Designing process structure > Creating product structures > Working with global alternates

Global alternates overview

A global alternate part is interchangeable with another part in all circumstances, regardless of where the other part is used in the product structure. A global alternate applies to any revision of the part and is independent of any views.

Note

If the parts are interchangeable only in specific products or assemblies, use substitutes rather than global alternates.

Parts and their global alternates are related only in a single direction. For example, if part A has three global alternates (parts B, C, and D), then B, C, and D are each a global alternate of A. However, part A is not an alternate of B, C, or D, as shown next.

Global alternates – single direction

One part can be a global alternate of more than one other part. For example, part B may be a global alternate of parts E and F, as well as a global alternate of part A, as shown next.

Global alternates – multiple alternates

Global alternate relationships are not shared. For example, part C is not a global alternate of part B, even though they are both global alternates of part A, as shown next.

Global alternates – nonsharing

Likewise, global alternate relationships are not chained. For example, if part B is a global alternate of part A, and part C is a global alternate of part B, part C is not a global alternate of part A, as shown next.

Global alternates – chaining