Set Valid Attribute Values

Outcome

You have set the rules for which values are valid for a certain attribute.

Valid attribute values can be set for attributes of category 1 (alphanumeric) or 2 (numeric). Numeric attributes could be set up as intervals with a valid multiple, while alphanumeric attributes must be maintained with discrete values.

Attribute values are defined globally, so that the same value can be used for more than one attribute.

An attribute value can be set in a variety of ways: manually, at goods receiving, by a product configuration, calculated by a formula, set to the value of an object in the database or inherited by a controlling order or lot. Attribute values are checked against the predefined rules to ensure that they are valid.

The following files are updated:

• The valid attribute values matrix file (MATVAM)
• The valid attribute values file (MATVAV)
• The attribute master file (MATRMA).

Before you start

• The company must have defined which attribute values are valid for its products.
• Attributes must have been created in 'Attribute. Open' (ATS010).

Follow these steps

1. Start 'Attribute. Open' (ATS010/B) or 'Attribute Model. Connect Attributes' (ATS051/B).

   (ATS051/B) is started from 'Attribute Model. Open' (ATS050).

2. Select the attribute to which you want to connect valid values and select option 12 on (ATS010/B) or option 22 on (ATS051/B).

3. In 'Available Object Ctrl Parameters. Open' (CMS016) select up to three key fields that control how the valid attribute value is set up. Click Next.

   This program is only displayed the first time that you set the valid values. Once you select the key fields, 'Attribute Matrix. Open' (ATS020) is started. To change the key fields retroactively, you have to start 'Available Object Ctrl Parameters. Open' (CMS016).

4. On 'Attribute Matrix. Open' (ATS020/B) fill in the start value fields. Press Enter.

   The headings of these fields depend on what fields you have selected in (CMS016). If, for example, you have selected the field IASUNO, the field heading will be 'Supplier number.'

5. On 'Attribute Matrix. Enter Values' (ATS021/B), specify the sequence number and start attribute value. Click New.

   You can set a sequence number interval on panel (ATS021/P).

6. On the E panel, specify an end value and a numeric range multiple. These fields are optional and are only available for numeric attributes. Press Enter.

7. Repeat steps 4 to 6 for each value you want to set.

Parameters to set

Program ID/Panel	Field	The field indicates …
(CMS016/E)	Field 1/2/3	…a field or data element from a specific file. It is used to create keys or search paths for user-defined tables as well as to create the contents of user-defined files. This basic setup is done per attribute and up to three different objects can be selected. Valid objects include item number, product group, item group, order category, customer number, customer order type, supplier number, country and project.
(ATS020/B)	Start value 1/2/3	…start values that depend on which fields they have been connected to on (CMS016/E). For example, if you have selected supplier and item number as controlling objects, the attribute value will be valid for the combination of supplier and item entered in these fields.
ATS021/B	Sequence	…the order in which attributes are displayed. The sequence number is either entered manually or set automatically. You can enter an automatic range in the function parameters (using F13='Parameters') to set how the sequence number is updated.
	From attribute value	…the start value in a range of valid attribute values for a numeric attribute. If you leave the 'From attribute value' field blank and enter a 'To attribute value,' the range is from blank to the value entered in 'To attribute value.' If a 'From attribute value' is entered but there is no 'To attribute value,' the From value is then treated as the only valid value.
ATS021/E	To attribute value	…the end value in a valid range for a numeric attribute. This value is the upper limit for the range.
	Numeric range multiple	…a value by which a numeric range is to be divisible. The field is used to limit the valid options for a numeric attribute. You can then only enter values that are equally divisible by the value in this field. A multiple should be used in cases where all values are not valid within a range. For example, if a measurement or a size can only exist in increments of 10 (10, 20 etc.), then 10 is entered in this field. This field is only available for numeric attributes.