Define a configurable product in Excel: the configurator workbook

Download one workbook that holds the whole definition of one or more models, edit it in Excel, and upload it. Check reports every problem by sheet and row; Import writes everything in one transaction.

Entering a configurable product screen by screen is hundreds of forms. The workbook holds all of it: Models, Characteristics (the questions), Values (the answers, including Other with a number and a typed length), Rules (one IF ... THEN ... sentence per row), Components (fixed components and the lines of named bills), Operations (the operations of named routings), Structure (which child models a parent is built from and which characteristics flow down) and Items (items the import may create). The Instructions sheet carries the rule grammar with examples.

1. Open Supply Chain > Product Configurator > Configurator · Workbook.
2. Choose models and press Download these models (their sub-assemblies come with them), or Download the TG310 example for a complete worked definition, or Download an empty workbook.
3. Edit the sheets in Excel. Row 2 of every sheet says what goes in each column; any row starting with # is ignored.
4. Upload the workbook and press Check. Nothing is written; every problem is listed with its sheet, its row and what to do.
5. When Check finds nothing wrong, press Import. Everything is written together, or nothing is if anything is wrong.

• Everything is matched by its code: a changed row updates the model, question, answer or rule already there.
• Values: Value is what a rule compares (B, 6, S6); Code must be unique in the model and defaults to QUESTION-VALUE; Name is what the person reads (6").
• Components with no BOM are fixed components of the model. Components with a BOM name build that bill; name it as the model's Base BOM, or select it with BOM = in a rule.
• Operations with a Routing name build that routing; name it as the model's Base routing, or select it with ROUTING = in a rule.
• Structure: a row with Qty per parent makes the child a sub-assembly; a row with characteristics says what flows down, Locked Y (must match) or N (a default the person may change).
• Items are created only where the Items sheet says Create = Y. A work center is never created by an import.