Create Selection Matrix

The purpose of this procedure is to create selection matrices for dynamic selection of item number, material quantity, sales price or drawing measurement when a product is configured.

The procedure also includes a check of the selection matrix through simulation.

Before you start

Before you can begin to create a selection matrix, the following prerequisites must be met:

  • Features are entered in program 'Feature. Open' (PDS055).
  • Drawing measurements are entered in program 'Drawing Measurement. Open' (PDS080).
  • Options are connected to features with feature type 1, 2 or 4 in program 'Feature. Connect Options' (PDS056).Note that options are entered with an item number for features with feature type 2. This is why items used must also be entered in program 'Item. Open' (MMS001).

Follow these steps

Follow the steps below to create and check a selection matrix.

  1. Start 'Selection Matrix. Open' (PDS090). Include panels E and 1 in your panel sequence.

  2. Enter a new selection matrix and selection matrix type. Select 'New'.

  3. Fill in or change the information in the selection matrix header in panel E. When creating a type 2 matrix (drawing measurement), you can regulate the number of possible responses in the matrix. This is done by using names in each of the response columns. Such a column without a name will not be used by the system. At least response column 1 must have a name for matrix type 2. A selection matrix can be minimized by using ranges for columns containing only digits. To do this, check the field Range (Ran).The product configuration reads the selection matrices from left to right. This means that the relative position of the selection columns can play a major role in the complexity of the matrix and the order in which features are displayed in a product configuration.

  4. Specify the selection matrix lines in panel 1 and then create them.The size of the selection matrix can be minimized simply by specifying the lines that should give a result differing from a standard result. To create a standard line create one or more lines where one or more selection columns does not contain a value. The system then processes these matrix lines as standard lines, and uses them when no other line in the matrix matches the current values. Different levels of standard responses can be used where more or fewer selection columns are filled in (an extreme case would be when none of the selection columns are filled in). However, these standard lines must have a pyramid structure where a blank value in one selection column always has a value filled in the selection column immediately to the left of it (unless it is the first selection column). Note that the blank values exclude the possibility of using the matrix to limit valid options. To change position between two selection columns, you must first delete all matrix lines.

  5. A simulation of the selection matrix can be performed by selecting 'retrieve values' (13). Enter appropriate values for simulation and begin the simulation.

Restrictions

Note that whilst 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.

Output

A selection matrix is created which can then be used in a number of product structures to select item number, quantity or drawing measurement.

Description

A matrix can have the following design:

11 Color Height meas. Valid from Item number
UTB292
BLUE UTB291
YELLOW UTB290
BLUE 19.0 UTB110
BLUE 25.0 UTB120
YELLOW 19.0 UTB130

This matrix results in the following:

Color Height Result
Yellow 25 UTB290
Yellow 19 UTB130
Blue 20 UTB291
Red UTB292 (regardless of hight)