To update an item change policy:Administrators can define and update item change policies for item catalog categories. These item change policies determine the rules for how and when an item's attributes, attachments, and associations are changed. For example, a company manufacturing an engine that has hundreds of specifications may wish to define item change policies for the different phases of development. So when the engine is in the concept or design phase, many of the attributes are allowed to change without formal approval, and the lifecycle policy is not very restrictive. When the engine progresses to the prototype phase, the company might wish to place all attributes, attachments, and associations under stricter change control, perhaps requiring a change order for all modifications. Later, when the engine is in the production phase, the company will likely want every facet of the engine's production under tight control.
Defining item change policies enables a company to:
Specify whether or not item changes are allowed in a particular lifecycle phase of an item lifecycle.
Specify what types of changes (attributes, attachments, associations, structures) are allowed for an item in each lifecycle phase.
Specify whether or not a change order is required to make particular changes to an item in a specific lifecycle phase.
Note: Change policies inherited from a parent catalog category cannot be edited at the child catalog category level.
If you do not define a change policy for an item, then by default changes are allowed in all lifecycle phases.
Item change policies only take effect after the item has been approved.
On the Update Change Policy for Attributes (or Associations or Attachments) page, select the appropriate attribute group (or association or attachment category) and the change policy you wish to apply for the particular phase. The valid change policies are:
Allowed
Not Allowed
Change Order Required
Additional Information: Before establishing a change policy for attributes or attachments, you must first associate the attribute group or attachment category with the item catalog category.
To update an item change policy:On the Search: Item Catalog Categories page, search for the item catalog category (see: Browsing Item and Alternate Catalogs ) for which you would like to define an item change policy, and click its name link.
On the Basic Information page for the item catalog category, click the Lifecycles link.
On the Lifecycles page, locate the lifecycle for which you wish to define a change policy. If no lifecycles are listed, add the lifecycle for which you wish to define item change policies.
From the View pulldown list (for attributes, associations, attachments, structures, or promotion/demotion), select the item change policy defined for the selected lifecycle, and then select the lifecycle phase you want to update. Click Go.
From the Update pulldown list, select the lifecycle phase you want to update. Click Go.
On the Update Change Policy for: Attributes (or Associations, Attachments, Structures, or Promote and Demote) page, select the appropriate attribute group (or association, attachment category, structure, or promotion, demotion, or revision) and the change policy you wish to apply to the particular phase. The valid change policies are:
Allowed
Not Allowed
Change Order Required
Attention: Before establishing a change policy for attributes or attachments, you must first associate the attribute group or attachment category with the item catalog category.
You can switch back and forth among the various lifecycle phases via the tabs on the Update Change Policy for: Attributes (or Associations, Attachments, Structures, or Promote and Demote) page.