Product configurator concepts and terminology
Product configurator uses the following common terms and concepts:
Microsoft Solver Foundation (MSF) - Product configuration uses MSF to solve expression constraints and conditions. You can use MSF to find one or more valid solutions and to eliminate invalid values for product configuration models.
Optimization Modeling Language - MSF includes an algebraic modeling language called Optimization Modeling Language (OML) that's designed exclusively for modeling and solving. The language includes identifiers, comments, string literals, Boolean constants, and arbitrary numeric literals.
Product - The term product refers to a single entity that represents tangible and intangible deliverables. Product configurator supports items (tangible) and services (intangible).
Product Configuration Model - Represents a generic product structure that you can differentiate to specific instances based on values that the user selects.
Distinct Product - Represents the first level of specialization of the generic product term, such as a shirt or a home theater system.
Product master - Serves as a template for models for variants. You can predefine product master variants, or you can create them in sales scenarios by using product configuration.
Product Configuration - The representation of a product model with specific values that you select for all mandatory attributes.
Configuration Template - A partly completed product configuration. Its objective is to reduce the time that's required to configure common product variants and to promote particular configurations.
Component Instance - Represents an instantiation of a component in the product configuration. You can instantiate one component into several component instances. For example, you can instantiate a TV component into a kitchen TV and a living room TV in the product configuration.
Attribute Value - A specific value for a product characteristic, such as the color red for the attribute type named color.
Attribute Group - You can define an attribute group to increase the usability of the configuration UI. You can group a subset of attributes that you define for a component and then the system attaches a title to the group.
Domain - A set of all permitted values. In the product model context, it represents the permitted attribute values, such as all instances in an enumerated text type attribute.
Configuration User Interface - The User interface page displays the attribute groups that you create to help a person configure a product because the product designer arranges selections in a certain context.
Translation Text - Text that the system translates from the base text with the purpose of making the configuration UI available in different locales. For example, the system can translate the attribute value red into the French text: rouge.
Version - Represents the relationship between the product configuration model and a product master. An approved and activated version must exist to configure an order line.
Constraint Model - The system uses the concept of constraint models to describe product models. You can impose the number of permitted attribute and component combinations by imposing constraints on the model.
Expression Constraint - A constraint type in the form of an expression. In this instance, the system uses the MSF constraint solver. All constraint expressions must follow the syntax that MSF defines.
Table Constraint - A constraint type that specifies allowed attribute combinations. Each row in the table represents a legal combination of values. User-defined table constraints consist of attribute types.