Configurable products are customizable products that have attributes associated with them. Users select values for these associated attributes to configure the product.
For example, a laptop might have attributes for the processor, memory, hard drive, optical drive, and warranty. As the attributes are selected, they'll be displayed, along with their price, in an area of SAP CPQ called the Responder. The Responder allows users to view all the attributes selected for that product.
Configurable products aren't imported. Typically, configurable products are created manually based on a client's needs. Configurable products can also be created by redefining a simple product as a configurable product.
A configurable product's configuration options are logically divided into the following tabs:
- Definition
- Pricing
- Attributes
- Rules and Messages
- Scripts
- Layout
- Advanced Settings
Product Attributes Definition
In the product configuration section, there's an option to add attributes to individual products directly. You can also create new attributes, which will automatically appear in the full list of attributes.
To create a new attribute, choose Define New Attribute, and you'll be redirected to the attribute creation screen, where you can follow the step-by-step procedure to set it up.
When you want to add an existing attribute to a product, choose Add Attribute. A popup with a list of all available attributes displays, and you can select the one you'd like to assign to the product.
Note
Editing Attributes within Products
It's possible to define attribute behavior within each product separately. None of these options are mandatory.
Product Attribute Properties
| Topic | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Display as | Determines how the attribute is displayed in the Configurator. |
| Custom Label | Replaces the default attribute name for this product only. Formula Builder can also be used to retrieve the label from other places in the application. |
| List as Line Item | Attributes marked as line items are listed as separate items in the quote and can be configured independently from the products. |
| Required | Determines whether it is mandatory to select an attribute value to complete the configuration. |
| Hint | Creates a tooltip next to the attribute label. The hint isn’t displayed if the selected attribute display type is Hidden Calculated. |
The following options are displayed only if List as Line Item option is active.
Available Options with Active List as Line Item
| Topic | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Description | What you enter here will be displayed below the line item when it is configured. |
| User Can Enter Quantity | Users can enter the quantity of child items independently of the parent item quantity. If enabled, you can create a formula with conditions which determine which permission groups can edit quantity. If both this toggle switch and Inherit Quantity from Parent are enabled, the line item quantity will be inherited from the parent product, and user can’t. |
| Inherit Quantity from Parent | Line item inherits the quantity of the parent item. If enabled, you can create a formula to expand the basic conditions (yes/no). |
| Rank within the Quote | If there are several items, their rank determines the order in which they are displayed in the Configurator. |
Table Additional Attribute Definition
| Topic | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Width | Width determines how much space the attribute takes up in the Configurator. |
| Height | Height determines how many rows the attribute takes up in the Configurator. The value defined indicates the number of rows and not the number of pixels. |
| Formula for Calculating Attribute Quantity | It can be added a formula which calculates the attribute quantity during configuration. For example, the quantity of one attribute can be conditioned by the quantity of another one. The maximum allowed number of characters is 2500. |
| Custom Range Error Text | It can be defined an error message which displays if users enter an incorrect value. |
| Spans Across Entire Row in Configurator | The attribute stretches across the entire row, so no other attributes are positioned next to it. |
| Show One Time Price | Enabling this option shows the one-time price of the attribute in the Configurator. By default, it is disabled, so the price of the product is the only one displayed. |
| Show Recurring Price | Enabling this option shows the recurring price of the attribute in the Configurator. By default, it is disabled, so the price of the product is the only one displayed. |
| Triggers Execution of Rules | When the attribute value is changed in the Configurator, a product rule is executed. Applicable only if rules are attached to the product. |
| Refresh Configurator on Change | Every time a user selects an attribute value, the Configurator is refreshed. |
| Start Date/End Date | The dates between which the attribute is available on the product. |
| Inherit Product Type from | You can select a product that the attribute will inherit the product type from, even though by default the main item serves as a source of the product type. |
Table Attribute Display Types
| Attribute Display Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Autocomplete – Quote Table | Used for autocomplete attributes sourced from quote tables. The attribute is displayed as a dropdown list with an input field, where the user can enter a value. The attribute will automatically suggest values based on what the user entered. |
| Autocomplete – Custom Table | Used for autocomplete attributes sourced from custom tables. The attribute is displayed as a dropdown list with an input field, where the user can enter a value. The attribute will automatically suggest values based on what the user entered. |
| Container | Containers are displayed as a table which can be expanded by adding attributes or products. Its columns are defined in Setup, while its rows can be added and deleted during product configuration. |
| Checkbox | All attribute values are visible and there is a checkbox, which can be chosen, next to every value. You can select multiple values. |
| Dropdown | Choosing the attribute opens up a dropdown list of attribute values, where you can select a single value. |
| Radio button | All attribute values are visible and there is a button, which can be chosen next to every value. You can select only one value. |
| Button | The attribute is displayed as a single button. You can define the text displayed on the button in product attribute definition. |
| Custom Control | This display type is used with the Drilldown functionality. |
| Display Only Text | Create text that is displayed in the configuration. One way to use this attribute display type is to combine it with the User Input or Computed – String attribute type, to create headers in the Configurator to separate groups of attributes in a single tab. |
| File Attachment | The user is able to upload a file attachment. |
| Image Button | This display type is similar to a radio button, except that you perform the selection by choosing an image. You can select only one value. |
| List Box | A list displayed in a box, where you can select a single value. This type is used the same way as the dropdown list, but appears different visually. |
| List Box Multi-select | A list displayed in a box, where you can select multiple values. Multiple values are selected using the Shift key (for a range of subsequent) or the Control key (for choosing multiple specific values). |
| Free Input, No Matching | This display type is used with all three User Input or Computed attribute types. It can only be selected when the attribute has only one value. When it is combined with Date, a date picker is displayed in the configurator, allowing for a single choice. With Number and String, users can enter any numeric or string value. |
| Free Form, Exact Match | The user needs to enter the exact attribute value in the field. If the match isn’t exact, no value is saved. This display type has a similar function to the dropdown display type. However, it is more practical than the dropdown when it comes to exceedingly large numbers of attribute values, which would be difficult to navigate in a dropdown menu. |
| Free Form, Exact Match w/ Otherwise Option | The user enters the desired attribute value in the field. If the value entered does not exactly match a defined attribute value, it is overwritten by a different value. This display type is obsolete and should not be used. |
| Free Form, Match Lower | The user enters the desired attribute value in the field. The entered value is then matched with the adjacent lower value. For example, if the attribute values are 25, 30, and 35, and the user enters 32, the display value is saved as 32 in the Configurator, but the attribute value code selected in SAP CPQ is 30. |
| Free Form, Match Upper | The user enters the desired attribute value in the field. The entered value is then matched with the adjacent higher value. For example, if the values are 25, 30, and 35, and the user enters 32, the display value is saved as 32 in the Configurator, but the attribute value code selected in SAP CPQ is 35. |
| Free Form, Set Match Lower | The user enters the desired attribute value in the field. If the entered value does not match any attribute values, the value in the Configurator is overwritten with the adjacent lower value and that value is saved in SAP CPQ. |
| Free Form, Set Match Upper | The user enters the desired attribute value in the field. If the entered value does not match any attribute values, the value in the Configurator is overwritten with the adjacent higher value and that value is saved in SAP CPQ. |
| Hidden calculated, Match Lower | Attributes with the Hidden calculated display types aren't visible in the Configurator. Instead, they're used in calculations by using values from other fields. This display type overwrites the value with the lower adjacent attribute value. Calculations in hidden calculated attributes are performed before rules are executed. |
| Hidden calculated, Match Upper | Attributes with the Hidden calculated display types aren't visible in the Configurator. Instead, they're used in calculations, for which they use values from other fields. This display type overwrites the value with the higher adjacent attribute value. Calculations in hidden calculated attributes are performed before rules are executed. |
| Hidden, Calculated, no Matching | Attributes with the Hidden calculated display types aren't visible in the Configurator. Instead, they're used in calculations, for which they use values from other fields. This display type keeps the received value and doesn't overwrite it with any attribute value. Calculations in hidden calculated attributes are performed before rules are executed. |
| Subproduct | This display type is no longer supported. Instead of the Subproduct attribute display type, the attribute type Container should be used. |