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Function documentationComparing Product Configurations

 

You can compare various product configuration states with each other and thereby make the characteristic values of two product configuration states available for comparison. This allows you to support your customers when deciding which product configuration corresponds to their requirements, and is therefore most suitable.

Prerequisites

  • In Extended Configuration Management (XCM), you have activated this function, using the parameter behavior.enablecomparison.

  • Using the XCM parameter behavior.enablesnapshot, you have defined that the user can store a snapshot of a specific product configuration, during configuration.

Features

You can choose from the following options:

  • Compare the current product configuration with an initial product configuration

    When processing a new sales order, an initial product configuration is automatically stored as a snapshot when you call the product configuration user interface. You can compare this snapshot with a current product configuration at a later time. This comparison is possible as long as you have not yet stored a user-defined snapshot during the session. The product configuration is only saved on the database once you have created the new sales order.

  • Compare the current product configuration with a previously saved product configuration on the database

    If you want to reprocess a sales order with which a product configuration was saved, because your customer wants a different product configuration, you can compare the previously saved product configuration with the configuration that the customer wants. This comparison gives you decision support for the selection of the new product configuration.

  • Compare the current product configuration with a snapshot, that is, a product configuration that you have stored in the current session

    The snapshot is not saved on the database, its data is only temporarily saved. When you leave the session, the snapshot is no longer available. A new snapshot within the same session replaces the previous snapshot.

Activities

Configure your product on the configuration screen.

  • Choose Compare to Snapshot, to compare the current configuration with an initial configuration.

  • Choose Take Snapshot to store your current configuration without saving it permanently, and Compare to Snapshot to compare your current configuration with the snapshot.

  • Choose Compare to Saved Configuration, to compare the current configuration with a saved configuration.

The result of the comparison is shown on a separate page. A table compares the corresponding characteristic values for the initial product configuration, the saved product configuration, or the snapshot product configuration, with the characteristic values for the current product configuration. A table column is also available for comments about the product configuration comparison. In the case of differential values, an explanation is given for the cause. If a comparison with a snapshot is shown, you can go back to this snapshot.