Use

The variance scheme is a tool for the consistency check and the Enhanced Dependency Editor. You use it to define the characteristics for the structure nodes, which must be used in object dependencies to describe all the variants.

Integration

The variance scheme can include a selection or all of the characteristics for the class to which the node is assigned.

You can create the variance scheme using change numbers and document the change statuses of a variance scheme at the same time.

For the characteristics in the variance scheme of a node, you can use the consistency check to determine if all characteristics are used in the dependency editor and, if so, have described all possible variants.

If you are working with the Enhanced Dependency Editor, the variance scheme is integrated on the Object Dependency tab page for a node.

If you are working without the Enhanced Dependency Editor, and maintain the object dependency in the classic Editor, the variance scheme is displayed on a separate tab page.

Prerequisites

In order to use the Enhanced Dependency Editor, you must have activated it in iPPE Customizing.

For the Variance Scheme tab page to be displayed in the details for the node, the following prerequisites must be fulfilled:

You have assigned a class to the node.

In Customizing for iPPE, in the process step Define iPPE User Profiles , you have made the necessary settings to display the tab page for the variance scheme.

Features

The structure node Seats is assigned to Product Class A. The Product Class A contains the characteristics Features and Number of Seats. The variance scheme also contains both characteristics. In the example, the variants CV1 and CV2 are maintained with their selection conditions for the characteristic Features.

The consistency check at the structure node determines that no values of the characteristics No. of Doors are being used in the object dependency, and displays this in the results.

Create/Change a Variance Scheme (with Enhanced Dependency Editor)

In the details for the structure node, choose the Object Dependencies tab page.

On the left-hand side of the tab page, either the product class of the node and all characteristics contained within the class will be displayed, or the variance scheme and all possible characteristics contained within it.

When the variance scheme is displayed, choose Switch to Product Class on the tab page.

The product class and the characteristics are now displayed in the left-hand area of the screen.

If you want to create and/or change the variance scheme with a change number, choose Change Number and enter the required change number in the Change Number dialog box.

Set an indicator in the VS field for every characteristic that you require in the variance scheme

Save your entries.

Choose Switch to Variance Scheme .

The variance scheme and the characteristics are displayed.

If there are several change statuses for the variance scheme, you can call up and select these using a dropdown box.

Determining the Variance Scheme (without the Enhanced Dependency Editor)

In the details for the structure node, choose the Variance Scheme tab page.

Select the desired change status of the variance scheme by double-clicking on it, or double-click the blank row if no change status is available.

The product class and characteristics contained within the class are displayed on the left-hand side of the tab page.

The characteristics included in the variance scheme are displayed in a table on the right-hand side.

If you want to create and/or change the variance scheme with a change number, choose Change Number and enter the required change number in the Change Number dialog box.

Copy the desired characteristics from the product class to the variance scheme by double-clicking on them.

To remove a characteristic from the variance scheme, position the cursor on the corresponding line and choose Delete .