Define Alternate Parts in a Template Structure

Explanation

This activity is used to define an alternate part and its structure in a template structure. The defined alternate part will be the valid alternate for the selected installed part in the structure. Note: The installed part does not necessarily have to be the prime part of the selected template structure. When you define a template alternate, the following will take place in the system:

• The defined template alternate will be updated on the Part/Alternate Parts tab.
• The defined alternate part revision will be updated on the Engineering Part Revision/Alternate Part Revisions tab. 

If access control is established for the template structure, the defined alternate part, the structure to which it belongs, and all the sub parts in the selected structure will receive access from the template part level on which the alternate part and its structure was created. When an alternate part and its structure is removed, the access for the alternate will be removed, provided that the alternate part does not exist elsewhere in the structure as a serial or an alternate part.

Alternatively, if access rights are distributed to a template part after the alternate and belonging structure is defined, the alternate part and its structure will be updated with the distributed access groups.

Prerequisites

• A serial template structure must exist.
• Interchangeability codes must be defined. For more information, view the online help file, Define Interchangeability Codes.
• If the interchangeability rule Qualified Interchangeable is to be used, an approval template must have been defined in IFS/Document Management. For more information, view the online help file, Define Approval Template. 

System Effects

• The alternates are available to use in serial structures. The configurations of serial structures will be validated against this definition.
• The template alternate and its structure will receive access rights from the template part for which the alternate is created. Furthermore, when an alternate part and the structure to which it belongs is removed from the template structure, the access for the part will be removed, provided that the alternate part does not exist elsewhere in the structure as a part or alternate.
• If the alternate part has serials connected to its structure, the top serials will be updated with the new access and will be spread to the serials below in the structure.
• The serial access for disconnected serials of the given template structure will be updated for the alternate part.
• You can view the access granted to the alternate part and its structure on the Serial Structure Template/Part Access tab and on the Template Structure Navigator/Part Access tab.
• The definition of template alternates in IFS/Vehicle Information Management will result in automatic creation both in IFS/Part Catalog and in IFS/PDM-Configuration.
• The list below indicates how the alternates automatically will be created in IFS/Part Catalog and IFS/PDM-Configuration:

Interchangeability Rule	Description
One Way Interchangeable	An alternate will automatically be created that is Not Fully Interchangeable in Part/Alternate Parts and in Engineering Part Revision/Alternate Part Revisions.
Two Way Interchangeable	Will result in a Fully Interchangeable alternate in Part/Alternate Parts and in Engineering Part Revision/Alternate Part Revisions.
Not Interchangeable	Nothing will be created in Part/Alternate Parts or in Engineering Part Revision/Alternate Part Revisions.
Interchangeable as a Set	Same as One Way Interchangeable.
Qualified Interchangeable	Same as Two Way Interchangeable, but the alternate must be approved before the structure can be set to status Operational. For more information, view the online help file, Approve or Reject Structure Change.

Window

Serial Structure Template
Template Structure Navigator
Template Alternates

Related Window Descriptions

Serial Structure Template/Alternates/Template Alternates
Template Structure Navigator/Alternates/Template Alternates
Part/Alternate Parts
Engineering Part Revision/Alternate Part Revisions
Configuration Basic Data/Interchangeability Code

Procedure

Use this procedure to define a template alternate and the structure to which it belongs, for a part installed in the selected template structure.

1. Open one of the following windows, and query (F3) for the part for which you want to register a template alternate.

• Serial Structure Template
• Template Structure Navigator
• Template Alternates 

2. Click the Alternates tab and then click the Template Alternates sub-tab. Note: This step can be excluded for the Template Alternates window.
3. Create a new record (F5).

Note: In the Template Alternates window, you must enter a value for the Template Part Number field. Use the List of Values to select the template structure in which the alternate is to be installed.

4. In the Installed Part Number field, enter a value for the part, for which the template alternate an its structure is been defined. Use the List of Values to select a value.
5. Enter the interchangeability code for the alternate part in the Interchangeability Code field. If you select the Qualified Interchangeable interchangeability code, it is recommended to enter a value in the Approval Template field.
6. In the Alternate Part Number field, enter the part number for the alternate part.
7. Save the record (F12).