Creating a variation to branch a product

A branch is a variation of a product. For example, a product that is called Interior is branched to create Interior (cloth=leather, model=luxury) for the Car (model=luxury) configuration. Interior is branched again to create Interior (cloth=suede, model=sport) for the SuperCar (model=sport) configuration.

In the product tree, the Interior branches look like this:

Image shows the two branches of the "Interior" product.

The branches signify variations of Interior. Many child products of Interior might work for all of the variations, such as Colors and Springs. Other child products, such as Thread and Seats, are probably different for each branch.

Procedure

  1. In the Browse Products screen, right-click over the product to branch from and select Check Out New Branch.
  2. 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. Configurations consider dimension and value pairs as part of the selection criteria, along with versions. A dimension consists of a name and value pair. A branch can have more than one dimension and value pair, but dimension name and value pairs must be unique for each branch.

    You can create a Product-Local or Shared dimension.

    A product-local dimension usually defines a specific aspect of a product branch, such as a dimension name of cloth and value of leather. Product-local dimensions apply to products only. However, you can add any product-local dimension to a product configuration so that the configuration collects the right set of products.

    A shared dimension usually defines a general aspect of a configuration or product branch, such as a dimension name of model and value of luxury.

    If you want to know which dimension and value pairs for a product are shared and which are local, select a product in the product tree and look under Dimensions in the right pane.

    For dimension and value pairs, you can order values to make certain values more specific than others. See Dimension values precedence.

    Manage dimensions by using the Manage Branch Dimensions screen (Products > Manage Branch Dimensions).

  3. Click Create.

    If you look at the product tree, the branch pin icon shows the pinned state for the new product branch. The new branch is temporarily branch pinned in place. The branch pin occurs so that, even if the dimension and value pairs for the new branch do not match those of the product configuration its in, you still see the new branch in place.

    When the new branch is checked in, it is unpinned, so users might see one of the following outcomes.
    • The branch remains in place because it is the best match for the product configuration.
    • A different branch is used because the dimension and value pairs for the new branch did not match those of the product configuration or because a different branch was a better match.

    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. See Versions and variants.

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