If variants are missing, because they have not been created in the material master, for example, or are not listed for the plant in question, the system attempts to calculate default order quantities that match the original quantity ratios for the individual characteristics as closely as possible. The system adds the quantity that would have be calculated for a missing variants to the variants that only differ from the missing variant by one characteristic. As a result, the system can come closer to the original quantity ratios for the individual characteristics than if it ignored the missing variant altogether.

However, if a number of variants are missing for a generic article, it does not make sense to calculate default quantities.

The following example shows how quota scales are used in creating a purchase order for a generic article to calculate default order quantities if a variant is missing.

A generic article has the characteristics "color" and "size" with the following values:

• Colors: red, blue
• Sizes: S, M, L

Quota scales have been defined for both characteristics as follows:

However, if a variant has not been created for color blue, size L, the 40 pieces are distributed over the variants (S, blue), (M, blue) and (L, red) in the ratio 2:6:2. As a result, the total quantity of 180 pieces is distributed as follows:

If the system creates fractions in the calculation, it gives priority to the variant with the largest fraction.