Restricting Characteristics with a Variant Table
Purpose
You can use variant tables, containing valid combinations of values, to restrict the allowed values of a characteristic. You refer to the variant table in a constraint.
You need not define value assignment alternatives to restrict values in the variant table.
Prerequisites
The characteristics (of the class) whose allowed values you want to restrict must be defined as restrictable.
Because dependencies does not allow restrictable characteristics, you must not use restrictable characteristics in the table. Therefore, define several single-value characteristics in the table that have identical formats and values as the characteristics of the class to which you are allocating them.
Process Flow
1. You create a variant table, entering the characteristics with the valid combinations of values.
In each table line, enter at least one valid value for the characteristic you want to restrict. If a table line does not contain a value for the characteristic, the value set inferred during configuration is empty, which triggers an inconsistency.
2. Create a constraint.
In the RESTRICTIONS section, you link the characteristics of the class to the characteristics of the table.
In the INFERENCES section, you enter the characteristic whose allowed values you want to restrict.
3. Allocate the dependency net with the constraint to the configuration profile of the material.
Result
When you configure the material, only the valid values are displayed for the restrictable characteristic.
You cannot manually extend the restricted allowed values of the characteristic later. To extend the allowed values again, you must delete the characteristic value that restricted them.
To display the hidden values, choose View -> Scope and select Excluded.