Defining Variant Classes 

Use

In variant configuration, a class is used to hold the characteristics that describe a configurable material. By linking the class to the configurable material, you allow the material to be configured using the characteristics of the class.

Prerequisites

You can only use a class in variant configuration if the class has a class type that supports variant configuration. In Customizing for Classification, the Variant class type indicator must be set for the class type. In the standard system, this is class type 300.

Features

Once you have created a variant class, you can do the following, as for any other class:

·        Classify materials in the class. These materials do not have to be configurable materials.

·        Set up a class hierarchy, which allows you to use inherited characteristics and restrict characteristic values.

·        Use the class to find objects.

Class type 300 has two other special attributes, in addition to the Variant class type indicator:

·        In classes of this class type, you can classify objects of different object types. This means that all the objects linked to the configurable material are classified in one class.

For example, if you create a sales order for a configurable material, this order is automatically classified in the variant class.

·        You can also use classes of class type 300 as BOM items (see Defining Classes for Class Items).

You maintain the settings for these two points in Customizing for Classification.

See also:

SAP Library CA Cross-Application Components → Classification → Creating a Class