The value of parameters can be inherited from parent configurations to child configurations; this is called parameter propagation. The behavior of parameter propagation is closely related to how template rules work and is part of the rule engine.
Let's say that you are modeling the configuration of elevators. An elevator has internal doors for the cabin and external doors for every landing. Since the size of the internal and external doors must match the parameter DoorSize shall be propagated from the parent elevator configuration to each child landing configuration.
Set up parameter propagations
To inherit the value of a parameter, the parameter needs to be linked to both the parent product and the child product. When this is done the inheritance is set up in the product tree. Select the child product below the parent product in the product tree and open the tab Parameter propagation. On this tab all parameters that are shared between the two products are shown and inheritance can be defined.
There are three different behaviors of parameter propagation:
Propagation behavior |
Description |
|---|---|
If blank |
The parameter's value is only propagated to child configurations that have no value set for the parameter. |
If allowed |
The parameter's value is propagated to the child configurations unless the value is disallowed at the child level or the child has locked another value for the parameter. |
Forced |
The parameter's value is forcefully propagated to child configurations. The rule engine anticipates problems with propagation of the parameter and disables values that would not be possible to propagate because of rules at the child level. |
