Once you've found a product you wish to add to a quote through the quick search or while navigating Categories, you can either add it to the quote instantly, or configure it.
● For simple products, click Add and the message displays at the top of the screen, letting you know that the product has been added to a quote. The message also contains a clickable quote ID, which leads you to the quote that contains the product you’ve added.
● For configurable products, click Configure to open a product in the configurator. The configuration process is described in the Product Configuration [page 10] topic.
By default, the Add button next to configurable products is grayed-out and can’t be clicked. However, if your administrator has given you the right to add configurable products that weren’t configured to a quote, the Add button is clickable. Thus, you can add configurable products to a quote without previous configuration.
If a configurable product default/preselected configuration is complete, and the application parameter is set to any value other than FAST, the product price, and the Add button is displayed in the Catalog. In this way, it’s possible to add several configurable products at once in the quote.
Product Search [page 8]
You can look for products by using their descriptions or part numbers as search parameters.
Catalog Navigation [page 8]
Categories and subcategories are major divisions of an online catalog. They segment the products into a logical breakdown. For example, an electronics catalog can be categorized into video, home audio, and car audio.
Product Comparison [page 9]
You can compare different products in the Catalog, or product configurations in the Configurator.
Product Configuration [page 10]
Once a product is found while browsing the Catalog or via the quick search, you can begin configuring it. Product configuration entails editing of the product's specifications.
Custom Quote XSLT Transformation - Adding Part Number / Product Name Configuration Link Feature [page 12]
If you’re using the custom load quote XSLT transformation, you need to replace certain parts of custom transformation in order to enable the functionality for managing the Part Number and Product Name links through administration.
Document Upload in Configurator [page 13]
This feature allows you to upload documents in the Configurator for each configured item. You can also store customized attachments in your configurations, and access attachments in quote templates.
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3.1 Product Search
You can look for products by using their descriptions or part numbers as search parameters.
The quick search field can be accessed via the Search button in the upper-right corner of the screen. Like the navigation links, the quick search field is available in any part of the system. Searches can be performed based on the part number (a.k.a. product code) or product description.
● Part number - Entering a part number for a product in the search field brings up that product’s
configuration page. The configuration screen has all the values selected that the part number references.
For instance, if the part number INTEL3.0-1GB-250GB is searched for, then the desktop computer that the part number references is displayed with Intel Pentium 3.0 GHz, 1 GB Memory, and 250-GB hard drive selected. The entire part number needs to be entered in order for the system to find the product.
● Product description - To search all the product descriptions in the system, enter a phrase or a word found in one or multiple product descriptions in the search field. The resulting products that match the search are displayed. Click the product to configure it.
When you have found the desired product, click on it to begin the Product Configuration [page 10].
Related Information
Quote Creation [page 7]
Catalog Navigation [page 8]
Product Comparison [page 9]
3.2 Catalog Navigation
Categories and subcategories are major divisions of an online catalog. They segment the products into a logical breakdown. For example, an electronics catalog can be categorized into video, home audio, and car audio.
Configuration doesn’t take place at the category level. The category is a pointer to the products that can be configured or added to the quote. Accessing the categories available can be done in two ways:
● Click the New Project/Quotation button in the shell bar, at the top-right corner of the screen.
● Click the Catalog button in the main navigation bar on the left side of the screen.
Navigating through the Categories screen is easy, simply click the category image (if available) or name to display its contents. Once the category is opened, you can see all the available products and subcategories.
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You can also navigate to the previously accessed categories by clicking the breadcrumbs (found at the top of the page). Breadcrumbs give you a trail of categories you’ve visited in order to get where you’re now. The last item in the breadcrumb trail is the category you’re currently in. The first category in the trail is always Home.
Clicking Home brings you back to the Catalog page.
Another way for navigating through the Categories is using the Categories navigation tree where it’s possible to expand or collapse all categories.
Related Information
Quote Creation [page 7]
Product Search [page 8]
Product Comparison [page 9]
Product Configuration [page 10]
3.3 Product Comparison
You can compare different products in the Catalog, or product configurations in the Configurator.
Once you’ve selected the products you would like to compare, click the Compare button at the top of the screen. This action brings up the Product Comparison window where you’re able to view details for selected products (See the chapter on Product Details Templates).
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The Compare button is also visible in the Configurator. Clicking the Compare button in the Configurator adds the current selection to the comparison if that selection for that product doesn’t exist.
Note
Comparing in the Catalog is enabled if the Allow Comparing In Catalog application parameter is set to TRUE.
Related Information
Quote Creation [page 7]
Catalog Navigation [page 8]
Product Configuration [page 10]
3.4 Product Configuration
Once a product is found while browsing the Catalog or via the quick search, you can begin configuring it.
Product configuration entails editing of the product's specifications.
Clicking the product’s image or name brings up the configuration screen (Configurator). Once you enter the configuration screen, navigation links and quick search field on the top of the page are still available. In addition, you can see breadcrumbs displaying the trail of categories visited to get to this product. Clicking any of the previous categories displays the products or subcategories that it contains.
Configurations are done through selections called attributes. Attributes are specific characteristics that determine a product. Values are selected or entered for the attributes to configure the product. These values can have prices that are used for giving the product its total price. Attributes can be displayed differently. They can be displayed as dropdown boxes, check boxes, radio buttons, entry fields (text box), and so on.
There are three sections on the configuration screen: tabs, configuration area, and the responder. Each section plays a role in the configuration process.
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● Tabs - Displayed at the top of the Configurator. They’re used to logically bundle product attributes. They guide you through the product configuration process. Choosing new tabs displays a different set of attributes used to configure the product.
● Configuration area - The main part of the screen that contains all attributes used to configure the product.
● Responder - Displayed on the right of the screen. It contains the selections made in the configuration area.
The attribute’s name and selected value are displayed along with any pricing that can be attached to the attribute. Configurable products can have required attributes. If some of the required attributes aren’t selected, the configuration is incomplete and can’t be added to the quote.
Note
When SAP CPQ displays the prices of child products in the parent product responder, the system does so without listing prices of individual line items belonging to the parent’s child items. In other words, SAP CPQ treats the child items’ line items as the parent’s line items in bulk. Such behavior prevents the user from being able to see the price of each child item’s individual line item.
The current configuration status is located below the tabs, displayed either as an orange Incomplete or a green Complete button (or any other colors specified in administration). If the status is incomplete, you can click the Incomplete button and an orange asterisk displays next to the required attributes for which values weren’t selected. The color of the responder, labels, and tabs can be changed in administration (See).
Once you’ve completed the configuration, the Add to Quote button displays. Clicking the Add to Quote button results in the creation of a new quote. You can also add the configuration to favorites or access the Favorites page from the configurator by clicking the button. If the Allow Product Configuration Import checkbox was selected in Additional Product Data when the product was configured, you’re able to upload a configuration template to the Configurator.
Configuration Tree
Tree navigation makes it easier to configure complex parent-child hierarchies. The parent product and its child products are displayed in the Configuration Tree tab in the responder. You can expand and collapse the parent product and view all the child products. Moreover, you can navigate to any product within the configuration tree. When switching from one level to another using the tree navigation, the changes are automatically saved.
In addition, you can easily navigate to incomplete child configuration, as products that have incomplete children are highlighted. Even if you are in a child product, you’re able to add the entire configuration tree to quote by clicking the Add to Quote button.
Related Information
Product Comparison [page 9]
Document Upload in Configurator [page 13]
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3.5 Custom Quote XSLT Transformation - Adding Part Number / Product Name Configuration Link Feature
If you’re using the custom load quote XSLT transformation, you need to replace certain parts of custom transformation in order to enable the functionality for managing the Part Number and Product Name links through administration.
In order to use the Part Number configuration link feature in custom quote transformation, replace the following part of code:
<xsl:when test="PartNumber/@EditableGroup > 0 or not(Actions/
Action[ActionId='2']) or string-length(PartNumber) = 0 or IsSimple = 1">
<xsl:call-template name="GenericCellTD">
<xsl:with-param name="node" select="PartNumber"/>
<xsl:with-param name="align" select="'left'"/>
</xsl:call-template>
</xsl:when>
<xsl:otherwise>
<xsl:call-template name="GenericCellTD">
<xsl:with-param name="node" select="PartNumber"/>
<xsl:with-param name="align" select="'left'"/>
<xsl:with-param name="prefix">
<![CDATA[<a href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="itemActionChanged('', '2', ']]><xsl:value-of select="CartItem"/><![CDATA[');">]]>
</xsl:with-param>
<xsl:with-param name="sufix"><xsl:text disable-output-escaping="yes"><!
[CDATA[</a>]]></xsl:text></xsl:with-param>
</xsl:call-template>
</xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>
In order to use the Product Name configuration link feature in custom quote transformation, replace following part of code:
<xsl:when test="PartNumber/@EditableGroup > 0 or not(Actions/
Action[ActionId='2']) or string-length(PartNumber) = 0 or IsSimple = 1">
<xsl:call-template name="GenericCellTD">
<xsl:with-param name="node" select="ProductName"/>
<xsl:with-param name="align" select="'left'"/>
</xsl:call-template>
</xsl:when>
<xsl:otherwise>
<xsl:call-template name="GenericCellTD">
<xsl:with-param name="node" select="ProductName"/>
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<xsl:with-param name="align" select="'left'"/>
<xsl:with-param name="prefix">
<![CDATA[<a href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="itemActionChanged('', '2', ']]><xsl:value-of select="CartItem"/><![CDATA[');">]]>
</xsl:with-param>
<xsl:with-param name="sufix"><xsl:text disable-output-escaping="yes"><!
[CDATA[</a>]]></xsl:text></xsl:with-param>
</xsl:call-template>
</xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>
3.6 Document Upload in Configurator
This feature allows you to upload documents in the Configurator for each configured item. You can also store customized attachments in your configurations, and access attachments in quote templates.
This section allows administrators to create attributes that can store uploaded documents in the Configurator.
For example, typical uses could be uploading custom drawing for custom products or even uploading site surveys, site pictures or measurements for each product.
Moreover, administrators can determine which users are able to upload documents into which configured products and how those documents can be presented in generated output documents like proposals, contracts, and so on. Attributes can be created as a File Attachment type.
In order to use this feature, user has to set up few parameters first.
● In Step 3 of the, there’s a new entry in the Display As dropdown list that is labeled File Attachment. If the attribute type Display As is set to File Attachment users are able to upload documents in the Configurator.
● In Product Configuration, the attribute display type set to File Attachment has the Upload button.
When a user clicks on this button, a pop-up appears to give the user an option to choose a file from their hard drive. When the user selects the specific file, by clicking the Upload button SAP CPQ uploads the file and refreshes the product configuration.
After uploading the file, the icon (or the button) for file removal appears when a file has been attached to the attribute. When the user clicks on this icon, the file is removed from the text field, deleted from the server and product configuration is refreshed.
The administrator can include the uploaded document in the generated document. The tag that is used in templates for inserting the file to the document is: «C_INSERT_FILE_FROM_ATTRIBUTE(AttributeName)»
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