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Exhibit B: Expert Configurator Multi-Level Example >
Generating Configured Screens
Generating Configured Screens
After all parts, configured parts, component parts, and configuration templates are defined , we can begin the configuration process. In our example, we define the sales order entry rules first, followed by the pricing and manufacturing rules. Since the Expert Configurator processes rules in a hierarchical manner based first on the part number and then the rule number, we can control the execution path of the rules with rule numbers. It is important to define your rules to execute in the proper order through the use of the rule number and releasing rule. See Rule Definition for more information on rules processing.
Expert Configurator screens are defined and validated through the use of screen generation and screen validation rules, also known as sales order entry rules. In a multi-level environment these rules are defined for every configured part. The figure below illustrates the screen generation rules for the desk.
WILLIAMS PLT BEL EXPERT CONFIGURATOR 3/02/92
DSP01 SALES ORDER SCREEN RULE MAINTENANCE DETAIL
Rule Number 00001 01 DESK-001 OPTION SELECT SCREEN
Part Number DESK-001 BUILD-THRU/CFG DESK Version 01
P
Sq Option Description C Opt Def Default Value Cat Typ
05 STOCKHOLM Stockholm Model 1 1 A N R
10 LONDON London Model 1 1 A Y R
15 DESKSIZE1 2.0m x 0.8m 1 1 A N R
20 DESKSIZE2 3.0m x 0.8m 1 1 A N R
25 DESKSIZE3 3.0m x 1.0m 1 1 A Y R
30 COLOR Color 1 15 A M
35 LUXURY Luxury Model 1 1 A Y R
40 TABLE Add-On Table 1 1 A N R
+
F2=Command F3=Exit F4=Prompt F7=Header
F9=Inquiry F10=Function Select F15=Rekey Data
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The Sales Order Screen Rule Maintenance Detail Screen.
For a more detailed explanation of these rules, see Screen Generation Rule and Screen Validation Rule in this section. Also, the Key Concepts and Procedures give detailed information on maintaining all of the Expert Configurator rules and matrices. Please refer to the Key Concepts and Procedures section for more information on maintaining the rules discussed in this example.
As the previous figure shows, we defined several promptable fields on our Desk Option Select Screen. For each field, options and default values may be specified as well as the type of the field. Each field appears on the screen in sequence number order. Note that we did not define an option for selecting the standard model. We only defined an option for the luxury model, and if the luxury model is not selected, we assume that the standard model will be manufactured. However, a standard option may be defined. See below for an example of the screen generated by these rules.
WILLIAMS PLT BEL EXPERT CONFIGURATOR 3/02/92
DSP01 LUXURY DESK ORDER SELECTION OPTIONS
Order Number M0020 00 Line Number 001
Part Number DESK-001 BUILD-THRU/CFG DESK
Order Qty 2.000 UM EA
Part in Configuration DESK-001 Seq 00 BUILD-THRU/CFG DESK
Stockholm Model N
London Model Y
2.0m x 0.8m N
3.0m x 0.8m N
3.0m x 1.0m Y
Color BLACK
Luxury Model Y
Add-On Table N
F3=Exit F4=Prompt F15=Rekey Data
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The Expert Configurator Order Selection Screen Generated by the Screen Rules
Created in The Sales Order Screen Rule Maintenance Detail Screen.
Note that the length of each field on the order entry screen corresponds to the number entered in the OPT column of the screen generation rules. If a field contains a default value as specified in the generation rules, it appears in the field on the order entry screen. Also note that an R entered in the category type column (Cat Typ) of the generation rules requires a yes (Y) or no (N) response on the order entry screen.
We defined screen generation rules for the drawer in a similar manner. The figure below shows the rules for the drawer.
WILLIAMS PLT BEL EXPERT CONFIGURATOR 3/02/92
DSP01 SALES ORDER SCREEN RULE MAINTENANCE DETAIL
Rule Number DR001 01 DRAWER-001 OPTION SELECT SCREEN
Part Number DRAWER-001 BT/CFG DESK DRAWERS Version 01
P
Sq Option Description C Opt Def Default Value Cat Typ
5 DRAWERSIZE1 Three drawers 1 1 A Y R
10 DRAWERSIZE2 Two drawers 1 1 A N R
15 PENCILCUP Pencil/Pen Tray 1 1 A Y R
20 DRAWERCOLOR Color 1 15 A M
+
F2=Command F3=Exit F4=Prompt F7=Header
F9=Inquiry F10=Function Select F15=Rekey Data
|
The Sales Order Screen Rule Maintenance Detail Screen.
Note that we allow for the drawers to be selected in two different versions (two or three drawers), a pencil tray is an optional accessory, and a color must be chosen (which must be compatible with that chosen for the desk, see Validating Configured Screens). The screen generated by the rules shown in the previous figure is illustrated below. This screen is displayed when the Configured Component Rule for the drawers is encountered during processing of the sales order entry rules for the desk. In our example, we created the Configured Component Rule after the Screen Validation rules for the desk (the Configured Component Processing section discusses this in more detail later in this example).
WILLIAMS PLT BEL EXPERT CONFIGURATOR 3/03/92
DSP01 SALES ORDER SCREEN RULE INQUIRY SCREEN DETAIL
Rule Number DR001 01 DRAWER-001 OPTION SELECT SCREEN
Part Number DRAWER-001 BT/CFG DESK DRAWERS Version 01
P
Sq Variable Description C Opt Def Default Value Cat Typ
5 DRAWERSIZE1 Three drawers 1 1 A Y R
10 DRAWERSIZE2 Two drawers 1 1 A N R
15 PENCILCUP Pencil/Pen Tray 1 1 A Y R
20 DRAWERCOLOR Color 1 15 A M
F2=Command F3=Exit F7=Header F8=List
F9=Maintenance F10=Select
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The Sales Order Screen Rule Inquiry Detail Screen.