PMEVC: Configuration Simulation 

Use

You can use the modeling environment for Variant Configuration to start the simulation of a product configuration model. In the modeling environment, you can control which configurator you use for the simulation to test changes to your model.

For general information, see The Configuration Simulation..

Integration

You can call up the configuration simulation function from the modeling environment. When you start a simulation, however, you leave the modeling environment.

Depending on the whether you have selected the standard Variant Configuration function or the Internet Pricing and Configurator (IPC) for the model, the model is provided in the relevant environment. For Variant Configuration, this is the standard characteristic value assignment screen; for the IPC, it is the user interface assigned to the Configuration Engine for product configuration in SAP ERP.

When you return to the modeling environment, the respective configuration environment is closed.

Prerequisites

To simulate a product configuration for a specific model, you need a configuration profile.

With the standard Variant Configuration function, the simulation uses the master data for the model, as it is stored on the database. If you are using the IPC, however, you have to provide the data basis for the model in the form of runtime versions of the knowledge base. For this reason, make sure that the runtime version reflects the status of the model that you want to test.

When designing your model, also take into account the differences between the two configurators.

In the detail view of the basic data for the header material, you have defined which configurator you want to use (see Assignment of a Configurator). You can perform a configuration using the variant configuration of the ERP system or by using the Configuration Engine IPC.

Features

By choosing Extras → Settings, you can partially overwrite the settings for the basic data for the simulation, as follows:

●      If you have selected the settings IPC or VC in the basic data, the simulation always starts with the selected configurator.

●      If you have selected the settings IPC Productive/VC Optional for Simulationor VC Productive/IPC Optional for Simulation in the basic data, you can choose the configurator used for simulation. You do not receive any additional queries when you start the simulation.

●      If you do not specify a default, a dialog box appears when you start the configurator, in which you can indicate whether the IPC or the variant configuration is to be used for the simulation.

Configuration Scenario with Reference Characteristics

You can use reference characteristics in your configuration model to adapt the configuration model to a particular scenario (see Reference Characteristics). In the application, such as sales order, the reference characteristics are automatically filled prior to configuration. You can manually assign the reference characteristics in a dialog box at the start of simulation, so that you can also configure a particular scenario in the simulation.

The reference characteristics must be known in the product module, in other words, the reference characteristics must be assigned to one of the variant classes assigned to the material or to one of their superior classes.

The display of the reference characteristics depends on the configuration scenario that you select when you call the simulation. The following scenarios are possible:

●      Sales order

●      Material variant

If you have selected the Sales Order scenario, for example, and reference characteristics for the sales order exist in your configuration model, these reference characteristics are offered to you for assigning. The values for the reference characteristics are copied to the simulation and taken into account in the configuration process, for example in the object dependencies and in the BOM explosion.

If the No Display checkbox was selected in the characteristic maintenance for a reference characteristic, the reference characteristic is nevertheless displayed in the dialog box, so that it can be assigned. On the characteristic value assignment screen, however, it is hidden.

Activities

To test the model that you have loaded in the modeling environment and possibly edited, proceed as follows:

...

       1.      If you have made changes to the model but have not saved them yet, the system will ask you to save them now.

You can control the display of the dialog box by choosing  Extras → Settings. You can set the following:

○       That the model is always saved when you call the configuration simulation

○       That a dialog box appears in which you can decide whether you want to save the model If you do not save the model, the changes are retained but not saved when you call the configuration simulation.

       2.      Choose  to start the configuration simulation.

       3.      If there are reference characteristics in the product model, a dialog box appears in which you can select a configuration scenario.

Depending on the scenario, the corresponding reference characteristics are displayed and can be assigned.

You can delete values entered in previous calls by choosing Initialize Values. In the next call then, the reference characteristics are unassigned. Otherwise the values last entered are displayed during the next call.

       4.      Depending on the material settings, follow the steps below:

○       If you have configured the standard Variant Configuration for the material, start the simulation for the model.

○       If you have also configured the IPS for test purposes, you have to choose the configurator that you want to use for the test.

For the IPC, you need a runtime version of the knowledge base for the model. If runtime versions already exist, select the version you want to use for the test. If you want to update (regenerate) the selected runtime version before you perform the test, set the Update Runtime Version indicator.

Choose .

If the indicator is set, a runtime version is generated.

Depending on the configurator you selected, the system then starts either the standard Variant Configuration function or the IPC.

○       If you have generally configured the IPC for the material, you need a runtime version. In this case, proceed as described in the second alternative.

       5.      Choose  to return to the modeling environment.