This activity is used to create combination tables for use in configuration back office rules. A combination table allows you to express a value result depending on the combinations of configuration factors. A combination table can be referenced in back office configuration rules in a similar way to a configuration formula. Structured like a spreadsheet, a combination table is defined by identifying the factors affecting the result (i.e. the columns of the spreadsheet) then filling in the data combinations and the associated return value. The identified combination factors are defined in the Combination Factors section. Each factor represents one piece of data to be considered when evaluating the combination table values. By placing factors into a sequence, the headings for the combination table values are created for data entry in the Combination Values section. Once the factors are defined, combination values can be entered in the Combination Values section.
Factors are defined by their factor type. Possible factor types are shown below.
| Factor Type | Description |
| Characteristic Value | The value of a configuration characteristic, either from the configuration of the evaluated part or DECLARED during back office rule evaluation. |
| Characteristic Quantity | The value of a configuration characteristic quantity, either from the configuration of the evaluated part or DECLARED during back office rule evaluation. |
| Formula | Other formulas defined for the configuration family. |
| Combination | Other combination tables defined for the configuration family. A combination table can reference other combination tables, nesting them as a way of creating multi-dimensional tables. |
To create a new combination table, in status Incomplete, create a new record and enter information about the combination that should be created. A configuration family which defines the set of configuration characteristics that can be used within this formula is chosen. The value that is selected in the Return Data Type field indicates the type of values returned.
To create a new combination factor line for the combination table create a new item in the Combination Factors section and enter information such as factor type and factor value. In the Display Sequence field, enter a number or leave null to indicate the order of appearance for this factor. A test value to be used for testing the combination table can be defined. The test value is used to simulate an actual value from a configuration. Continue entering combination factors as described above until the combination factors of interest are all defined.
An example of a simple combination table is shown below.
| Factor Type | Factor Value | Test Value |
| Characteristic Value | COLOR | RED |
| Characteristic Value | HEIGHT | 10 |
The Combination Values section will display an operator and factor value column for each factor you defined in the Combination Factors section. To create a new combination value line for the combination table create a new item in the Combination Values section. Enter a sequence number in the Display Sequence field, or leave null for the system to generate. Select the desired operator and value for each factor used in the table and specify the return value. Continue entering combination values as described above until all combination values of interest are all defined.
In the example below combination values are defined for various combinations of COLOR and HEIGHT. When combination tables are evaluated, the first row where the combination of values and operator conditions meet the conditions is considered a match, thus the return value specified is returned. If no rows match, the default return value for the combination table is returned. For example, if the configuration evaluated had a COLOR = RED and a HEIGHT = 10, in the example below the value 500 would be returned for use in the back office configuration rules. This value could be used, for example, as a numeric value for configuration structure component's Qty per Assembly.
| Sequence | COLOR Operator | COLOR | HEIGHT Operator | HEIGHT | Return Value |
| 1 | = | RED | = | 10 | 500 |
| 2 | = | RED | = | 20 | 600 |
| 3 | = | BLUE | = | 10 | 700 |
| 4 | = | BLUE | = | 20 | 800 |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Below is another example used to derive the necessary quantity of material depending on the height and material type of a product configuration. This is expressed with three factors HEIGHT, HEIGHT, and MATERIAL. As shown, factors can be used more than once in a table to handle value ranges. Values left null will match all possible values
| Sequence | Characteristic HEIGHT Operator | Characteristic HEIGHT | Characteristic HEIGHT Operator | Characteristic HEIGHT | Characteristic MATERIAL operator | Characteristic MATERIAL | Return Value |
| 1 | Greater Than | 0 | Less Than or Equal | 10 | Equal To | WOOD | 14 |
| 2 | Greater Than | 10 | Less Than or Equal | 20 | Equal To | WOOD | 16 |
| 3 | Greater Than | 20 | Equal To | WOOD | 20 | ||
| 4 | Greater Than | 0 | Less Than or Equal | 15 | Equal To | STEEL | 18 |
| 5 | Greater Than | 15 | Equal To | STEEL | 24 |
When determining the impact of a change to a combination table that is used in multiple places it can be useful to view the information in the Configuration Combination Table Where Used page that opens after clicking Where Use.
A configuration family must exist to be referenced by this combination table.
As a result of this activity, a combination table is created for use in the configuration back office rules.