Creating a Matrix Rule

Product Managers can use the interactive matrix to create a complex rule. This rule defines valid, invalid, and default selections for a specific combination of variant/variant values or option group/options. The combination of driving features and constrained features defines the matrix. You must create matrix rules before a model version reaches the Review state.

Note: Only the variants and option groups and their child variant values and options that are allocated to the model version can be used when creating the rule.

Required access role: Leader


Before you begin: View the Matrix Rules page. See Matrix Rules Page.
  1. To create a matrix rule, from the page toolbar, select Create .
    The matrix rule is added to the table.
  2. In the new rule row, click .
    The matrix rule table opens.
  3. If the feature list is not displayed by default, click to show the list of features that can be used to define the matrix rule.
  4. Define the driving features for the matrix rule:
    1. In the features list, select a driving feature that you want to guide the rule. To ensure that only valid combinations are created, only variants, which can only have a single configuration, can be used as a driving feature in a matrix rule. Option groups, which can have multiple configurations, are not allowed.
    2. Drag the feature into the Driving Criteria section of the matrix panel.
    3. Drop the feature in the dotted area of the Driving Criteria section of the matrix panel.
    4. Repeat this process for each driving feature that you want to use in the matrix rule.

    When viewing the matrix rule in the edit view, if you have added more than four driving features, there is a scroll bar that scrolls through the driving features.

  5. Define the constrained features for the matrix rule:
    1. In the features list, select a constrained feature whose options will be limited.
    2. Drag the feature into the Constrained Criteria section of the matrix panel.
    3. Drop the feature in the dotted area of the Constrained Criteria section of the matrix panel.
    4. Repeat this process for each constrained feature that you want to use in the matrix rule.
    Once you drop at least one driving criteria and one constrained criteria into the matrix, any existing configuration rules that affect the combination of the driving and constrained features are immediately reflected in the matrix. They are shown using folded corners and conflict icons:
    • A white cell with a gray folded corner indicates that the combination is invalid based on an existing configuration rule.
      Note: If an entire matrix column is invalidated by an external rule, and if there was no previous selection in it, the invalid column is not displayed.
    • A white cell with a white folded corner indicates that the combination must be valid based on an existing configuration rule.
    • A red conflict icon in the cell indicates that a conflict exists between the local validity of the combination and an external configuration rule. The total number of conflicts in the matrix is shown in the upper-right corner of the page.
    Tip: You can remove a feature from the matrix by dragging and dropping it back into the list.
  6. To define the default selection for a combination of driving and constrained feature options, right-click in a cell, then select Default.
    A appears in the cell indicating that the feature/option combination is the default configuration. If another feature/option combination was previously selected as the default, the blue star is removed from that cell.
  7. To define an invalid selection for a combination of driving and constrained feature options, right-click in a cell, then select Non-Available.
    The cell turns gray indicating that the feature/option combination is not valid and is not available for configuration.
  8. To define a valid selection for a combination of driving and constrained feature options, right-click in a cell, then select Available.
    The cell turns white indicating that the feature/option combination is valid and available for configuration.
  9. To define all cells in a row or column as the same value, click the title of the driving or constrained criteria in the matrix, then select one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Available All cells in the row or column will be set to Available, regardless of their current value. The cells turn white indicating that the feature/option combination is valid and available for configuration.
    Non-Available All cells in the row or column will be set to Non-Available, regardless of their current value. The cells turn gray indicating that the feature/option combination is not valid and is not available for configuration.
  10. Hover over the identified cells to view any internal conflicts in the matrix rule that are automatically identified. The conflicts are displayed unless you have cleared the Check Internal Conflicts option in the matrix settings.
    An orange conflict icon appears in all cells where there is an internal conflict among the selections for that feature/option combination. For example, an internal conflict exists if no valid feature/option combinations can be configured because they have all been made invalid.
  11. In the editable view, use and in the right corner of the page to navigate through the cells that contain conflicts. The selected cell is highlighted in red. You can remove the local validity or change the external configuration rule to resolve the conflict. A conflict will not prevent the successful creation of a matrix rule.

    Note: You can only use and when the matrix is in edit view.

    The colored conflict icon no longer appears in a cell after the conflict is resolved.
  12. Click Save after you have configured all of the required options for the matrix rule.

The matrix rule is saved. You can edit its title and description on its Properties page. For more information, see Editing Matrix Rule Properties. The new matrix rule is listed in the Matrix Rules Page.

Note: The Matrix Rules Page page lists matrix rules created in Variant Management, but not those created in Model Definition. You can only view matrix rules created in the Model Definition app in Model Definition.