Create and Maintain Configuration Formulas

Explanation

This activity is used when you want to create a formula for use in the configuration back office rules. A configuration formula allows you to define a mathematical expression using configuration values or quantities, mathematical operators, SQL functions, or other formulas to calculate a value used during back office evaluation. The formula is comprised of element lines, each representing a single element of syntax in the formula.

For example, the formula to calculate the area of a rectangular surface for a product defined as 'WIDTH * HEIGHT' would be expressed as three elements:

  1. Characteristic Value for WIDTH
  2. Mathematical Operator '*'
  3. Characteristic Value for HEIGHT

Prerequisites

IFS/Configuration Back Office and IFS/Configuration Characteristic must be installed. A configuration family must exist to be referenced by this formula.

System Effects

As a result of this activity, a formula is created for use in the configuration back office rules.

Window

Configuration Formula

Related Window Descriptions

Configuration Formula
Configuration Formula/Element

Procedure

  1. Open the Configuration Formula window and create a new record. 
  2. In the Formula Code field, enter an alphanumeric code to identify this configuration formula, and then enter a description in the Description field.
  3. In the Config Family ID field, select a configuration family from the List of Values. This also sets the config family ID description, which defines the set of configuration characteristics that can be used within this formula.
  4. Save your changes. The Status field defaults to Incomplete, indicating the formula is not yet ready for use, and the Formula ID is assigned by the system.
  5. Click anywhere within the Element tab, and then click New to create a new formula element line.
  6. In the Item field, enter a value, and then select an Item Type value from the drop-down list. You can also select a value from the Operator, Function, Formulas, Combination, Characteristics, or Characteristic Quantity secondary tabs on the right side of the window. To do this, click in the Item field, and then double-click the secondary tab row containing the desired element (e.g., Characteristic). Alternatively, select the row and right-click and then click Set Value. This also sets the value in the Item Type field.
  7. If the Item Type is either Characteristic Value or Characteristic Qty, enter a value in the Test Value field to be used for testing the formula. This is used to simulate an actual value from a configuration.
  8. Continue entering formula elements as described above until the formula is composed.