Defining Structure Types

A structure type enables you to classify and characterize item structures throughout the lifecycle of an item. For example, you can have structure types for Engineering, Manufacturing, and Service. You can define an unlimited number of structure names for a structure type, enabling you to create several different structures of the same type that you can use for comparison. For example, you can create several different engineering BOMs (EBOM1, EBOM2, EBOM3) using the structure type Engineering BOM with different component costs and BOM grading attributes. Comparing these BOMs enables you to make better decisions earlier in the lifecycle of your products.

You can associate item attachment categories, search criteria templates and search results formats with a structure type. Structure types are hierarchical, with structure names, item attachments categories, search criteria templates and search results formats inherited throughout the hierarchy.

arrow icon   To create a structure type:

To help classify your existing structures, you can use the following seeded structure types, or create your own structure types.

Internal Name Display Name Allow Subtypes
All-Structure Types Root Y
Packaging Hierarchy Packaging BOM N
Asset BOM Asset BOM Y
Cad BOM Cad BOM Y
Design Structure Design Structure Y
MBOM Manufacturing BOM Y

Attention: When you upgrade to a new software release, ensure that you use the newest seeded Packaging Hierarchy instead of an older version. Either delete or rename any older versions of a Packaging Hierarchy structure type.

  1. On the Search: Item Catalog Categories page in the Setup Workbench, click the Structures tab.

  2. On the Search: Structure Types page, click the "Create Structure Type" link.

  3. On the Create Structure Type page, enter the following information:

    Internal Name

    The structure type's internal name.

    Display Name

    The structure type's display name.

    Description

    A brief description of the structure type.

    Parent Structure Type

    Select a parent structure type. The parent structure type specifies the immediate parent of the structure type being created, thereby determining the structure type hierarchy.

    If you leave this field blank, the parent structure type displays as Root. If you use a root structure type as a parent, then the following information defaults to the descendants of the parent:

    See: Viewing Item Structures

    Inactive On

    Optionally, you can specify a date on which the structure type will become inactive. Making a type inactive has the following implications:

    Allow Subtypes

    Select Allow Subtypes if you want this structure type to be a parent structure type or a member of a structure type hierarchy.

  4. Click Apply.

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