第 1 页 / 共 52 页
Uwe Blumöhr, Manfred Münch, and Marin Ukalovic
Variant Configuration with SAP®
Bonn (cid:31) Boston
6060.indb 3 10/4/11 11:55 AM
第 2 页 / 共 52 页
Contents at a Glance
1 Basic Principles of Variant Configuration ............................... 31
2 Creating a Product Model for SAP Variant Configuration ...... 69
3 Business Processes in SAP ERP .............................................. 219
4 Customizing SAP ERP for Variant Configuration .................... 311
5 Special Features of Product Configuration in SAP CRM ........ 337
6 Challenges in Variant Configuration ....................................... 367
7 Enhancements in SAP Industry Solution DIMP ...................... 447
8 Enhancements and Add-Ons in the SAP Partner
Environment ............................................................................ 465
9 Project Lead Reports on Projects and Project Structures ...... 543
10 Customer Reports on the Introduction of SAP Variant
Configuration .......................................................................... 579
11 Configuration Workgroup ....................................................... 637
12 Outlook for SAP Business ByDesign ...................................... 647
A Database Tables of Variant Configuration .............................. 663
B APIs of Variant Configuration ................................................. 669
C User Exits of Variant Configuration ........................................ 671
D Comprehensive Examples of Variant Functions ..................... 673
E The Authors ............................................................................. 681
6060.indb 5 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 3 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
Foreword ......................................................................................................... 13
Introduction .................................................................................................... 21
1 Basic Principles of Variant Configuration ................................. 31
1.1 What Is Product Configuration? .................................................. 31
1.1.1 Terminology .................................................................. 32
1.1.2 Elementary Configuration Modules ............................... 36
1.1.3 Product Configuration in Logistic Scenarios ................... 39
1.1.4 Core Problem of Variant Diversity ................................. 41
1.1.5 Procedural and Declarative Approaches ........................ 44
1.2 What Is SAP Variant Configuration? ............................................ 47
1.2.1 Product Configuration Using Variant Configuration
(LO-VC) ........................................................................ 48
1.2.2 Further Areas of Use ..................................................... 48
1.2.3 “Hello World” Example ................................................. 49
1.2.4 Variant Configuration (LO-VC) ...................................... 55
1.2.5 Internet Pricing and Configurator (IPC) ......................... 59
1.3 Enhancing Business Processes with Variant Configuration ............ 63
1.3.1 Prerequisite for the Usage of Variant Configuration ....... 63
1.3.2 Factors for the Usage of Variant Configuration .............. 64
1.3.3 Exemplary Consideration on the Master Data Volume ... 66
1.4 Summary .................................................................................... 67
2 Creating a Product Model for SAP Variant Configuration ....... 69
2.1 Overview of the Modeling and Integration of Variant
Configuration .............................................................................. 69
2.1.1 Multivariant Product without Variant Configuration ...... 70
2.1.2 Multivariant Product with Variant Configuration ........... 70
2.2 Tools from the Classification System ............................................ 75
2.2.1 Characteristic Management ........................................... 75
2.2.2 Class Management ........................................................ 82
2.2.3 Classification ................................................................. 84
2.2.4 Search ........................................................................... 85
7
6060.indb 7 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 4 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
2.3 Material Master, BOM, and Routing ........................................... 87
2.3.1 Material Master of the Configurable Material ................ 87
2.3.2 Super BOM of the Configurable Material ...................... 91
2.3.3 Super Task List for the Configurable Material ................ 94
2.4 Configuration Profile and Configuration Scenarios ....................... 97
2.4.1 Overview of the Configuration Profile ........................... 97
2.4.2 Configuration Profile in Detail ....................................... 99
2.4.3 Overview of Configuration Scenarios ............................. 105
2.4.4 Planned/Production Order without BOM Explosion
Scenario ........................................................................ 105
2.4.5 Order BOM Scenario .................................................... 107
2.4.6 Sales Order (SET) Scenario ............................................ 113
2.4.7 Planned/Production Order with BOM Explosion
Scenario ........................................................................ 118
2.5 Overview of Object Dependencies .............................................. 121
2.5.1 Types of Object Dependencies and Assignment ............ 121
2.5.2 The Procedural and Declarative Character of Object
Dependencies ............................................................... 126
2.5.3 Global and Local Object Dependencies ......................... 126
2.5.4 Status of Object Dependencies ..................................... 127
2.5.5 Object Dependencies in Classification and Variant
Configuration ................................................................ 128
2.5.6 Execution Sequence of Object Dependencies ................ 128
2.5.7 Basic Syntax Rules ......................................................... 131
2.5.8 Syntax Elements ............................................................ 134
2.5.9 Variant Tables and Functions ......................................... 136
2.5.10 Evaluation Function for Object Dependencies ............... 138
2.6 Object Dependencies for the Value Assignment Interface or
the Sales View ............................................................................ 142
2.6.1 Product Modeling Environment PMEVC ....................... 142
2.6.2 Example ........................................................................ 146
2.6.3 Variant Tables in Detail ................................................. 152
2.6.4 Constraints in Detail ..................................................... 158
2.6.5 Preconditions ................................................................ 164
2.6.6 Selection Conditions ..................................................... 167
2.6.7 Procedures .................................................................... 168
2.6.8 Reference Characteristics .............................................. 171
2.6.9 Variant Functions .......................................................... 174
2.6.10 User Interface Design .................................................... 177
8
6060.indb 8 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 5 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
2.7 Object Dependencies for BOM and Routing ............................... 179
2.7.1 Local and Global Object Dependencies ......................... 179
2.7.2 Selection Conditions for BOM and Routing ................... 182
2.7.3 Class Nodes in BOMs .................................................... 183
2.7.4 Classified Materials in BOMs ......................................... 187
2.7.5 Procedures in BOM and Routing ................................... 189
2.8 Pricing for Configurable Materials ............................................... 192
2.9 Product Costing for Configurable Materials ................................. 198
2.10 Material Variants ........................................................................ 200
2.10.1 Material Master of the Material Variant ........................ 202
2.10.2 BOM and Material Variant ............................................ 204
2.10.3 Routing and Material Variant ........................................ 205
2.10.4 Pricing and Material Variant .......................................... 207
2.10.5 Material Variant Matching ............................................ 207
2.10.6 Material Variant Matching at the Header and
Assembly Levels ............................................................ 211
2.11 How to Create a Product Model for the IPC ................................ 212
2.12 Summary .................................................................................... 218
3 Business Processes in SAP ERP ................................................ 219
3.1 Introduction—Variant Configuration in Business Processes .......... 219
3.1.1 BOMs in Variant Configuration ..................................... 219
3.1.2 Order Engineering Workbench ...................................... 223
3.2 Variant Configuration with iPPE—Modeling ................................ 229
3.2.1 Product Variant Structure and Product Designer ........... 230
3.2.2 Modeling From Requirements to Production ................ 231
3.2.3 Feature and Requirement Structures ............................ 233
3.2.4 Structure Nodes, Component Variants, and Object
Dependencies ............................................................... 235
3.2.5 Concepts ...................................................................... 238
3.2.6 Filter: Explosion and Configuration Simulation .............. 240
3.2.7 BOM Converter ............................................................ 242
3.2.8 PLM WebUI .................................................................. 245
3.3 Integration of Variant Configuration—The Classic Process ........... 252
3.3.1 Sales Activities .............................................................. 253
3.3.2 Requirements Planning ................................................. 255
3.3.3 Controlling the Requirements Transfer .......................... 256
9
6060.indb 9 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 6 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
3.3.4 Procurement: In-House Production or External
Procurement ................................................................. 259
3.4 Processes with Extended Integration Aspects .............................. 260
3.4.1 In-House Production Process ........................................ 262
3.4.2 Quality Management and Variant Configuration ........... 265
3.4.3 Purchasing and Configurable Model Service
Specifications ................................................................ 272
3.4.4 Project System, Configurable Standard Networks,
and Variant Configuration ............................................. 275
3.4.5 Customer Service and Configurable General
Maintenance Task Lists ................................................. 279
3.5 Planning and Variant Configuration ............................................. 283
3.5.1 Excursus: Evaluations in the Variant Configuration
Environment ................................................................. 284
3.5.2 Planning and Variant Configuration ............................... 288
3.5.3 Pure Assembly Planning ................................................ 289
3.5.4 Characteristics Planning and Standard Product Planning 290
3.5.5 Characteristics Planning and Standard Product
Planning with Long-Term Planning ................................ 296
3.5.6 Variant Planning and Planning with Planning Variants ... 299
3.5.7 Variant Configuration and SCM APO ............................. 304
3.5.8 Planning and SCM APO ................................................ 307
3.6 Summary .................................................................................... 308
4 Customizing SAP ERP for Variant Configuration ...................... 311
4.1 Explicit Customizing of Variant Configuration .............................. 311
4.1.1 Maintenance Authorizations ......................................... 312
4.1.2 Status ........................................................................... 313
4.1.3 Groups .......................................................................... 315
4.1.4 Configurable Objects .................................................... 316
4.1.5 Configuration User Interface ......................................... 316
4.2 Classification System Customizing ............................................... 317
4.3 Business Process Customizing Relevant for Variant
Configuration .............................................................................. 324
4.3.1 Configurable Material Master ....................................... 324
4.3.2 Item Categories and Their Determination ...................... 327
10
6060.indb 10 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 7 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
4.3.3 Requirements Types, Requirements Classes, and Their
Determination .............................................................. 329
4.3.4 Planning Strategies ....................................................... 332
4.3.5 Change Profiles in Order Change Management
(OCM) .......................................................................... 334
4.4 Summary .................................................................................... 336
5 Special Features of Product Configuration in SAP CRM .......... 337
5.1 Product Configuration in Different Channels ............................... 337
5.2 Configuration of Products versus Services .................................... 338
5.3 Procedure for Integrated Production in SAP ERP ......................... 339
5.3.1 Sales Configuration versus Production Configuration ..... 340
5.3.2 Replication of the Master Data from SAP ERP ............... 340
5.4 Creating a Product Model Using the PME ................................... 343
5.4.1 Essential Properties and Differences Compared to
Modeling in SAP ERP .................................................... 343
5.4.2 Calling the PME ............................................................ 344
5.4.3 Product Models versus Knowledge Bases ...................... 345
5.4.4 Version and Status Management ................................... 345
5.4.5 Classes, Characteristics, and Values ............................... 346
5.4.6 Object Dependencies in the PME ................................. 348
5.4.7 Transport of Knowledge Bases ...................................... 355
5.5 IPC User Interface ....................................................................... 355
5.5.1 JavaServer Pages and J2EE Engine ................................. 355
5.5.2 Extended Configuration Management (XCM) ................ 356
5.6 Special Functions of the IPC User Interface ................................. 357
5.6.1 Images and Other Objects ............................................ 357
5.6.2 Import-Export of Configuration Results ......................... 357
5.6.3 Pricing Overview .......................................................... 358
5.6.4 Better Handling of Restrictable Characteristics .............. 360
5.6.5 Search/Set .................................................................... 360
5.6.6 Displaying Long Texts (as of SAP CRM 2006s) ............... 361
5.6.7 Messages Controlled by the Configurator (as of SAP
CRM 2006s) ................................................................. 361
5.6.8 Configuration Comparison (as of SAP CRM 2006s) ........ 362
5.7 UI Designer (as of SAP CRM 7.0) ................................................. 363
5.8 Summary .................................................................................... 365
11
6060.indb 11 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 8 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
6 Challenges in Variant Configuration ......................................... 367
6.1 Performance Optimization .......................................................... 368
6.1.1 Performance Bottlenecks—Occurrence and
Influencing Factors ....................................................... 368
6.1.2 Reasons for Performance Bottlenecks ............................ 370
6.1.3 Performance Analysis .................................................... 373
6.2 Change Management .................................................................. 376
6.2.1 Engineering Change Management (ECM) ...................... 376
6.2.2 Order Change Management (OCM) .............................. 388
6.3 Complex System Configurations .................................................. 394
6.3.1 System Configuration—Definition ................................. 394
6.3.2 Dynamic Modification of the BOM Structure ................ 395
6.3.3 Interlinked Configuration Structures in LO-VC ............... 400
6.3.4 Composition Problems in SCE Advanced Mode ............. 403
6.4 Master Data Distribution with Product Data Replication (PDR) ... 410
6.4.1 Challenge and Opportunities ....................................... 411
6.4.2 PDR Components (ALE, Configuration Management,
and Workflow) .............................................................. 413
6.4.3 Setting Up PDR ............................................................. 413
6.4.4 Preparations in the System ............................................ 415
6.4.5 Setup and Customizing of PDR ..................................... 418
6.4.6 Replication of a VC Model with PDR ............................ 427
6.5 Summary .................................................................................... 444
7 Enhancements in SAP Industry Solution DIMP ....................... 447
7.1 Overview .................................................................................... 447
7.2 DIMP—Discrete Industries and Mill Products ............................. 448
7.3 Special Requirements of the Mill Industry ................................... 449
7.3.1 Sales Order Processing and Production Scenarios .......... 450
7.3.2 Production Discrepancies—Planned Configuration and
Actual Configuration ..................................................... 450
7.4 Product Configuration Enhancements in SAP for Mill Products .... 452
7.4.1 Fast Entry of Characteristics—Simplified Entry of
Configurable Document Items ...................................... 453
7.4.2 Inheritance in Item Documents—Global and Local
Items ............................................................................ 456
12
6060.indb 12 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 9 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
7.4.3 Copying Default Values from the Customer Material
Information Record ....................................................... 457
7.4.4 Working with Sales Order Versions ............................... 457
7.4.5 Variant Configuration in Connection with Make-to-
Stock Production .......................................................... 460
7.4.6 Order Combination with Configurable Products ............ 462
7.5 Summary .................................................................................... 463
8 Enhancements and Add-Ons in the SAP Partner Environment ... 465
8.1 Sybit Model Tester (Company: Sybit GmbH) ................................ 467
8.1.1 Manual Testing—Transaction CU50 ............................... 467
8.1.2 Benefits of Automated Tests .......................................... 467
8.1.3 Sybit Model Tester ........................................................ 468
8.1.4 Summary ...................................................................... 473
8.2 Sybit Configuration Visualizer (Company: Sybit GmbH) ............... 473
8.2.1 Problem ........................................................................ 473
8.2.2 Sybit Configuration Visualizer ....................................... 475
8.2.3 User View ..................................................................... 475
8.2.4 Modeler View—The Visualization Modeling
Environment ................................................................. 477
8.2.5 System View ................................................................. 479
8.2.6 Summary ...................................................................... 480
8.3 VCPowerPack (Company: AICOMP Group) .................................. 480
8.3.1 How VCPowerPack Works ............................................. 481
8.3.2 VCPowerPack—CoreVC ................................................ 481
8.3.3 VCPowerPack—SmartVC ............................................... 482
8.3.4 VCPowerPack—SmartPR ............................................... 483
8.3.5 VCPowerPack—SmartMD ............................................. 485
8.3.6 VCPowerPack—Industry Solutions ................................ 485
8.3.7 Project Acceleration ...................................................... 485
8.3.8 Summary ...................................................................... 486
8.4 it.cadpilot (Companies: itelligence AG and ACATEC Software
GmbH) ........................................................................................ 486
8.4.1 CAD and SAP—Two Configuration Worlds? ................... 487
8.4.2 Structure of Modern 3D CAD Systems .......................... 487
8.4.3 Controlling CAD Systems .............................................. 488
8.4.4 Super BOM in Variant Configuration ............................. 489
13
6060.indb 13 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 10 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
8.4.5 Architecture .................................................................. 489
8.4.6 CAD Configuration ........................................................ 491
8.4.7 Advantages of a CAD Configuration Integrated into
SAP ERP ....................................................................... 492
8.4.8 Application Scenarios ................................................... 493
8.4.9 Additional Options ....................................................... 495
8.5 Convenience Features for Sales, Marketing, and Modeling
(Company: encoway GmbH) ........................................................ 497
8.5.1 K-Select ....................................................................... 498
8.5.2 K-Assistant .................................................................. 500
8.5.3 K-Connect ................................................................... 501
8.5.4 K-Document ................................................................ 503
8.5.5 Quoteassistant ............................................................. 506
8.5.6 Summary of Convenience Features ................................ 507
8.6 top flow Framework and top flow-Variant Engine (Company:
top flow GmbH) .......................................................................... 507
8.6.1 Optimizing the Configuration Dialog Box ...................... 508
8.6.2 Functional Enhancements ............................................. 511
8.6.3 New Object-Dependency Logic Options ....................... 512
8.6.4 Process Optimization with the top flow Variant
Engine .......................................................................... 514
8.7 Product Model Validation with ConfigScan (Companies:
Fysbee SA and eSpline LLC) ........................................................ 515
8.7.1 Business Scenarios That Motivate the Need for Change ... 516
8.7.2 Anti-Patterns in Common Use ....................................... 517
8.7.3 How ConfigScan Addresses these Issues ........................ 518
8.7.4 ConfigScan Validation Suite—The Basics ....................... 521
8.7.5 Working with the Test Editor ........................................ 521
8.7.6 Use Case: Nokia Siemens Networks .............................. 524
8.7.7 Summary ...................................................................... 526
8.8 Managing Variant Configuration (Company: eSpline LLC) ............ 526
8.8.1 Managing the LO-VC Model Lifecycle ........................... 528
8.8.2 Managing the LO-VC Transactional Processes ................ 534
8.8.3 Summary ...................................................................... 539
8.9 Summary .................................................................................... 540
14
6060.indb 14 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 11 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
9 Project Lead Reports on Projects and Project Structures ........ 543
9.1 “We’re Implementing SAP!”—A Project Lead’s Experience
Report ........................................................................................ 543
9.1.1 The Marketing Pitch and What Will Follow—Clarify
the Prerequisites for Your Work .................................... 544
9.1.2 Analyze Your Business Processes and Improve Them ..... 546
9.1.3 How Many Instances Would You Like to Have? ............. 547
9.1.4 The Regional versus Global Approach ........................... 549
9.1.5 Dealing with Modifications to the Standard System ...... 550
9.1.6 The Compromises You Can or Cannot Accept ................ 551
9.1.7 Finding the Appropriate External Support ..................... 553
9.1.8 Communicate Changes Effectively ................................. 555
9.1.9 Communicate Necessary Compromise Effectively .......... 556
9.1.10 Train Your Employees .................................................... 557
9.1.11 Problems After Going Live ............................................ 558
9.1.12 Changing Mass Data ..................................................... 559
9.1.13 Changing Business Models ............................................ 561
9.2 Roles in a Variant Configuration Team ......................................... 562
9.2.1 Expertise and Experts .................................................... 562
9.2.2 Putting Together and Structuring the Project Team ....... 567
9.3 ASAP for Variant Configuration Projects ...................................... 567
9.3.1 Project Preparation ....................................................... 569
9.3.2 Business Blueprint ........................................................ 570
9.3.3 Realization .................................................................... 570
9.3.4 Final Preparation .......................................................... 571
9.3.5 Go-Live and Support ..................................................... 572
9.3.6 Golden Client Approach ................................................ 572
9.3.7 Specific Features of IPC Scenarios ................................. 574
9.4 Summary .................................................................................... 576
10 Customer Reports on the Introduction of SAP
Variant Configuration ............................................................... 579
10.1 Progress of the Project at Getriebebau NORD ............................. 580
10.1.1 Initial Situation ............................................................. 581
10.1.2 Measures ...................................................................... 582
10.1.3 Results .......................................................................... 586
15
6060.indb 15 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 12 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
10.1.4 Summary ...................................................................... 588
10.2 Configurable Materials at Krones AG ........................................... 590
10.2.1 Project ......................................................................... 590
10.2.2 Results .......................................................................... 590
10.2.3 Summary ...................................................................... 593
10.3 Progress of the Project at Hauni Maschinenbau AG ..................... 594
10.3.1 Personnel Resources ..................................................... 595
10.3.2 Result ........................................................................... 596
10.3.3 Using the Order Engineering Workbench ...................... 599
10.4 Variant Configuration at the Felix Schoeller Group ...................... 602
10.4.1 Project .......................................................................... 602
10.4.2 Results .......................................................................... 604
10.4.3 Extending Variant Configuration Using the IPC .............. 608
10.4.4 Summary ...................................................................... 610
10.5 SAP at Hülsta and in the Hüls Corporate Group .......................... 610
10.5.1 Initial Situation ............................................................. 611
10.5.2 Preparation ................................................................... 611
10.5.3 Project Objectives and Results ...................................... 612
10.5.4 Summary ...................................................................... 619
10.6 Lenze Group—Past, Present, and Future Configuration ............... 620
10.6.1 Present Configuration—The EuLe Project ...................... 620
10.6.2 Future Configuration—Powerful Process Integration ..... 624
10.7 Product Configuration at Baldor Electric ...................................... 626
10.7.1 Starting Point of the Project .......................................... 626
10.7.2 Key Characteristics of the Project .................................. 627
10.7.3 Basics of the Variant Model .......................................... 633
10.7.4 Conclusion .................................................................... 634
10.8 Summary .................................................................................... 635
11 Configuration Workgroup ........................................................ 637
11.1 Introduction to the CWG ............................................................ 637
11.2 Tasks and Objectives ................................................................... 638
11.3 History ........................................................................................ 640
11.4 Organizational Structure ............................................................. 642
11.5 CWG Conferences ....................................................................... 643
11.6 CWG Portal ................................................................................. 644
11.7 CWG Sandbox System ................................................................. 645
11.8 Summary .................................................................................... 646
16
6060.indb 16 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 13 页 / 共 52 页
Contents
12 Outlook for SAP Business ByDesign ........................................ 647
12.1 SAP Business ByDesign ............................................................... 647
12.2 Product Configuration in Medium-Sized Businesses .................... 648
12.3 Make to Order in SAP Business ByDesign .................................... 650
12.3.1 Extending the Product Concept .................................... 651
12.3.2 Make to Specification ................................................... 652
12.3.3 Lightweight Product Variants ........................................ 653
12.4 Product Configuration in SAP Business ByDesign ........................ 654
12.4.1 Product Model ............................................................. 654
12.4.2 Product Properties ........................................................ 655
12.4.3 Integration of a Configurator ......................................... 657
12.4.4 Process Automation ...................................................... 658
12.5 Summary .................................................................................... 658
Appendices ...................................................................................... 661
A Database Tables of Variant Configuration .............................................. 663
B APIs of Variant Configuration ............................................................... 669
C User Exits of Variant Configuration ....................................................... 671
D Comprehensive Examples of Variant Functions ..................................... 673
E The Authors ......................................................................................... 681
Index ......................................................................................................... 683
17
6060.indb 17 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 14 页 / 共 52 页
2 Creating a Product Model for SAP Variant Configuration
EE A list of all BOM explosions including assigned object dependencies.
EE An evaluation of the class nodes.
EE A detailed list of the characteristic value assignment including assigned object
dependencies for characteristics and values.
EE An evaluation of the configuration profiles, including object dependencies.
2.6 Object Dependencies for the Value Assignment
Interface or the Sales View
As already described, object dependencies are required for two usages: the high-level
configuration (sales configuration, in the dialog, for the value assignment interface)
and the low-level configuration (BOM and routing explosion, also without dialog).
The following section discusses the first usage in more detail.
2.6.1 Product Modeling Environment PMEVC
Various transactions or methods are provided for the maintenance of object depen-
dencies for the value assignment interface. The most important maintenance envi-
ronment for object dependencies for the value assignment interface, both local
and global, is the PMEVC product modeling environment (see Figure 2.29). This
section therefore focuses on this environment. Section 2.7 introduces additional
maintenance options.
The PMEVC product modeling environment has been available as Transaction
PMEVC since SAP ERP Release 5.0. A similar function is also part of the IPC. PMEVC
is short for Product Modeling Environment Variant Configuration. The concept behind
this transaction is to create an environment in which you can maintain the entire
variant model via the model structure from the high-level configuration perspective.
Similar to the CUMODEL variant model browser, you can first obtain an overview
of the existing model structure and then navigate to details.
You can also create and change numerous components of the configuration model
from this product modeling environment. This enables you to create and change
all types of object dependencies, both global and local. The same applies to con-
figuration profiles, variant tables, and IPC data.
142
6060.indb 142 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 15 页 / 共 52 页
Object Dependencies for the Value Assignment Interface or the Sales View 2.6
Figure 2.29 Product Modeling Environment PMEVC
The product modeling environment uses an additional editor for the maintenance
of object dependencies. In contrast to the traditional object dependency editor,
this editor allows you to use the following elements:
EE Context-sensitive input help
EE Drag-and-drop
143
6060.indb 143 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 16 页 / 共 52 页
2 Creating a Product Model for SAP Variant Configuration
EE Object dependency wizard for preconditions, selection conditions, and table-
based constraints
You can call the context-sensitive input help via the function key [F4] or the sec-
ond button in the editor (see Figure 2.29). All types of syntax elements as well as
characteristics and characteristic values are provided. You can insert them in their
respective positions in the object dependency syntax.
The drag-and-drop function enables you to copy individual characteristic values
from the lists on the left (see Figure 2.29) to the editor in PMEVC. As the example
in Listing 2.7 shows, the characteristic and the characteristic value are transferred
in the form of an equation.
char1 = ’value1’
Listing 2.7 Example of a Syntax Generated via Drag-and-Drop
As already mentioned, the object dependency wizard enables you to create precon-
ditions and selection conditions as well as table-based constraints without having
to write the syntax yourself. The wizard queries all necessary information, and the
system creates the syntax and all other required data.
The PMEVC product modeling environment not only enables you to completely
maintain all object dependencies that are relevant for the value assignment inter-
face; PMEVC also allows for nearly all maintenance steps of the modeling for the
high-level configuration. This includes the following aspects:
EE Maintenance (creation, modification, display, assignment) of object dependen-
cies for the configuration profile, characteristics, and characteristic values
EE Class-specific characteristic adaptation
EE Simple classification (no multiple classification)
EE Creation of a configuration profile (several profiles for one material master are
not possible, but you can maintain all existing configuration profiles)
EE Usage of change numbers
EE Maintenance of the structure of variant tables
EE Maintenance of the content of variant tables
EE Modification of object dependencies for the BOM
EE Creation of the knowledge base and runtime version for the IPC
144
6060.indb 144 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 17 页 / 共 52 页
Object Dependencies for the Value Assignment Interface or the Sales View 2.6
EE Material-specific activation of the IPC as the configurator in SAP ERP
EE Maintenance of the user interface design
EE Maintenance and assignment of variant conditions for pricing
Enhancement Package 5 (EHP5) of ERP Release 6.0 is likely to provide the additional
option to not only change existing object dependencies in the BOM but also create
new object dependencies. You can also use drag-and-drop.
The system functions are also supposed to be enhanced. If you start the simula-
tion from PMEVC ( button in Figure 2.29), the system first displays a screen
for assigning values to reference characteristics. Depending on the configuration
scenario—that is, whether it is a sales order or material variant scenario—you can
assign values to all relevant reference characteristics before the actual value assign-
ment screen opens.
Besides these two aspects (creation of new object dependencies for BOM items
and simulation with reference characteristics), EHP5 will probably provide the
following additional PMEVC functions:
EE Creation of new characteristic values
EE Creation of new descriptions and long texts in additional languages for charac-
teristics and characteristic values
EE Easier maintenance of characteristics groups within the scope of user interface
design, including drag-and-drop option
EE Detailed view for BOMs and BOM items
Most of the master data of the Variant Configuration model cannot be maintained
via PMEVC. Consequently, it is required that the following master data be created
via the common transactions in advance:
EE Characteristics
EE Classes
EE Material masters
EE BOMs including all objects at the item level
EE Routings including all objects at the operation level
EE Variant functions
145
6060.indb 145 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 18 页 / 共 52 页
2 Creating a Product Model for SAP Variant Configuration
EE Change numbers
EE Objects that couldn’t be created in PMEVC before Release ERP 6.0
After this introduction of PMEVC, the following section describes an example of
its usage.
2.6.2 Example
After these rather theoretical explanations, it may be helpful to provide you with
a practical example of how you can use PMEVC to create object dependencies for
the value assignment interface. For this purpose, you use the object dependency
wizard in PMEVC.
To map dependencies between the individual characteristics of the value assignment
interface, you should use tables or, if they don’t become too long, variant tables.
The advantage of tables is that you can read the dependency type from them more
easily than when evaluating the syntax of the object dependencies directly. Fur-
thermore, the usage of variant tables has a major advantage if the model is “alive”:
If the dependencies in the model change, you have to change only the content of
the variant table, without having to modify the syntax of the object dependencies.
The easiest way to evaluate the table is to write object dependencies that query the
table and only allow for value assignments that comply with the table. This is to
be implemented in such a way that no disallowed value assignments are possible.
The list of the allowed values for each characteristic is supposed to be dynamically
restricted in such a way that only allowed value assignments are possible. For the
selection of such “elegant” object dependencies, you must use a type for which
the user doesn’t have to specify a point in time when the object dependencies are
to be processed. You should therefore use constraints.
In Figure 2.30, PMEVC was called with material T-VPC. The system has found the
BOM for the material. These are initially the two only entries in structure (1). You
now require at least the variant class and the configuration profile. As already men-
tioned, the variant class, including its characteristics, needs to be created outside
PMEVC. In Figure 2.30 the existing variant class is already assigned.
This variant class (or a complete group of variant classes) was previously included
in the PMEVC environment (see the bottom left of Figure 2.31, here under Envi-
ronment • Classes and Context menu). You then simply assign the variant class
via drag-and-drop.
146
6060.indb 146 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 19 页 / 共 52 页
Object Dependencies for the Value Assignment Interface or the Sales View 2.6
Figure 2.30 Getting Started in PMEVC: Class Assignment and Creation of a Configuration Profile
Figure 2.31 Variant Tables—Creation and Content Maintenance with PMEVC
147
6060.indb 147 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 20 页 / 共 52 页
2 Creating a Product Model for SAP Variant Configuration
In contrast to the variant class, you can create the configuration profile directly
from PMEVC. As you can see in Figure 2.30 (2), this function is available in the
context menu at the material master level. Similar to the common transaction for
the creation of configuration profiles, you can create a configuration profile with
the default values. Unlike the common transaction, there are also default values
for the name and variant class type.
In addition to the two previously mentioned steps, the model structure consists of
four objects: material master, configuration profile, variant class, and BOM.
A variant table (see Figure 2.31) is supposed to map the allowed combinations for
the value assignment of numerous characteristics. In this example, we assume that
this includes the three characteristics: “Special wish,” “Casing,” and “CPU.” For this
purpose, perform the following steps:
1. Create a variant table
First you create the variant table via the context menu in the environment,
because it isn’t provided here yet.
2. Name of the table
The window Create Variant Table opens, in which you enter a name for the
table. Engineering Change Management is optional and not supposed to be
used in this example.
3. Description of the table
The system then displays the detail screen (see Figure 2.31) with five tabs. In
the Basic Data tab, enter a description (language-dependent), and then release
the variant table.
4. Assigning characteristics
In the Characteristics tab, specify the three mentioned characteristics in any
sequence.
5. Entering the table content
Finally, enter the allowed combinations of the value assignment with regard to
the three characteristics as rows in the Contents tab.
After the variant tables have been created and their content has been maintained, you
require object dependencies. Object dependencies read the table and dynamically
148
6060.indb 148 10/4/11 11:56 AM
第 21 页 / 共 52 页
Object Dependencies for the Value Assignment Interface or the Sales View 2.6
restrict the value lists of the corresponding characteristics in such a way that only
value assignments from the table are possible. For this purpose, start the table
constraint wizard via the context menu for the configuration profile, as shown in
Figure 2.32.
Figure 2.32 Creating Object Dependencies Using the Table Constraint Wizard
The wizard guides you through the individual steps of the creation of constraints
and queries you for all required information. It is possible that the wizard may
dynamically adapt the steps to the already specified information. The wizard pro-
cesses the following steps:
1. Start
The first step of the wizard provides information on the procedure for the cre-
ation of a constraint with reference to a variant table.
149
6060.indb 149 10/4/11 11:56 AM