Creation and Modification of Custom Structures

General

Item Structure:

• An item structure is formed from an item under which other items are included. The structure can have multiple hierarchical levels.

Design Structure:

• An item structure that evolves over time due to changes (revisions) made to it.

• For example, a product delivered last year may differ in some aspects from a product delivered this year, even though both are based on the same item structure.

Custom Structure:

• An item structure that is protected (frozen) from changes and may also include other identifying information.

Product:

• A higher-level "consumer concept" for a specific item structure or individual item. It generally refers to a sellable entity. When an item structure is associated with a product, it becomes a product structure.

Product Variant: Refers to a customized or configured product for a customer, which has a unique item structure.

General information on product structures: Product Structures.

Create a Custom Structure via a Product Variant

1. Select a Product with a Product Structure

   • This means the product is linked to an item structure, also known as a design structure.

2. Choose the Action Product > Create Product Variant

   • Flow opens the Add Product Variant dialog box.

   • Refer to the instructions in Create Product and Product Variant under the section Create Product Variant.

   • In the product variant, you can save information such as end-customer details or attach documentation specific to the product variant.

3. Select the Product Variant

(4) Select the action Product Variant > Create Custom Structure.

• Flow opens the dialog box Create Custom Structure.

The action Product Variant > Create Custom Structure is not available if a custom structure has already been created.

(5) Accept or enter the identifier for the custom structure.

• Flow suggests the product variant identifier as the custom structure identifier.

(6) Enter a description for the custom structure.

(7) Select the Create action.

• Flow copies the product structure associated with the product to the product variant, creating a custom structure.

Create a Custom Structure via Item

The resulting custom structure and its main item can later be linked to a desired entity, such as a project or product.

1. Select the item with a structure.

2. Choose the action Item > Item Structure > Create Custom Structure.
   * Flow opens the Create Custom Structure dialog box.

3. Enter the custom structure identifier.
   * Flow suggests the product unit identifier as the default identifier for the custom structure.

4. Enter the custom structure description.

5. Select the action Create.

• Flow copies the product structure associated with the item to create the product unit structure, resulting in a custom structure.

Create a Custom Structure Using the Product Configurator

The product configurator is a paid license option.

• See: Product Configuration and Create Product and Product Unit.

• A custom structure created and frozen using the product configurator cannot be given a unique name manually; it automatically receives the product unit identifier.

Edit a Custom Structure

Editing Attributes and Structure Details

The attribute data of items within a custom structure is frozen (read-only) and cannot be edited through the custom structure.

• You can only edit the attribute data of the main-level item.

It is possible to make lifecycle updates to the custom structure (e.g., spare part information).

• Reserve the desired configuration of the custom structure for editing using the Item > Checkout function. Make the necessary changes to the structure rows, and then save the changes back to the structure by selecting Item > Checkin.

Deleting a Custom Structure

You can delete a custom structure from the system using the main item's Item > Delete... function, and then by removing the item from the Recycle Bin.

• Only after deletion from the Recycle Bin will the custom structure’s bill of materials be permanently removed from the system.

• See: Delete Object.

Transfer a Custom Structure to ERP

A Custom Structure Cannot Be Transferred to ERP. The transfer of a custom structure to ERP is not supported.

If the corresponding structure needs to be transferred to ERP, the original structure must be marked as "Transferred" (Approved), so that the structure before the creation of the custom structure will be transferred to ERP on schedule.

• The custom structure inherits the original structure's status (in this case, Approved), and in the user interface, the custom structure will appear in the "Pending" transfer status, but it will not be transferred.

Functions supported by the custom structure

Through the custom structure, you can utilize item structure functions such as:

• Item > Item Structure > Retrieve Documents

• Item > Item Structure > Retrieve Items

• Item > Item Structure > Reports

• Item > Item Structure > PDF Book

Custom structure in Vertex G4.

Read the custom structure into Vertex G4

When opening a custom structure for the first time, open it for editing and remember to return the custom structure.

• This is because Vertex G4 creates the model based on the custom structure's data from scratch, and only after returning it will the data be saved.

• If you forget to return the model or opened it just for viewing, the model will open as an empty assembly the next time you view it.

If the custom structure model is empty, follow these steps to correct the issue:

1. Log into Flow and remove the model linked to the custom item.

2. Then delete the model from the trash.

3. Afterward, open the model for editing in Vertex G4.

View the custom structure in Vertex G4

Note: There are no conditions between parts in the custom structure. Instead, the parts are locked in place.

• The removal of conditions is due to the fact that not all possible combinations of revisions in the item structure have been saved in Flow.

• Therefore, any conditions present in the assembly could lead to an undesirable outcome.

Editing the custom structure

You cannot edit the custom structure in a way that changes will be reflected in the model.

• Note that changes made in the custom structure model will not be updated in the structure in Flow.

If significant changes need to be made to the custom structure model, save the custom structure as a new item and make the changes to it.