Using additional and new syntax elements

The data types of characteristics have also been changed. There are two types of numeric formats available:

1. Integer, no decimal places
2. Floating point: Visible as numeric data type with decimal places. This has the advantage that calculations, and so on, become more precise in the database.

Numbers can be rounded to a specified number of decimal places. Rounding to integer values is also possible.

What's new in AVC?

• We don't need the Restrictable indicator in the characteristic definition. However, the characteristic can be restricted.

• We don't need the INFERENCES-Part in the constraints.

• A CONDITION - Part isn't restrictive. (Similar to classic LO-VC)

• An IF - condition in the restrictions part is restrictive. (In contrast to classic LO-VC)

Constraints can now also be used for pricing. The syntax element SET_PRICING_FACTOR now exists here.

This can be used to determine the minimum and maximum allowed value of a restricted value range.

Deleting User Values: Syntax Examples

$DEL_USER_VAL($self, characteristic, value)

Value: explicit or implied via valuated characteristic

Value assignment of user and $DEL_USER_VAL($self,Characteristic, 9)

Valuations other than 9 aren't deleted.

Valuations that don't come from the user aren't deleted.

(For example, a default value)

New syntax elements are implemented. These can cut substrings from characteristic values of CHAR characteristics.

When used in an IF part of a procedure, ASSIGNED_VALS allows checks that only take assignments into account.

For example, a multilevel integer characteristic x was assigned the values 1 and 2, and the value 3 is possible.

In this case, the condition ASSIGNED_VALS(x) <> 3 produces true, whereas condition x <> 3 doesn't.

Syntax:

Can be used in a procedure wherever an integer condition is allowed.

NO_OF_ASSIGNED_VALS(x) returns the number of values assigned to x when the statement is executed.

For example, the values 1 and 2 have been assigned to the multilevel integer characteristic x, and the value 3 is possible. Then y = NO_OF_ASSIGNED_VALS(x) would lead to y = 2.

The condition NO_OF_ASSIGNED_VALS(x) = 3 would be evaluated as false.

The initial situation without the new syntax element EXIT:

Procedures behave differently under AVC than under LO-VC:

Under LO-VC, it terminates a procedure at the point where nonexecutable statements are to be processed. As a result, the remaining statements of the procedure wouldn't be processed.

Under AVC, only the one valuation isn't executed. The remaining statements of the procedure would be processed.

With AVC using EXIT, you achieve a behavior like LO-VC. After the value assignments, termination conditions must be specified for the rest of the procedure.

The following simulation shows new functions and new syntax elements with the configurable product T-FC91.