Variant Classes

In variant configuration, a class is used to hold the characteristics that describe a configurable material. By linking the class to the configurable material, you allow the material to be configured using the characteristics of the class.

You can only use a class in variant configuration if the class has a class type that supports variant configuration. In the standard R/3 System, the class type for variants is class type 300. However, in Customizing for Classification, you can define other class types for variant configuration. In the step Define class types, you can set the Variant class type indicator for a class type.

Once you have created a variant class, you can do the following, as for any other class:

• Classify materials in the class
  These materials do not have to be configurable materials.

• Set up a class hierarchy
  This allows you to use inherited characteristics and restrict characteristic values.

• Use the class to find objects

Class type 300 has 2 other special attributes, in addition to the Variant class indicator:

• In classes of this class type, you can classify objects of different object types. This means that all the objects linked to the configurable material are classified in one class.

For example, if you create a sales order for a configurable material, this order is automatically classified in the variant class.

• You can also use classes of class type 300 as BOM items. For more information, refer to
Classes as BOM Items.

You define these two settings in Customizing for Classification, step Define class types.