The following object types can be added to the configuration structure:
Window artikel_produktkonfigurator.psr
Icon
Object type
Description
block
A block represents a grouping property within the configurator. Further objects can be subordinated to this. A block is visible in the navigation area of the configurator. Click to display the subordinate objects, such as parameters or dropdown lists at run time in the detail area. In our Sofa example the blocks are Design, Size, Covering and Color, Legs and Accessory which contain Sofa-relevant parameters with check boxes or drop-downs.
The following fields and properties are available:
Field
Description
Name
Item name (item number) After calling the configurator, this name is displayed at the top in the navigation area on the left
Picture
Select picture
Size
Define picture size
Field
Description
Long text
Field for additional text
Text 1
Field for additional text
Text 2
Field for additional text
Text 3
Field for additional text
Some rules can be defined to display the block with specific values or parameters. The rules determine whether a configuration option is presented to the operator, based on previous configuration selection. This way, it is possible to restrict options. The rule is created in SQL syntax.
Field
Description
Parameter Insert
Parameters and Set Objects that are already defined, are displayed in a selection list. They can be used to create of a rule.
Script
The language syntax that the rule is written in. Available options are:
When using the SQL formula, database accesses may reduce the performance of the configurator window.
The check button
Check for syntax errors in the entered script.
Flag
– The rule is error free
– Warning (default)
– Error in rule
Result line
Shows the result of the evaluated rule.
Evaluation of the rule
Shows the evaluated rule with status message.
Tab "Extended"
Field
Description
Bitmap
to change the bitmap of the actual configuration object. Possible standard bitmaps via selection in the dropdown list
Color
set the color of text of the configuration object
Info
An Info-object displays a text and (optionally) an image in the detail area of the associated block. In our Sofa example, the info-object is Design – a full description of the product.
Parameter
A Parameter is used to input or select the possible product options. In our Sofa example above the parameters are the Number seats, the color and the cover, the legs and accessories.
A parameter () is used for input or selection of possible options. You can access the value of the parameter, i.e. the selection you made, in the configurator within formulas/set objects.There are three possibilities:
o
Normal: Enter alphanumerical values
o
Checkbox: Select Yes/No
o
Selection: To a parameter of this type, selection objects need to be assigned (Separate objects, Radiobox or dropdown list).
The following fields and properties are available:
Beas determines whether the parameter is a number or a string depending on the value.
•
If the value is a number or "0", Beas interprets this parameter as a number.
•
If the value is empty or not a number, Beas interprets this parameter as a string.
Example 1:
Parameter: "color" is "red"
Formula: 'the color is ' || [color]
HANA SQL: select 'the color is' || 'red' -> all ok
Formula: 10 + [color]
SQL: 10 + 'red'-> produce error
Example 2:
Parameter: "color" is "5.3"
Formula: 'the color is ' || [color]
HANA SQL: select 'the color is' || 5.3 -> produce error
Formula: 10 + [color]
SQL: 10 + 5.3 -> all ok
The evaluation of a formula is always dependent on the contents of the parameter.
All configurations created with beas 9.2 PL 5 Build 32 or older, use parameter type "Auto" as standard.
Working with Beas system variables or custom defined variables starting with "e_", the parameter can be interpreted as a string or number. With the following Beas script setup the type can be permanently defined as string type, if the value is a Beas variable. This must be executed only once per database or client.
setsetup=config_default_e_type=c
String
This parameter type allows a string. If working with formulas, Beas inserts a ‘ (single quotation mark) at the left and right side of the parameter.
If you create a new parameter, the string type is the default option.
Example 1:
Parameter: "color" is "red"
Formula: 'the color is ' || [color] (HANA SQL)
MS SQL: select 'the color is' + N'red'
HANA SQL: select 'the color is ' || ' red'
Example 2:
Parameter: "color_number" is "5,3"
Formula: '10' + [color_number]
MS SQL: '10' + '5,3' -> all ok
Formula: 'the color is ' + [color]
DataWindow Syntax: 'the color is' + 'red'
Number
This parameter type allows numbers only. If the content is not a number, Beas replaces it with “0”. The decimal delimiter is based on what it is defined in the system, but Beas internally replaces it with decimal point.
Example:
Parameter: "color_number" is "5,3" (Regional setting is Germany)
Formula: [color_number] * 3
SQL: 5.3 * 3
If you use a parameter both as a string or numeric value, then it is advantageous to specify this directly in the formula.
String formula: 'color is ' || [color,dbstring]
Number formula: if [color_number,dbnum] > 10 then 1 else 100 end
Name
Designation of Parameter
Picture
Select picture
Size
Definite picture size
Tab "Input"
Field
Description
Mandatory
If enabled, the parameter requires input, indicated by icon in the left navigation bar of the configurator window at runtime. The icon changes after editing the parameter. All mandatory parameters need to be edited, to have the complete block processed. icon changes to ).
Type of input
This defines how the input for a parameter has to be made. Possible settings are:
o
Normal: Enter alphanumerical values
o
Normal - large: Enter alphanumerical values to a large text field
o
Checkbox: Select Yes/No
o
Selection - Radiobox: Display as "Radiobox" List (Selection 1 out of n)
o
Selection - Dropdown: Display as "Dropdown"-List (only possible if values will fetched via "Select"-Statement from Database!!)
Cross Reference
If type of input is selection, add an alternative to the parameter. You can access existing tables in Production > Product configurator > References. Saved references can be selected and will be available for selection in product configurator.
Default Value
If a default value is defined, this will be assigned to the parameter (Case sensitive!)
b) Variables, which are defined before opening in the Configurator window (e. g. with Beas Script in "Windowevent open"). These variables must be defined with "e_".
Example: [e_cardcode]
c) Previously defined parameters. These defaults are also changed dynamically
Example: [so_mysetobject]
Fixed value
A fixed value is set if
a) a new configuration is loaded
b) if a previously invalid default value becomes valid
When does an invalid default value become valid again?
This is explained in the following example:
Radio box with 3 elements: red, yellow, green.
The default value is yellow. But the visibility rule specifies that yellow is invisible and therefore invalid. In this case, "yellow" is not defined as the default value. There is no default.
Every time the configuration is changed, the system checks whether yellow is valid. If yes, this is set if the parameter has not yet been set otherwise.
The default is a parameter
If the default value is a parameter, it is always reset if something is changed before the parameter.
Example:
WheelSize
defcolor (set object): case when[WheelSize] <30 then 'red' else 'blue' end
Color (Default=[defcolor])
If WheelSize is changed, the content of Color is also reset because WheelSize is BEFORE Color. If values are changed after Color, Color is not set again.
Manual changes have priority:
If Color is changed manually, the manual change takes precedence, i.e. even if WheelSize is changed, the default value of Color is not reset.
Exception: the manually selected value loses its validity
Example:
Color is a radio box
// Red only available, if WheelSize < 30
// Blue only available, if WheelSize>24
Red = case when [WheelSize] <30 then 1 else 0 end
Blue= case when [WheelSize] >24 then 1 else 0 end
If you now manually select Blue and then set WheelSize to 22, Blue becomes invalid, so that manual entry loses its priority and the default value is set, in this case red and the entry is marked as "not changed manually".
If the default value is also invalid, the entry is marked as "not set".
Price from a price list (only for the Price calculation field)
cpricequantity
Calculated quantity for this item (only for the Price calculation field)
cpricetotalquantity
Calculated quantity * Quantity from sales order / quotation (only for the Price calculation field)
cdiscount
Discount of the current business partner
cpricelist
Price list of the current business partner
currentuser
Current user
cardcode
Business partner from the sales order
cquantity
Quantity from the sales order
cdocdate
Date from the sales order in yyyy/mm/dd format
cshortvariant
Short variant A-Z
The check button
Check for syntax errors in the entered script
Flag
– The rule is error free
– Warning (default)
– Error in rule
Result
Shows the result of the evaluated formula. The result must be a number.
Attention: Price determination by price list is not working here, [cprice] is always 0.
Evaluation of the rule
Shows the evaluated formula with a status message.
Some rules can be defined to display the block with specific values or parameters. The rules determine whether a configuration option is presented to the operator, based on previous configuration selection. This way, it is possible to restrict options. The rule is created in SQL syntax.
Field
Description
Parameter Insert
Parameters and Set Objects that are already defined, are displayed in a selection list. They can be used to create of a rule.
Script
The language syntax that the rule is written in. Available options are:
When using the SQL formula, database accesses may reduce the performance of the configurator window.
The check button
Check for syntax errors in the entered script.
Flag
– The rule is error free
– Warning (default)
– Error in rule
Result line
Shows the result of the evaluated rule.
Evaluation of the rule
Shows the evaluated rule with status message.
Field
Description
Bitmap
Select the icon for the specific block. By default, Beas selects a folder icon.
Color
Select a display color for the text of the block name.
Selection
A Selection object is always allocated to a higher-level parameter. A selection object is displayed as a check box. The higher-level parameter then assumes the value allocated to the selection object when the check box is activated. In our Sofa example we have several selection objects allocated to each parameter. In the image above we can see "Armchair", "Two-seater" and "Three-seater" selection blocks that are available – which appear as check boxes in the test screen.
A selection object always refers to a superordinate parameter. The selection object is displayed as radiobox or drop-down list (only in case of an assigned reference).
The following fields and properties are available:
Price from a price list (only for the Price calculation field)
cpricequantity
Calculated quantity for this item (only for the Price calculation field)
cpricetotalquantity
Calculated quantity * Quantity from sales order / quotation (only for the Price calculation field)
cdiscount
Discount of the current business partner
cpricelist
Price list of the current business partner
currentuser
Current user
cardcode
Business partner from the sales order
cquantity
Quantity from the sales order
cdocdate
Date from the sales order in yyyy/mm/dd format
cshortvariant
Short variant A-Z
The check button
Check for syntax errors in the entered script
Flag
– The rule is error free
– Warning (default)
– Error in rule
Result
Shows the result of the evaluated formula. The result must be a number.
Attention: Price determination by price list is not working here, [cprice] is always 0.
Evaluation of the rule
Shows the evaluated formula with a status message.
Some rules can be defined to display the block with specific values or parameters. The rules determine whether a configuration option is presented to the operator, based on previous configuration selection. This way, it is possible to restrict options. The rule is created in SQL syntax.
Field
Description
Parameter Insert
Parameters and Set Objects that are already defined, are displayed in a selection list. They can be used to create of a rule.
Script
The language syntax that the rule is written in. Available options are:
When using the SQL formula, database accesses may reduce the performance of the configurator window.
The check button
Check for syntax errors in the entered script.
Flag
– The rule is error free
– Warning (default)
– Error in rule
Result line
Shows the result of the evaluated rule.
Evaluation of the rule
Shows the evaluated rule with status message.
Field
Description
Bitmap
Select the icon for the specific block. By default, Beas selects a folder icon.
Color
Select a display color for the text of the block name.
Set object
A Set object is a variable to which any values or formulas can be allocated. If a sofa is being configured, a set object so_length could be declared and the formula [numberofseats]*0.9 stored (where numberofseats can be the Name of a parameter or another Set object ). This parameter thus acquires the content of numberofseats – i.e. the value 1,2 or 3 in the example – multiplied by 0, The system can access the content of the set object within the configurator. A calculation by a database query can also come here. For this, the definition/query in the set object must start with "[select" and end with "]". See image above.
e.g. [select "Price" from "ITM1" where "PriceList"='basic price list']
Any variables must also be specified in square brackets in the Select instruction.
Beas determines whether the parameter is a number or a string depending on the value.
•
If the value is a number or "0", Beas interprets this parameter as a number.
•
If the value is empty or not a number, Beas interprets this parameter as a string.
Example 1:
Parameter: "color" is "red"
Formula: 'the color is ' || [color]
HANA SQL: select 'the color is' || 'red' -> all ok
Formula: 10 + [color]
SQL: 10 + 'red'-> produce error
Example 2:
Parameter: "color" is "5.3"
Formula: 'the color is ' || [color]
HANA SQL: select 'the color is' || 5.3 -> produce error
Formula: 10 + [color]
SQL: 10 + 5.3 -> all ok
The evaluation of a formula is always dependent on the contents of the parameter.
All configurations created with beas 9.2 PL 5 Build 32 or older, use parameter type "Auto" as standard.
Working with Beas system variables or custom defined variables starting with "e_", the parameter can be interpreted as a string or number. With the following Beas script setup the type can be permanently defined as string type, if the value is a Beas variable. This must be executed only once per database or client.
setsetup=config_default_e_type=c
String
This parameter type allows a string. If working with formulas, Beas inserts a ‘ (single quotation mark) at the left and right side of the parameter.
If you create a new parameter, the string type is the default option.
Example 1:
Parameter: "color" is "red"
Formula: 'the color is ' || [color] (HANA SQL)
MS SQL: select 'the color is' + N'red'
HANA SQL: select 'the color is ' || ' red'
Example 2:
Parameter: "color_number" is "5,3"
Formula: '10' + [color_number]
MS SQL: '10' + '5,3' -> all ok
Formula: 'the color is ' + [color]
DataWindow Syntax: 'the color is' + 'red'
Number
This parameter type allows numbers only. If the content is not a number, Beas replaces it with “0”. The decimal delimiter is based on what it is defined in the system, but Beas internally replaces it with decimal point.
Example:
Parameter: "color_number" is "5,3" (Regional setting is Germany)
Formula: [color_number] * 3
SQL: 5.3 * 3
If you use a parameter both as a string or numeric value, then it is advantageous to specify this directly in the formula.
String formula: 'color is ' || [color,dbstring]
Number formula: if [color_number,dbnum] > 10 then 1 else 100 end
Insert Parameter
Display all already defined parameters and set-objects. Makes easier to generate the description text for field below.
Script
Setup used syntax to define text of short designation
The procedure for creating a configurator for a product (item) is as follows:
Right-click on an existing object (or the empty configurator structure) to open a pop-up menu containing the objects to be added.
Picture: Pop-up menu
Only the objects that can be added to the selected object are displayed. You can now select which object should be added; a new window opens in which you can define the properties of the object.
The system can access the "Set objects" and "Parameter" from Bill of materials positions and routing positions.
The Bill of materials and routings can thus be customized independently of variants.
Note:
The names of the parameter and set-objects must be unique in the configuration structure. Not case sensitive.
The system can access the set-objects and Parameters from Bill of materials positions and routing positions
The Bill of materials and routings can thus be customized independently of variants.
Please note that for Parameters and Set-Objects, the following
reserved names cannot be used:
- cpreis
- cprice
- currentuser
- cpreisliste
- cpricelist
- crabatt
- cdiscount
It is similarly not allowed to use "e_"at the beginning of a Parameters or Set-Objects, because external variables start with it.
– The rule is error free
– Warning (default)
– Error in rule
in the left navigation bar of the configurator window at runtime. The icon changes after editing the parameter. All mandatory parameters need to be edited, to have the complete block processed. icon changes to 
).
