or references all master data that is needed during the configuration process, such as dependencies, classes, characteristics, characteristic values, and products.
Note
This function in the WebClient user interface (UI) replaces the Product Modeling Environment (PME)
application, which had to be installed separately.
You have installed the Configuration Engine, a Java application.
For information about installing Java, see SAP Service Marketplace at http://service.sap.com/crm-inst in the following document:
Installation Guide SAP CRM Java on AIX: Oracle
.
Create and maintain product models
You can create and maintain one or more product models right from a Configurable Product (Configurable
indicator is set). This means that you can create products, classes, characteristics, and values, as well as product structures and their relationships to one another in a hierarchical tree. If a product model contains many products on the topmost level, it can be accessed by using any one of those products.
You can work with active and inactive versions. To avoid defective or incomplete product models, you can make changes in an inactive version. When you are finished making changes and you have tested the version, you can apply the changes, which generates a new active version from the modified version. This new active version then overwrites the old active version.
You can build a product structure that contains all possible components. You can define rules that dictate the conditions that must be met for the system to select a component in the configuration. A component can be configurable and can have its own product structure. Products with components can inherit characteristic values from one another (both directions of inheritance are possible).
For more information, see Creating and Maintaining a Product Model and Editing Dependencies.
Testing product models
To test the current configuration, you can start the configurator with a single click.
Transporting product models between customer relationship management (CRM) systems
You can transport product models between different CRM systems. For example, you could create a product model in a test system and transport it into a productive system later on.
For more information, see Importing the Knowledge Base.
For information about modelling configurable materials in SAP ERP, see SAP Library for SAP ERP on SAP Help Portal at
.