Alternate Parts

An alternate part is a component that is a suitable replacement for another part in every assembly in which the original part occurs.

(Compare About Substitute Parts).

For example, Widget B is an alternate part for Widget A only if a manufacturer can use Widget B instead of the specified part (Widget A) across all products in which Widget A appears. (You cannot assume that Widget A is also an alternate part for Widget B.) Widget B serves the same form, fit, and function in all products as Widget A does. Companies use alternate parts when multiple vendors can supply parts that serve the identical function and fit.

You can specify that any existing part is an alternate for the current part. If the part does not yet exist, you must first create it, then access the Related Parts category where you want to define it as an alternate. For details on a creating a new part, see Creating a Part.

This page discusses:

See Also
Duplicating a Part

Alternate Parts Table

In a part's Related Partss category, click the Alternate Parts tab to display the alternate parts table. The table columns are described below:

Column Description
Name Name of the alternate part. This column contains highlighted links. Click any name in this column to view the Properties page for that object, or click at the end of the row to view the part Properties page in a new browser window.
Revision Part revision number or code.
Type The type or subtype.
Collaborative Policy Indicator of whether the part is a development, standard, or EC part.
Description Details about the part.
Materials Compliance Compliance columns only show if you use Materials Compliance Management. The calculated compliance values for each compliance definition marked as a rolled-up compliance definition. Grouped by compliance type such as RoHS, ELV, and Packaging. Only the selected compliance value is displayed. These icons indicate the compliance value:

Icon Description
Compliant with this compliance definition
Compliant with exemptions
Not compliant with this compliance definition
Unreported or contains unreported parts.
Has an assigned declaration level and the compliance definition is not part of the declaration level.
Has one or more children parts that are "Insufficient".
Compliance is out-of-date and a rollup needs to be performed.

State The current state of the part in its lifecycle.

Actions/Toolbar Commands

The alternate part actions menu and toolbar options are described below:

Command Description See:
Add Existing Existing parts can be added as alternates to parts in the In Work or Frozen states. The Search page opens. Search for and select a part. To add an existing part:

  1. Click the Related Parts category, then click the Alternate Parts tab to list parts that can be used as an alternate for the selected part.
  2. Click Add Existing.
  3. Search for and select parts.

Predefined Queries
Subscribe You can subscribe to be notified of additions to or removals from the list of alternate parts. Subscription Management
Remove Alternate parts can be removed from the list by the part's owner, who will see a check box for each row in the first column of the table. To remove alternate parts from the list, check one or more items you want to disconnect from the part and click Remove. This removes the relationship between the alternate part and the context part, but does not delete the alternate part from the database. To select all parts for removal, click the check box in the title bar.

If the part or parent object has passed the In Work state in its lifecycle, alternate parts cannot be removed from the list.

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