This activity is used to connect configuration characteristics to a configuration family. A configuration family is a collection of configuration characteristics used by a group of parts. Generally, all configured parts on all levels in a structure belong to the same configuration family. If they do not belong to the same configuration family, then the families must share the configuration characteristics inherited by the configurable components from their configurable parent parts.
To connect a configuration characteristic to a configuration family create a new item on the Characteristics tab and select the required configuration characteristic to connect. You can expand an added configuration characteristic item with configuration value type Discrete Option or Package to view its option values on the Option Values tab. If required, you can create new lines to specify new option values.
As a result of this activity, configuration characteristics are added to a configuration family.