# Conceptual Product Structure

## Key Features Parallel Structures

The structure of a modular BOM is company specific, but can represent only a single view. Parallel Structures for a modular BOM will allow to:

- define alternative views on a modular BOM
- focus on a subset of the modular BOM by directly accessing relevant modules and positions through the "right" parallel structure
- create domain specific reports by limiting corresponding analysis activities to the relevant modules and positions in a modular BOM

A parallel structure can be defined for a given modular BOM and thus, different business processes can be supported. The top level node of each parallel structure (it is possible to assign more than one) is assigned to the top-level product component of a modular BOM. Therefore, the parallel structure is already assigned to the respective order BOM.

### Views

Before the parallel structure can be created, different views that should be used, need to be defined (e.g. Maintenance, Recycling, etc.). Views are typically configured only once and they have a unique key. Views have a multi-lingual name and description.

Once a parallel structure record is stored, the attribute "view" cannot be changed. This could make a large number of glossary entries in the hierarchy invalid.

It is possible to define a glossary with terms that are frequently used in a certain view. However, the text category ID must be identical to the key defined for the view. A glossary entry can also be assigned to multiple text categories.

If no license exists for "PDM Extension" , the functionality to use the glossary will not be available.

Text Management

### Parallel Structure Node

The hierarchy of a parallel structure is created in a top-down process. For each structure node a node number is generated automatically using the number variant "EDB-CPS-NOD-ID". Product structure elements from a modular BOM (called "Modules") can be assigned to each node in the parallel structure - even to the top-level node. The top-level node can be assigned to several, different modular BOMs.

Each node has an individual node number, therefore, a recursive structure is not possible.

Parallel structure nodes have a lifecycle that is set by default.

### Modules

From a parallel structure node a reference can be created to modules from the modular BOM. When selected, the Modular BOM Overview mask with the multilevel structure is opened and modules and their respective items can be assigned. If a module is assigned multiple times to a node in the parallel structure, the node is displayed multiple times. Quantities and description can be defined for a module to distinguish between them. Defining a quantity here will overrule the quantity that is defined for the position variants of the modular BOM.

### Parallel Structure Overview

The parallel structure overview is called either from the Order BOM mask or from the Parallel Structure or Parallel Structure Node mask. It is only used to display records and not to insert, edit, or delete records. An assigned parallel structure cannot be deleted here. Any modifications in the parallel structure (e.g. deleting or editing parallel structure nodes or modules) will be already visible in the parallel structure overview.

When deleting a parallel structure node or module from the parallel structure, the trash has to be emptied first before the new parallel structure overview can be shown.

To be able to delete a parallel structure from the order BOM, it has to be deleted from the top-level product component.

The Order Bom by Parallel Structure mask shows all parallel structure nodes and modules and their assigned items. The function Resolve Item allows to resolve the structure of the assigned items.

### The parallel structure can be viewed for the respective product family in the Global tab of the browser.