Features

A Feature is a group of similar, usually mutually exclusive, Endpoints (or Options). For example, a house might have a single space for a refrigerator, and the buyer could choose to have a 16 cubic foot, 18 cubic foot, or 20 cubic foot refrigerator in the space. The refrigerator is considered a Feature, while the three choices of 16, 18, and 20 are considered Endpoints or Options. Features can also be members of higher level Features, so that an upper level Feature of Kitchen can have sub-features of Refrigerator, Range, and Garbage Disposal, with each of those having a list of available Endpoints. The configuration choices are presented on the Sales Order as a Feature Tree, showing top level Features, their component Features (possibly multiple levels), and finally the Endpoints.

Features are used in connection with the Deacom Sales Configurator, which is an agreement between sales, production, and engineering/design as to which options are available on each model, which options do not work with other options, which options or packages include other options, and the costs of options on various models. In Deacom, Sales Configurator definition begins with the creation and linking of Features and Endpoints, and then is further defined at the Category, Sub-Category, and Item Master levels. The desired end result is that the correct options are available for each configured item, with proper sales pricing. Detailed information on the use of the Sales Configurator is available via Building Sales Orders with the Product Configurator.

Additionally, Features may have inclusions and exclusions defined. Inclusions are cases where the selection of an Endpoint in one Feature automatically selects another Endpoint in another Feature.

One example is a package, like a Deluxe Kitchen, that includes a list of lower level Endpoints, usually at no charge beyond the option price of the package.
Another example is an individual endpoint, such as 15” tires, which need to include 15” wheels to work properly. Inclusions do not necessarily exclude other choices, they just change the default. If the choice of 15” tires includes the standard set of 15” steel wheels, another choice of 15” aluminum alloy wheels might also be possible.

If certain choices for an Endpoint such as 15" tires should not be possible, like 14” or 16” wheels, then Exclusion rules need to be used to prevent their selection. Exclusions are cases where the selection of an Endpoint in one Feature is incompatible with another Endpoint in another Feature, and should prevent its selection.

The incompatibility can be functional, as in 15” tires that exclude the selection of 16” wheels, or relatively arbitrary, as in a deep pile carpet that excludes the selection of thin padding.
Exclusion rules in Deacom are one way, meaning that a rule that says A excludes B does not inherently mean B excludes A. If B should exclude A, then a second Exclusion rule should be added

System Navigation

Inventory > Maintenance > Features

Features form

The Features form contains two pick lists, "Active" and "View", used to determine what records are displayed in the form. The "Active" pick list provides the options of Active, All, or Inactive and the "View" pick list provides the options of All, Endpoints, and Features. This form also contains three buttons, "Add Feature", "Add Endpoint", and "Modify", used to open the Edit Feature and Edit Endpoint forms.

Edit Endpoint form

Opened via the "Add Endpoint" or "Modify" buttons on the Features form.

Field/Flag	Description
Name	Displays the name of the Endpoint, which must be unique. Endpoints are displayed below the Feature to which they are attached, so it is not necessary to repeat the name of the Feature in the name of the Endpoint.
Quantity	Used to store the default quantity of the selected Endpoint, which is usually 1, that will be added to the configuration when this Endpoint is selected.
Price	Used to store the default sales price of the selected Endpoint.
Part Suffix	Field used to dictate the suffix, up to 10 characters, that the Sales Configurator should use to build and link to part numbers. When selecting Endpoints with suffixes in the Sales Configurator, the "Part Structure" field displays the original part number with the selected suffixes appended. When the user saves the configuration, the system looks for a part number that matches the part structure and if it finds one, prompts the user to use that item instead of the Feature item.
Notes	Memo field used to store notes about the selected Endpoint, which will be copied into the resulting configuration on the Sales Order, if this Endpoint is selected.
Active	If checked, this record is active. Only active records may be used in the system.
End Point	If checked, this record is considered an Endpoint, as opposed to a Feature.
Commissionable	If checked, the sales price of this Endpoint is subject to Commission calculation rules.
Apply Deal Pricing	If checked, the sales price of this Endpoint is subject to modification by Deal Pricing rules. Cost Plus Margin Deal Types are not applicable to Endpoints since there are no costs directly associated with them.
Apply Promotion Codes	If checked, the sales price of this Endpoint is available as a basis for Promotions calculations.

Edit Feature form

Opened via the "Add Feature" or "Modify" buttons on the Features form.

Field/Flag	Description
Add	If clicked, opens the Edit Option form, used to attach a specific Part Number directly to a Feature, and optionally mark it as default, when the use of multiple Endpoints is not necessary. Otherwise, Endpoints can be linked to Item Masters in a way that the selection of several Endpoints brings a single Item Master, and its Bill of Materials, into the configuration.
Add Options	If clicked, opens a mover form used to add a collection of Features or Endpoints to the current Feature. The mover form will display all active Features and Endpoints except the current Feature and all previously included Features and Endpoints. Once all desired records have been moved to the right-hand side of the form, clicking "Continue" will close the mover form and add the selections to the current Feature. Options added in error may be removed using the "Delete" button on the Edit Feature form.
View Tree	If clicked, displays a feature tree of the selected Feature and all attached options and prices, which can be printed or exported to Excel.
Inclusions	If clicked, opens the Feature Inclusions form, which displays a list of the inclusions and exclusions that have been added to the current Feature. More information is available in the Edit Inclusion/Exclusion form section below.
Name	Displays the name of the Feature, which must be unique.
Quantity	Used to store the default quantity of the selected Feature, which is usually 1, that will be added to the configuration when an Endpoint of this Feature is selected.
Active	If checked, this record is active. Only active records may be used in the system.
End Point	If checked, this record is considered an Endpoint, as opposed to a Feature.
Multiple Selection	If checked, this Feature allows the selection of multiple Endpoints. Not normally checked as Endpoints within a Feature are typically mutually exclusive. Desirable in a list of miscellaneous or unrelated packages or options.
Commissionable	If checked, the sales prices of the Endpoints of this Feature are subject to Commission calculation rules.
Apply Deal Pricing	If checked, the sales prices of the Endpoints of this Feature are subject to modification by Deal Pricing rules. Cost Plus Margin Deal Types are not applicable to Endpoints since there are no costs directly associated with them.
Apply Promotion Codes	If checked, the sales price of this Endpoint is available as a basis for Promotions calculations.
Required	If checked, the selection of an Endpoint is required when selecting this Feature. If a user attempts to exit the Sales Configurator without selecting an Endpoint for a Feature with this flag checked, they will receive a prompt and be required to select an Endpoint prior to saving and exiting.

Edit Inclusion/Exclusion form

Opened via the "Add" or "Modify" buttons on the Feature Inclusions form, which is opened via the "Inclusions" button on the Edit Feature form.

Field/Flag	Description
Parent Feature	Pick list used to select the Parent-level Feature. Options include the sub-Features that are a part of the current Feature (all records with a value of "No" in the "EndPoint" column of the Edit Feature form).
Parent Value	Pick list used to select the Parent-level Endpoint. Options include the Endpoints that are a part of the sub-Feature selected in the "Parent Feature" pick list.
Child Feature	Pick list used to select the Child-level Feature. Options include the sub-Features that are a part of the current Feature (all records with a value of "No" in the "EndPoint" column of the Edit Feature form).
Child Value	Pick list used to select the Child-level Endpoint. Options include the Endpoints that are a part of the sub-Feature selected in the "Child Feature" pick list.
Exclusion	If checked, this record is handled as an Exclusion. When a user is building a Sales Order and selects the Endpoint defined in the "Parent Value" field, the Endpoint defined in the "Child Value" field will be prevented from also being selected on the same order. If not checked, this record is handled as an Inclusion. When a user is building a Sales Order and selects the Endpoint defined in the "Parent Value" field, the Endpoint defined in the "Child Value" field will automatically be added to the same order.
Include At No Cost	If checked, when a user is building a Sales Order and selects the Endpoint defined in the "Parent Value" field, the Endpoint defined in the "Child Value" field will be added to the same order at no additional cost.