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Setting up Features & Options

Step 1 - Set up Features in Inventory

An O type inventory item is a item number that represents a group or set of options.  We refer to this as a Feature.  A feature is not a tangible item and is never stocked or ordered.  It can also be thought of as a "Decision point" or node in the configuration flowchart.  A bill of material is created for the feature in which the components themselves represent the actual options.  We will refer to this as an Option Bill.  As an example, an O type item could be setup for a feature using the product code "COLOR."  An option bill could then be entered for COLOR in which all the actual color options are entered as components.  Create an O type item for all features that will be needed for your product line.

Step 2 - Create Option Bills of Material

After O type inventory items are created for all the Features needed, you may create Option Bills of Material through FO-A  Enter Features and Options or BM-A  Enter Bills of Material.  Enter the O type feature as the Parent Product and the actual options as components.

Step 3 - Add Features to Parent Bills of Material

Wherever a finished good or subassembly parent product has a set of options within its bill of material, add a Feature (O type item) as a bill of material component instead of the specific options.  During sales order entry the options within that feature will be presented in a pop-up window for selection.

Step 4 - Review FO-B, Print Features and Options

You can print out the features and options for any parent product through FO-B  Print Features and Options.  If you answer yes to Print the Subassemblies? you will see all levels of the product structure.  This report is limited to features and options only and does not include the standard components.

Step 5 - Test Options in SO-A, Enter Sales Orders

The best way to verify if your features and options are setup properly is to enter a sales order in SO-A  Enter Sales Orders.  You can enter an order for the item or items you wish to test.  You can press <Esc> and not save the order, thus allowing you to test as many products as you wish without creating live sales orders.  You can also use SO-P-A  Enter Sales Quotations (which has identical functionality as SO-A), for testing purposes.

Features and Options Defaults

Defaults are established in SD-L  Features and Options Defaults.  These defaults are standard settings for various prompts used during features and options entry and allow you to tailor the system to your needs.  All default settings can be overridden during actual features and options entry.  Defaults must be entered before the system will allow you to use FO-A  Enter Features and Options.