How a configurator works: six steps — gull system handbook

An overview of the six steps of a CAD configurator in gull system: what each one sets, when a step unlocks, and where the name and model live.

How a configurator works: six steps

A configurator is a model you tell what may change on it, what changes it, and where the results should land. The six steps are the order you set that up in.

An open configurator shows its six steps on the left in place of the main menu. The steps are not a wizard you walk once: you come back to them whenever you change something.

• Step: 1 Capture parameters - What you set there: In SOLIDWORKS you click the dimensions, features, components, colours and materials the configurator should drive. You give each a name. - Article: Capture a dimension, feature or component
• Step: 2 Define inputs - What you set there: The values a customer or salesperson enters — a name and a default value. - Article: Define inputs
• Step: 3 Rules - What you set there: A formula on every captured parameter: what gets written into it from what the customer entered. - Article: Write a rule on a parameter
• Step: 4 Input sources - What you set there: Where orders come from: a form, an Excel sheet or a web configurator. - Article: Connect a form to a configurator
• Step: 5 Output documentation - What you set there: Which documents are saved in which format and into which folder. - Article: Create an output structure and place documents
• Step: 6 Workflow - What you set there: The line from a source to a destination, with checks and conditions along the way. Without a line an order saves nothing. - Article: Connect a source to a destination in a workflow

The name, model and CAD are in Properties

What used to be the Settings and CAD connection steps is now the configurator's Properties window — the leftmost ribbon button, or right-click on the configurator in the list. It has two categories: General (name, model path, where the configurator lives) and CAD connection (which CAD and the add-in version). Every value saves itself, which is why the window has no OK.

When a step unlocks

• Rules unlock with the first captured parameter — without a target there is nothing to write a rule on.
• Input sources unlock once the configurator has a model, a captured parameter or an input.
• Output documentation and Workflow need a model or a captured parameter.
• A locked step reads "First finish the "Capture parameters" step".

What is on the ribbon on every step

• Properties. The window described above.
• CAD → Open. Opens the configurator's model in SOLIDWORKS. Without a model it only starts SOLIDWORKS, so you can open and pick a model there.
• Back, Confirm or Continue. On sub-screens. Back never saves; Confirm saves and turns green as Saved, but does not move you anywhere.

After changes that are not yet on the server, leaving the configurator shows Changes not uploaded with Upload and leave or Leave without uploading. The changes are saved locally either way; the difference is whether the other computers in the company see them.