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Function documentationDependencies as Tables

 

You use a table to store permitted combinations of values for various characteristics. In interactive product configuration, this enables the following:

  • Domain restriction

  • Consistency check

  • Set default values

  • Inference of values

    You can infer a value for a required characteristic if the domain of this characteristic consists of one value.

As opposed to a formula or a condition, a table can be used to map dependencies between a large number of characteristics and their values. In addition, value combinations from tables are valid, regardless of the sequence of characteristic valuation. The characteristics can be single-value or multi-value.

Note Note

When saving a product model, the system removes identical value combinations that occur more than once from the tables.

End of the note.

Features

Use this function to:

  • Create and maintain tables

  • Import tables

  • Export tables for further uses

  • Use tables in table formulas

Table Maintenance Status

Status

Use

Comment

In Preparation

or

Blocked

In this status, you can edit the table structure and its contents. In other words, you can edit the characteristics/columns that appear in the table and that contain the combinations of characteristics.

If you set an already filled table with this status and change the table structure, the table contents are deleted. Note that this action cannot be undone.

Released

In this status, you can edit the table contents, which are the characteristic value combinations.

Tables with this status are evaluated in the configuration.

Do not edit tables with no contents in this status, because this can cause problems in product configuration.

Restrictions

A table field may only contain exactly one characteristic value. You cannot enter interval values.

Activities

Maintaining Tables

  1. In the product model, choose Tables and then choose New.

  2. Enter a name and a description.

  3. In section Table Columns, choose New and open the input help for Characteristic. A window opens in which you can select the characteristics that you want to use in the table.

  4. Set the Key indicator for one or more rows in the table.

    Note Note

    The meaning of this key is described in section "Assigning a Table to a Class or Product".

    End of the note.

  5. Select the table row where you want to enter information.

  6. Choose Table Contents and then New.

  7. Enter all permitted value combinations. Confirm your entries by using the enter key.

    Note Note

    You can directly enter values that you did not enter explicitly for the characteristic. However, you can only use the correct value combination in the configuration if you enhance the characteristic domain accordingly.

    End of the note.

  8. At this point, the status of the table is In Preparation. To be able to assign the table to a class or product, set the status to Released.

Importing Tables

You can maintain tables in table-based programs and import them for use in your product model.

Create a table with the desired table contents and save it (file format: *.csv).

Caution Caution

Use unique technical names for the characteristics and characteristic values. Use the correct case (uppercase or lowercase letters).

Enter the characteristic names in the first row of the table.

End of the caution.

  1. Create a table structure in the product modeling environment. Enter a name and the desired characteristics.

    Caution Caution

    Assign exactly those characteristics that you have created in the table that you want to import.

    End of the caution.

  2. Choose Table Contents and then Import.

  3. A dialog box opens. Choose the desired file and where you want to save it.

  4. Set the status of the table to Blocked or Released.

You can further process imported tables in the product modeling environment.

Exporting Tables

You can export tables from the product modeling environment to a table-based program for further processing.

  1. Choose Table Contents and then Export.

  2. A dialog box opens. Choose your desired data here, which is then to be exported into the table contents (file format *.csv).

    Note Note

    With the table export, you can also create a new file. To do this, choose the storage location and enter the desired file name in the dialog box.

    End of the note.
Assigning a Table to a Class or Product

When you have processed a table and released it, in section Dependencies, create a Table Formula for a class or product and select a table.

In the Type field, define the goal of the table formula:

  • Restrict values

    This option is selected automatically and cannot be changed if you have set the Key indicator either for all table columns or for none of the table columns.

    If this value is selected, in the Mapping section, you can select the following as actions for the characteristics: No Value or Restrict Value.

    • No Value

      The table has no effect on this characteristic in the configuration.

    • Restrict Value

      The effect on configuration is that when a characteristic is selected, the values of other characteristics are restricted.

    Note Note

    If you choose Restrict Value as the type, you must have entered all valid combinations in the table. If you failed to enter a combination in the table, it would not be valid later in the configuration.

    End of the note.

    Example Example

    A table lists the characteristics of car seats as follows:

    Color

    Upholstery Material

    Light gray

    Cloth

    Anthracite

    Cloth

    Anthracite

    Leather

    Beige

    Leather

    You have set the Key indicator for both characteristics.

    If you select Restrict Value as both the Type and for both characteristics, the table in the configuration will read as follows in any direction: When the color is selected, the upholstery material is derived, and vice versa.

    If you choose "light gray" as the color, the value for the upholstery material is automatically limited to "cloth". If you first choose "leather" as the upholstery material, the color selection is limited to "anthracite" and "beige".

    End of the example.

  • Set values and defaults

    This option is available if you have set at least one table column (one characteristic), but not all columns, as the Key, and that characteristic is available in the current class or product.

    When you select this value, the system automatically selects Read Value as an action for characteristics for which you have assigned a key in the table column in section Mapping. For characteristics that are not flagged as key characteristics, you can select No Value, Set Value, or Set Default.

    • Read Value

      You cannot change this setting. The effect on configuration is that this value must be chosen by the user and cannot be deduced from other combinations of characteristics.

    • No Value

      The table has no effect on this characteristic in the configuration.

    • Set Value

      The effect on configuration is that the system selects an appropriate value according to the table and the key field. You cannot change this value.

    • Set Default

      The effect on configuration is that the system selects an appropriate value according to the table and the key field. You can change this value, however.

    Note Note

    You do not have to enter all possible combinations in the table; you must only enter the desired derivations.

    End of the note.

    Example Example

    A table lists the characteristics of cars as follows:

    Model

    Transmission

    Drive

    Basis

    Manual transmission

    Front-wheel drive

    Silver

    Manual transmission

    All-wheel drive

    Gold

    Automatic transmission

    All-wheel drive

    The "model" characteristic is marked as the key. This means that the assigned action is automatically Read Value, and you must select a value in configuration.

    If you select action Set Value for characteristic "transmission", the system automatically selects the value "manual transmission" according to the "Basis" model in the configuration. You cannot change this value.

    If you select action Set Default for the "Drive" characteristic, the system suggests the value "front-wheel drive" according to the "Basis" model in the configuration. You can change this value to "all-wheel drive", however.

    End of the example.