A branch is a variation of a product. For example,
a product that is called SuperCar is branched
to create SuperCar (shared:Model=ClassicCar),
branched again from SuperCar to create Car
(shared:Model=ElectricCar), and branched again from SuperCar to
create SuperCar (shared:Model=PlugInCar).
In
the Browse Products page, the SuperCar branches
look like this:

The
branches signify variations of SuperCar. Many
child products of SuperCar might work for all
of the variations, such as Braking system, Doors,
and Interior. Other child products, such as Engine and Wheels,
are probably different for each branch.
Before you begin
You must have a product to branch from. See
Creating
a product for instructions.
Procedure
- In the Browse Products screen, right-click
over the product to branch from and select Check Out New
Branch.
- In the Check Out New Branch dialog
box, enter a dimension and a value.
A branch dimension
helps describe how a branch is unique by defining one of the features
of the branch. A dimension consists of a name, such as Model,
and a value, such as SuperCar. A branch can
have more than one dimension and value pair, but the set of dimensions
name and value pairs must be unique for each branch.
You can
create a local or shared dimension.
A local dimension usually
defines a specific aspect of a product branch, such as a dimension
name of car_lock and value of infrared.
A
shared dimension usually defines a general aspect of a product branch,
such as a dimension name of year and value
of 2012.
If you were to set SuperCar to
use the dimensions in the examples, then the SuperCar title
becomes: SuperCar (:car_lock=infrared, shared:year=2012).
Whenever you see shared: before a dimension,
the dimension is shared. Whenever you see : before
a dimension, the dimension is local.
Manage dimensions by using
the Manage Branch Dimensions screen (Products
> Manage Branch Dimensions).
- Click Create.
If you
are using the Rational Team Concert™ integration and you branch a connected product and
then share the product variant, the normal rules of product tree management
apply to the new product variant. For a discussion, see Versions and variants.
Example
Some examples of branches include:
- Car with a branch for American drivers with the steering wheel
on the left [Car (shared:Model=US)] and a branch
for British drivers with a steering wheel on the right [Car
(shared:Model=UK)].
Blood pressure cuff with a branch for adults [blood
pressure cuff (:cuffsize=adult)] and a branch for juveniles
[blood pressure cuff (:cuffsize=juvenile)].