Rule Version

When a rule is defined, it must be assigned an alphanumeric rule version number.  This number determines the set of rules to be applied for the configuration of a part.  The rule version that corresponds to the current part version will be used.

This feature enables multiple versions of configuration to exist.  As features and options change, configuration can also change.  When a new set of rules is defined, a different version number can be assigned.  This allows the previous set of rules to remain intact for future use.

The rule version number can also be used as a debugging tool during the creation and maintenance of rules.  For testing purposes, a rule may be temporarily assigned a version number that is not active to deactivate a rule without deleting it from the data base.