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When to Use Siebel Configurator, Compatibility, Eligibility, and Product Validation Rules

There three ways to write rules to specify that products are compatible or incompatible with each other:

• Siebel Configurator Rules
• Compatibility Rules
• Product Validation Rules

In addition, write rules to determine which customers are eligible to buy products using Eligibility Rules. Use these methods in different cases.

Siebel Configurator Rules

Siebel Configurator rules are used to specify that components of a product with components are not compatible with each other.

For example, a computer is a product with components, and its components that may not all be compatible with each other. A specific model of monitor or keyboard may work only with some CPUs and not with others.

When you define Siebel Configurator rules, they only apply within the product with components. If you have many different computers that use the same keyboard, you must write separate Siebel Configurator rules for each computer to specify which CPUs that keyboard is compatible with.

Use Siebel Configurator rules if the exclude rules and require rules apply to just the component products within a configuration model.

For more information about Siebel Configurator, see Roadmap for Creating Products with Components.

Compatibility Rules

Without configuration, compatibility rules are global. While Siebel Configurator rules apply to products only when they are components of a given product with components, compatibility rules apply to products globally.

For example, if you created a rule saying that a given computer keyboard is incompatible with a given CPU, without configuration, the rule would apply whenever that computer and CPU are ordered. It would not apply only to a specific model of computer.

Use compatibility rules without configuration if the exclude or require rules apply across a customers entire asset base, open sales orders and current quote. This is the scope of compatibility rules by default; it is possible to change this scope by configuring the application.

With configuration, it is possible to have compatibility rules apply only to products within the same root product, as Siebel Configurator rules do. If you are using only product excludes rules, this approach may be useful, because it avoids the overhead of the Configuration constraint engine.

For more information about compatibility rules, see Product and Promotion Eligibility and Compatibility.

Product Validation Rules

Product validation is most useful when you create your own business services to solve specialized business problems that cannot be addressed using Siebel Configurator.

For more information about product validation rules, see Creating Validation Rules for Customizable Products.

Eligibility Rules

Eligibility rules are used to specify which customers are eligible to buy products or promotions.

You should always use eligibility rules for this purpose. You should not use Siebel Configurator rules to specify which customers are eligible to buy products.

For more information about eligibility rules, see Product and Promotion Eligibility and Compatibility.