Class Hierarchy

You can set up your classification system as a hierarchical structure, to help you target your searches for objects.

For example, instead of classifying all of the nails, bolts, and nuts in your company in one class for FASTENERS, you assign other classes to FASTENERS, such as NAILS, BOLTS, and NUTS, and other classes to these classes, if required. You only use the classes on the bottom level to classify objects.

You can start your search for objects with class FASTENERS, and continue your search down the different levels of the hierarchy.

In Customizing for the Classification System, in activity Maintain Object Types and Class Types, you define whether hierarchies are supported for each class type.

If the class type allows you to set up a hierarchy, you do not define classes as hierarchy classes. You can assign both objects and classes to any class

Class Hierarchies Without Inherited Characteristics

In a class hierarchy without inherited characteristics, you do not assign characteristics to the classes on higher levels. Only the classes that you use to classify objects have characteristics, which describe the objects you classify.

Class Hierarchies With Inherited Characteristics

In a class hierarchy with inherited characteristics, you assign characteristics to the classes on higher levels. All classes lower down in the hierarchy inherit these characteristics. If you want to use a characteristic in all of the classes in a hierarchy, you only need to enter the characteristic once on the top level.

You can use inherited characteristics to restrict your search for objects to specific classes. You can then select a class and continue your search in this class.

See also Inherited Characteristics .

Class Hierarchies as Graphics

You can also display and maintain a class hierarchy in graphical form. For more information, see Displaying a Class Hierarchy .