Author variant expressions

Procedure

1. Open the structure for which you want to author variant conditions in Multi-BOM Management.

Ensure that the Variant Formula property column is displayed in the product structure tree. This property displays the variant condition and is not visible on the use interface by default.

2. Select the BOM line items for which you want to author the variant condition, for example, Engine. Click Edit the variant condition .

3. In the Variant Formula Expression Editor view, select the required options to define a variant condition.The area at the bottom of the view displays the variant condition based on your selection.

   In the Variant Formula Expression Editor view, the first column lists the option values organized by their families. You construct a variant condition by clicking the cells. Selections are indicated by a check mark or a circle backslash icon in a cell. The check mark indicates that the option is applicable. The circle backslash icon indicates that the option is not applicable to the BOM line. You can also edit an existing variant condition by changing any of the fields. Updated rules are displayed but not saved instantly.

   If a BOM line has a variant condition previously authored using classic variants, the older value displayed in Variant Condition is replaced with the new condition and is displayed in Variant Formula. However, if a BOM line has a variant condition previously authored using a modular variant, you must delete the old condition before creating a new one. Note If you open a BOM line containing classic conditions with the legacy option family, you cannot edit the variant formula. Structure Manager displays an error message saying that some of the selected BOM lines have classic variant expressions with classic variability. In such cases, you must clear the classic variant expression.

4. Click Save the current content on the main toolbar to set the variant condition.

   You cannot update this variant condition using classic or modular variants. After you author variant expressions, configure the structure by setting variant rules.

Author variant expression in Grid Authoring mode

The Variant Formula Expression Editor view displays Grid Authoring as the default mode. You can select multiple BOM lines to author the variant expression in this mode.

Procedure

1. Select the BOM line items for which you want to author the variant condition.

2. In the Variant Formula Expression Editor view, select the required options to define a variant condition.The area at the bottom of the view displays the variant condition based on your selection. This is not available if you select multiple BOM lines.

   In the Variant Formula Expression Editor view, the first column lists the option values organized by their families. You construct a variant condition by clicking the cells. Selections are indicated by a check mark or a circle backslash icon in a cell. The check mark indicates that the option is applicable. The circle backslash icon indicates that the option is not applicable to the BOM line. You can also edit an existing variant condition by changing any of the fields. Updated rules are displayed but not saved instantly.

   If a BOM line has a variant condition previously authored using classic variants, the older value displayed in Variant Condition is replaced with the new condition and is displayed in Variant Formula. However, if a BOM line has a variant condition previously authored using a modular variant, you must delete the old condition before creating a new one. Note If you open a BOM line containing classic conditions with the legacy option family, you cannot edit the variant formula. Structure Manager displays an error message saying that some of the selected BOM lines have classic variant expressions with classic variability. In such cases, you must clear the classic variant expression.

3. Click Save the current content on the main toolbar to set the variant condition. You cannot update this variant condition using classic or modular variants.

   After you author variant expressions, configure the structure by setting variant rules.

Author variant expression in Formula Authoring mode

The Variant Formula Expression Editor view displays Grid Authoring as the default mode. You can switch to the Formula Authoring mode by selecting the Switch to formula authoring mode toggle. You can select only a single BOM line to author the variant expression in this mode.

If the authored expression is not available in the Grid Authoring mode, the system switches automatically to the Formula Authoring mode and displays an error message. The Expression display area loads the bl_formula property and this can be edited to be updated or written from scratch to author a variant condition.

Procedure

1. Select the BOM line item for which you want to author the variant condition.

2. Select the Switch to formula authoring mode toggle.

3. Edit the formula by using the Variant Formula property.The text editor supports Cut (Ctrl+X), Copy (Ctrl+C), and Paste (Ctrl+V) keyboard operations. In case the expression is large, the text editor can be resized or vertical scroll bars can be used to navigate.The formula that can be normalized to represent a simpler grid expression is normalized and shown in the grid. This does not affect the formula but only the grid representation of it. Examples: ([013016]Engine = V4 & [013016]Engine != V6) is shown in the grid as [013016]Engine = V4.( [013016]Engine = V4 | [013016]Engine != V6 ) is shown as ( [013016]Engine != V6Formula expressions that are logically equivalent to tautology (always TRUE) or contradiction (always FALSE) are shown as empty in the grid. Examples:([013016]Engine = V4 | [013016]Engine != V4) that is a tautology and any configuration would satisfy this condition. This is shown as empty in the grid.( [Teamcenter]Engine = V4 & [Teamcenter]Engine != V4 ) is a contradiction because no configuration would satisfy this condition. Thus, no grid is shown for this kind of expression.Foreign options are only editable in formula authoring mode by using the text editor in the bottom area. They can be authored, updated, and deleted. In the above screen, feature 4 is a foreign option in the current configuration. The ? icon before it tells us that. The selection cell for the feature is greyed out and is not modifiable. If you wish to author or modify it, switch to the formula authoring mode.The below screen shows the variant condition with the foreign option authored by using the formula authoring mode.Variant conditions authored from families and features of a different context are shown as unconfigured variants in the grid. In the following example, feature 100 of family Weight belongs to context with ID 013010 and not to 013016. This is saved as an unconfigured variant or a foreign option.Changing to Grid Authoring mode shows that it is unmodifiable.

4. Click Save the current content on the main toolbar to set the variant condition.

   After you author variant expressions, configure the structure by setting variant rules.