Selection Matrix

A selection matrix can be used in one of these scenarios:

A type of Product Configuration Elements used when products are configured.
For more details on configuring products, see .
A type of element used in defining mark up for a purchase costing element for the purpose of configuring the purchasing model for specific settlement requirements.
For more details on configuring the purchase costing element, see .

The matrix is in the form of a table. It can be used with up to 6 manually entered selection columns and at least one response column. Where the Matrix is populated using an API, it can be used with 9 selection columns.

This document explains the use of the selection matrix as product configuration element.

Note that while different elements are available to product and procurement using Selection Matrix configuration, system enforced segregation does not exist. Where the procurement configuration elements Attribute and Formula are used in product configuration, or other areas where Matrix is used, a blank or zero key value and corresponding matrix value, where one exists, will be returned.

Description

Where the selection matrix is used for product configuration purposes:

It is used to select item number, quantity or drawing measurement when a product is configured. It can also be used to determine run times or sales prices.
The incoming features are compared with the contents of the selection columns. If a matching line in the matrix is found, then there is a response in the corresponding response column and the response is then specified in the line.
If no matching line is found, an error message is issued.
It may be compared to a phantom product structure; however, the matrix always results in one line in the bill of material, while the phantom product structure can result in several lines.
It offers the possibility of minimizing the number of levels in the structures.
Column types specific to product configuration must be used.

A selection matrix may have this appearance:


Selection columns	Response columns
Color	Size	Item Number
Yellow	40	A
Yellow	42	A1
Green	40	B

During product configuration, option Yellow is specified for feature Color, and option 42 for feature Size.

For the combination Yellow/42, item number A1 is retrieved from the selection matrix.