Definition and assignment of assessment methods

Assessment methods can be cross-series, series-specific or item specific. The deeper within the Series -> Item hierarchy an assessment method is assigned, the higher its priority. An assessment method on item level would, e.g., override an assessment method assigned on series level. An overriding assessment method can however only define additional restrictions. It is, e.g., not possible to reactivate options that have already been excluded by a series-specific assessment method by using an item-specific assessment method.

Assessment methods are initially created irrespective of their regular assignment and then assigned to series or items.

Creation of assessment methods

Assessment methods are specified in the following element:

FEATURE_DEFINITION/RESTRICTIONS/RESTRICTION

The RESTRICTION element is used to reference features for which the assisting method is to be created for their combinations. The options for which the combinations are to be assessed or referenced in the OPTION_REf element. Only options for which the features have been referenced in the RESTRICTION element may be referenced within the features. The TEST_ID element defines whether the specified feature combination is allowed or prohibited.

Example: definition of assessment methods

<OPTION_COMBINATION>

<OPTION_REF OPTION_KEY="F50"FEATURE_NO="17"/>#Timber foot

<OPTION_REF OPTION_KEY="P44"FEATURE_NO="18"/>#colour maple

</OPTION_COMBINATION>

<OPTION_COMBINATION>

<OPTION_REF OPTION_KEY="F50"FEATURE_NO="17"/>#Timber foot

<OPTION_REF OPTION_KEY="P51"FEATURE_NO="18"/>#colour cherry

</OPTION_COMBINATION>

<OPTION_COMBINATION>

<OPTION_REF OPTION_KEY="F91"FEATURE_NO="17"/>#metal foot

<OPTION_REF OPTION_KEY="P20"FEATURE_NO="18"/>#silver

</OPTION_COMBINATION>

<TEST_ID>1</TEST_ID>

</RESTRICTION>

</RESTRICTIONS>

The above example shows the definition of an assessment method that defines the options of features for "foot shape" (no. 17) and "foot colour" (no. 18). In the above assessment method, the combinations timber foot-colour maple, timber foot-colour cheery in metal foot are allowed (TEST_ID = 1). When listing the feature combinations (OPTION_REF), the order as determined by the attributes of RESTRICTION (FEATURE_1_NO, FEATURE_2_NO) must be observed.

The assessment method is identified by being allocated an unequivocal number (RESTRICTION_NO).

Assignment of assessment methods

Cross-series assignment

The following element is used to assign assessment methods across series:

SERIES/RESTRICTIONS/RESTRICTION_REF

The element RESTRICTION_REF is a child element of the SERIES/RESTRICTIONS element, and assigns the assessment methods referenced in RESTRICTION_RF to all series that are defined in SERIES/SERIE.

Example: cross-series assignment of assessment methods

<RESTRICTION_REF SEQUENCE="1"RESTRICTION_NO="523"/>

<RESTRICTION_REF SEQUENCE="2"RESTRICTION_NO="678"/>

</RESTRICTIONS>

</SERIES>

The above example shows assessment methods 523 and 678 reference and thereby being assigned to all series.

Series-specific assignment

The series-specific assignment of assessment methods follows the same rules as the cross-series assignment. The following element is used for the series-specific assignment:

SERIES/SERIE/RESTRICTIONS/RESTRICTION_REF

The assessment methods referenced in RESTRICTIONS_REF are assigned to the series in which the reference was placed.

Example: series-specific assignment of assessment methods

<RESTRICTION_REF SEQUENCE="1"RESTRICTION_NO="45"/>

<RESTRICTION_REF SEQUENCE="2"RESTRICTION_NO="67"/>

</RESTRICTIONS>

</SERIE>

<RESTRICTION_REF SEQUENCE="1"RESTRICTION_NO="45"/>

<RESTRICTION_REF SEQUENCE="2"RESTRICTION_NO="123"/>

</RESTRICTIONS>

</SERIE>

</SERIES>

The above example shows how series "2" was assigned assessment methods 45 and 67, in series "7" was assigned assessment methods 45 and 123.

Item-specific assignment

The following element is used for article-specific assignments of assessment methods:

SERIES/SERIE/PRODUCT_GROUPS/PRODUCT_GROUP/ITEMS/ITEM/RESTRICTIONS/RESTRICTION_REF

The assignment of assessment method follows the same rules as the series-specific assignment.

If no assignment methods are assigned to an item, the item is available for delivery with all options.

Product group-specific assignment

The following element is used for product group-specific assignments of assessment methods:

SERIES/SERIE/PRODUCT_GROUPS/PRODUCT_GROUP/RESTRICTIONS/RESTRICTION_REF

The assignment of assessment method follows the same rules as the series-specific assignment.

Rules

In addition to RESTRICTIONS, there are now the DECISIONS.

The rules/assessment procedures are assigned to serious or items by references from the corresponding elements. In total, all assessment procedures defined in this element must be referenced from either series or items.

Rules that are referenced by items take priority over rules referenced by series.

DECISIONS have 3 types of rules (identified by TEST_ID).

Depending on the TEST_ID element, different rules can be specified.

If the value in TEST_ID is 1, the rule is a "preparation rule".

This allows for the definition of valid options in OPTION_COMBINATION. These are used to determine the valid options of a feature. These rules do not have an action part ("ACTIONS") and they define a quantity of feature combinations that are either true or false. This is a table with the features (FEATURES) as column headings; the cell contents of this table are values, lists, intervals, feature groups that are linked by quantity operators.

The conditions are supplemented with operators. The special data type operator was defined for this purpose. It may contain the following values:

eq (equal)

ne (not equal)

in (is contained in a quantity)

nin (is not contained in a quantity)

gt (greater)

lt (less)

ge (greater than or equal)

le (less than or equal)

The individual OPTION_COMBINATIONs must be considered as ELSE branches. This means that as soon as a condition line (OPTION_COMBINATIONS) receives a hit, the others will not be executed anymore.

If the value in TEST_ID is 2, the rule is a an action rule. It allows for the definition of actions in addition to the conditions.

If all conditions within an „OPTION_COMBINATION“ are satisfied, all signed actions (ACTIONS) then can set values or make features (FEATURES) invisible depending on conditions. If an OPTION_COMBINATION is satisfied, the other conditions are not processed.

Actions (ACTIONS) are instructions that are executed if a condition is met. The following actions can be executed:

The setting of options (SET_FEATURE_FIXED) with the following options:

§Direct, e.g. main fabric = "blue" (OPTION)

§the setting of feature values from another feature (FEATURE), e.g. ledge fabric = main fabric

§the calculation of options (e.g. sitting height + 5 cm).
This function is only available for dimension versions and takes place via a formula string that may contain parameters and values.
This requires the feature (e.g. sitting height) to be assigned with a parameter (e.g. "sh").
The measure parameter (MEASURE_PARAMETER) can be supplemented with a unit (MEASURE_UNIT). The formula (FORMULA_STRING) therefore only contains the parameters (e.g. planning width = 2 * st + sb, which means that the planning width results from the sitting width + 2 times the side element width)

Setting default features (SET_FEATURE_DEFAULT):
These can be filled if no value has been entered yet. The same options as above apply.
The visibility of features (SET_FEATURE_VISIBLE, SET_FEATURE_INVISIBLE) and disabling of rules (DISABLE_DECISION, ENABLE_DECISION):
Example: for wooden feet, a potentially existing feature for a shade can be displayed and made invisible if a metal foot is selected.

Action rules are usually used in the configurator if an option value (an option) changes. If, for example, the foot option is changed from stainless steel to wood, a feature for the shade can be displayed.