How You Create Structures

A structure contains information on the parent item, components, attachments, and descriptive elements using descriptive flexfields.

Each standard component of a structure can have multiple reference designator and substitute components. Also, each component can have a different unit of measure.

A product manager or product data steward is normally responsible for defining and managing product (item) structures. Note that the terms product and item are used interchangeably.

Product structures can be created in various ways. If the new structure is similar to an existing structure, you may copy and modify this new structure. If the new structure is an exact copy of another structure and its assembly details need not be maintained separately, you can link the new structure to an existing structure by using the Create from Common option. Alternately, you can create a new structure by adding the required components and their information.

You can create structures from the Structure tab on the item. Use one of the following options in the Actions menu:

• Create - lets you create a new structure.

• Create from Copy

• Create from Common

Create as New Structure

Here's how you create a new structure:

1. Open the item in which you want to create the structure.

2. On the Structures tab, click Actions > Create.

3. In the Create New Item Structure dialog box, enter the details of the new structure:

   • Name: Select the type of item structure.

   • Effectivity control: Select the type of effectivity for the structure.

     Date: Effective on a specified date.

     Model or Unit Number: Effective based on unit number.

     The options that appear in this list depend on the item for which you're creating the structure.

4. Click Ok.

5. In the Structure Details section, add the details of the structure and click Save.

Note: An item structure exists only in the organization in which it was created. To use a structure in another organization, you must either copy it or reference it as common.

Create from Copy

Here's how you create a structure by copying an existing structure:

1. Open the item in which you want to create the structure.

2. On the Structure tab of the item, click Actions > Create from Copy.

   The Create New Item Structure from Copy dialog box appears.

3. In Existing Structures, select an item and its structure you want to copy.

4. In New Structure, enter the details of the structure you want to create.

5. Click OK.

The table shows whether the copy action is allowed based on the effectivity control settings in source and target structures.

Effectivity Control in Source	Effectivity Control in Target	Copy Allowed?
Date	Date	Yes
Date	Serial	Yes
Date	Unit	Yes
Serial	Date	No
Serial	Serial	Yes
Serial	Unit	No
Unit/Lot	Date	No
Unit/Lot	Serial	No
Unit/Lot	Unit	Yes

Create from Common

When you create a common or referenced structure, the target structure will be created with the same effectivity as the source structure.

1. Open the item in which you want to create the structure.

2. On the Structure tab of the item, click Actions > Create from Common.

   The Create New Item Structure from Common dialog box appears.

3. In Existing Structures, select an item and its structure you want to retain as the common structure.

4. In New Structure, enter the details of the structure you want to create.

5. Click OK.