Key tasks: Define products
Important
This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.
Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012
This topic describes the tasks that you must complete to define products, product masters, and product variants.
A product must be defined at the shared company level before being available for use by Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. After the product is defined, the product definition must be released, or authorized for use. During the release, the product definition is associated with one or more companies.
Note
Properties that are related to the shared product definition differ from company-specific properties that are related to a product that has been released. Company-specific properties are only defined for a product that has been released.
Products can be of the Product or Product master subtype. After you define a product as a product master, you can create product variants that are based on the product master.
Product – A fixed product definition that does not have any variants.
Product master – A product definition that forms the basis of product variants.
Product variant – A product that is based on a product master. Product variants are distinguished by the setup of their product dimensions and through configurations.
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Define products and create product variants
Define a product of the Product subtype
Define a product master
Create product variants
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Click these links to find more information about the concepts that are discussed in this topic.
Setting up and maintaining product configurations
Setting up and maintaining product builder
Define products and create product variants
You define products from the following locations:
Products – Use this list page to define products of the Product subtype.
Product masters – Use this list page to define products of the Product master subtype.
All products and product masters – Use this list page to define products of both subtypes.
Product details – Use this form to create a detailed product definition. For example, for a product master, you can specify new variants to be generated at the time when new dimensions are associated with the product master.
Tip
To open the Product details form, define a product on the Products, Product masters, or All products and product masters list page. Then, on the Action Pane, in the Maintain group, click Edit.
Released products – Use this list page to create product definitions and release product definitions.
Note
If you use this list page to create a product definition, you can specify information, such as the item model group, when you create the product definition. However, if you create a product definition in, for example, the Products list page and then subsequently release the product definition to a company, you must add the item model group to the product after the release.
The following procedures use the Products and Product masters list pages to create shared product definitions.
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Define a product of the Product subtype
Click Product information management > Common > Products > All products and product masters.
On the Action Pane, in the New group, click Product.
In the Product type field, select Item.
Tip
If you are defining a service product, select Service.
In the Product subtype field, select Product.
In the Product number field, enter a product number.
In the Search name field, enter a search name to make it easier to search for the product.
Tip
A search name is optional. You only have to specify a search name if it differs from the product number and product name.
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Define a product master
Click Product information management > Common > Products > Product masters.
On the Action Pane, in the New group, click Product.
In the Product type field, select Item. Then, in the Product subtype field, select Product master.
In the Product number field, enter a product number.
In the Search name field, enter a search name to make it easier to search for the product master.
Tip
A search name is optional. You only have to specify a search name if it differs from the product number and product name.
In the Product dimension group field, select a product dimension group.
Note
By selecting a product dimension group, you limit the variants that can be created for the product master:
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The active product dimensions in the product dimension group determine the dimensions that must be defined for the product master.
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The dimensions that you define for the product master determine the variants that can be created.
The Constraint-based configuration configuration technology requires a product dimension group in which the Configurations dimension is active.
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In the Configuration technology field, select a configuration technology. The following table describes the configuration technologies that are available.
Tip
The configuration technology determines how and when product variants that are based on the current product master are configured.
Configuration technology
Description
Predefined variant
Variants are configured by using the product dimensions when the variants are created. Therefore, after you create the product master, you can assign product dimensions and create product variants.
Dimension-based configuration
Variants are configured by using the Configuration dimension when the variants are added to transaction lines. The Configuration dimension must be active in the product dimension group that is associated with the product master.
Tip
The Size and Color dimensions can also be used with this configuration technology.
Rule-based configuration
Variants are configured by using Product Builder when the variants are added to transaction lines.
Constraint-based configuration
Variants are configured by using the Product configurator when the variants are added to transaction lines.
Click OK.
After you create the definition for the product master, you must complete the following procedures to set up the product master so that product variants can be created:
Define product dimensions for the product master.
Specify whether variants that are based on the product master can have identical configurations.
Specify whether new variants are generated when new product dimensions are assigned to a product master.
Define product dimensions for a product master
Click Product information management > Common > Products > Product masters.
Select a product master, and then click Product dimensions.
Click the Sizes, Colors, and Configurations links to define dimensions for the size, color, and configuration.
Note
The links that are available depend on the dimensions that are active in the associated product dimension groups.
Click New to create a new dimension.
Allow identical configurations
Click Product information management > Common > Products > Product masters.
Select a product master. Then, on the Action Pane, in the Maintain group, click Edit.
Select the Allow identical configurations check box.
Note
If the check box is cleared, you cannot create a new variant that is identical to an existing variant.
Tip
This check box is available only if the configuration technology for the product master is set to Dimension-based configuration.
Generate variants for new product dimensions
Click Product information management > Common > Products > Product masters.
Select a product master. Then, on the Action Pane, in the Maintain group, click Edit.
Select the Generate variants automatically check box.
Tip
This check box is available only if the configuration technology for the product master is set to Dimension-based configuration or Predefined variant.
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Create product variants
You can create product variants by using three different methods:
Create product variants manually.
Create product variants based on suggestions. When you use this method, a list of the variants that can be created for the product master is displayed. The list is based on all the combinations of product dimensions that exist for the product master.
Create additional product variants based on new product dimensions. When you use this method, new product variants are generated for any additional dimensions that are associated with the product master.
Create product variants manually
Click Product information management > Common > Products > Product masters.
Select a product master, and then click Product variants.
Click New, and then select a combination of dimensions of the Size, Color, and Configuration types.
Tip
The dimensions that are available depend on the dimensions that are created for the product master.
Press CTRL+S to save the product variant.
Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each variant that you want to create.
Create product variants based on suggestions
Click Product information management > Common > Products > Product masters.
Select a product master, and then click Product variants.
Click Variant suggestions to display a list of possible product variants.
Select the check box next to each product variant that you want to create, or click Select all to select all the product variants in the list.
Click Create.
Create additional product variants based on new product dimensions
Click Product information management > Common > Products > Product masters.
Select a product master. Then, on the Action Pane, in the Maintain group, click Edit.
Select the Generate variants automatically check box.
On the Product masters list page or in the Product details form, on the Action Pane, in the Product master group, select Product dimensions.
Create the product dimensions that you want to add to the product master.
On the Product masters list page or in the Product details form, on the Action Pane, in the Product master group, click Product variants. The additional product variants that have been created are displayed.
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Released product details (form)