Workflow Step Types

A Configure to Order (CTO) workflow is made up of a sequence of steps. Each step has a type that determines what information it presents to the user during item configuration. This document describes each step type, its purpose, and how it appears in the Sales Configurator.

Step Type Overview

Option

The Option step presents the user with a predefined list of named choices, such as "Yes / No", colour names, finish types, or any other categorical selection. This is the most commonly used step type.

Key Features

• Each option is defined on the workflow step with its own code, description, and display sequence.
• Options can branch the workflow - each option may specify a different Next Step Code, allowing the configuration path to vary based on what the user selects.
• Each option can have its own child components and routing lines, determining what gets added to the BOM or production order.
• Supports single-select (radio-button behaviour) or multi-select (checkbox behaviour) with minimum/maximum selection constraints.
• One option can be marked as the Default Option, which is pre-selected when the step loads.
• Options can have pictures attached for display in the FactBox.

Step Card Setup: Define the available options on the Options subpage. For each option, set the code, description, display order, and optionally a next step code for workflow branching.

Sales Configurator Appearance: The column header reads "Options". The user sees a list of options with a Selected checkbox. If multiple selections are not allowed, selecting a new option automatically deselects the previous one.

Item

The Item step lets the user choose from a list of inventory items. Selected items become BOM components on the configured item.

Key Features

• List Type controls the source of items:
  • Specified Selections - a curated list of items defined on the step, each with its own variant code, unit of measure, quantity per, and min/max constraints.
  • Full List - all non-blocked items in the system are shown.
• Supports quantity changes - the user can adjust quantities when enabled, with per-option and total quantity constraints.
• Supports quantity formulas - quantities can be calculated automatically from parameter values entered in earlier steps.
• Allow Unlisted Items - the user can add items not in the predefined list via an "Add Unlisted Item" link.
• Allow Catalog Items - the user can add catalogue (nonstock) items on sales quotes via an "Add Catalogue Item" link.
• Each item can specify a Routing Link Code and Scrap % for production order integration.
• Items can be individually excluded from the unit price calculation.

Step Card Setup: When List Type is set to Specified Selections, define the item list on the Items subpage. For each item, set the item number, variant, unit of measure, quantity per, default quantity, and min/max quantity. When set to Full List, the Items subpage is read-only.

Sales Configurator Appearance: The column header reads "Options" with a Quantity column when quantity changes are allowed. Items are shown with their translated descriptions. The No. column appears if Display Item No. is enabled in the "Configure to Order Setup" screen.

Item (Attribute Filtered)

The Item (Attribute Filtered) step works like the Item step but dynamically filters the available items based on item attribute values. This is particularly useful when the list of items depends on parameter values entered in earlier steps.

Key Features

• Attribute filters are defined on the step, each referencing an item attribute name and a filter value.
• Filter values can include parameter references - the filter is dynamically evaluated using values from Parameter steps.
• Supports tolerance on parameter-based filters, automatically expanding the range.
• Multiple attribute filters are applied cumulatively - only items matching all filters appear.
• All other Item step features (quantity changes, formulas, unlisted items) are also available.

Step Card Setup: Define the attribute filters on the Item Attribute Filters subpage. For each filter, select the attribute name, enter the filter value (which may include parameter placeholders), and optionally set a tolerance and parameter IDs.

Sales Configurator Appearance: Identical to the Item step, but the available items are filtered dynamically. If no items match the attribute filters, an empty list is shown.

Resource

The Resource step lets the user choose from a list of resources, such as labour, equipment, or services. Selected resources become resource lines on the sales document.

Note: The Resource step type is not available when the workflow uses the Production Order configuration method.

Key Features

• List Type controls the source:
  • Specified Selections - a curated list of resources defined on the step.
  • Full List - all non-blocked resources in the system.
• Supports quantity changes with per-resource and total quantity constraints.
• Allow Unlisted Resources - the user can add resources not in the predefined list.
• Resources can be individually excluded from the unit price calculation.

Step Card Setup: When List Type is Specified Selections, define the resource list on the Resources subpage. For each resource, set the resource number, description, unit of measure, quantity per, and min/max quantity.

Sales Configurator Appearance: The column header reads "Options" with a Quantity column when quantity changes are allowed. Resources are shown with their names.

Production Operation

The Production Operation step lets the user add manufacturing operations to the production order routing. Each operation specifies a machine centre or work centre with run time and setup time.

Note: This step type is only available when the workflow uses the Production Order configuration method.

Key Features

• List Type controls the source:
  • Specified Selections - a curated list of machine centre and work centre operations defined on the step.
  • Full List - all non-blocked machine centres and work centres in the system.
• Each operation has a Run Time and Setup Time, both of which can be adjusted by the user when Allow Qty. Change is enabled.
• Min/max constraints can be set for both run time and setup time.
• Operations carry a Routing Link Code for linking to production BOM components.
• Allow Unlisted Operations - the user can add machine centres or work centres not in the predefined list via "Add Unlisted Machine Centre" or "Add Unlisted Work Centre" links.

Step Card Setup: When List Type is Specified Selections, define the operations on the Production Operations subpage. For each operation, select the type (Machine Center or Work Center), set the number, unit of measure, default run/setup times, and min/max constraints.

Sales Configurator Appearance: The column header reads "Options". The quantity column header reads "Run Time" and a second quantity column reads "Setup Time". Operations are shown with their centre names.

Parameter

The Parameter step prompts the user to enter numeric values such as measurements, counts, or dimensions. Parameter values are recorded on the configuration and can be referenced in quantity formulas and calculations on other steps.

Key Features

• Each parameter has a unique Parameter ID (e.g. "LENGTH", "WIDTH") that is referenced in formulas on other steps.
• Parameters can have min/max value constraints that are validated when the user clicks Next.
• Parameters can be marked as Optional - optional parameters do not require a value.
• Parameter values are decimal numbers (not free-text).
• Parameters can have a unit of measure for display purposes.

Note: Place Parameter steps before any Item or Item (Attribute Filtered) steps that use quantity formulas or attribute filters referencing parameter values. Parameters must be entered before they can be used in calculations.

Step Card Setup: Define the parameters on the Parameters subpage. For each parameter, set the Parameter ID, name, unit of measure, display sequence, and min/max values. Mark as Optional if the value is not required.

Sales Configurator Appearance: The column header reads "Parameter" and the value column reads "Value". The Selected checkbox column is hidden. Each parameter is shown with its name, and the user enters a decimal value in the Value column.

Customisation (Text)

The Customisation (Text) step allows the user to enter free-form text for product personalisation, such as engraving, embroidery, printing, or monogramming.

Key Features

• Multiple text lines can be defined, each with its own description (label) and independent validation rules.
• Each text line can enforce:
  • Minimum Length - the text must be at least this many characters.
  • Maximum Length - the text cannot exceed this many characters.
  • Length Excludes Spaces - character counting ignores spaces.
  • Uppercase Only - text is automatically converted to uppercase.
  • Restrict Character Range - only characters from a defined character range code are allowed.
• The step always behaves as single-select (multiple selections are not applicable).
• Quantity changes are not applicable to this step type.

Step Card Setup: Define the text lines on the Customisation Text Lines subpage. For each line, enter a description (this becomes the label the user sees), and configure the character restrictions.

Sales Configurator Appearance: The column header reads "Customisation". A Customisation Text free-text field appears for each line. The Restrictions column shows the character length constraints. A mandatory indicator appears if a minimum length is required.

Customisation (Images)

The Customisation (Images) step allows the user to upload image files for product customisation, such as logos, artwork, or designs.

Key Features

• Each image line defines what image is expected, with a description label (e.g. "Company Logo", "Front Design").
• Each line can restrict the accepted file types (e.g. .jpg, .png, .bmp). The upload dialog is filtered to only show files matching these extensions.
• Uploaded images are stored against the sales line configuration for later use in production or documentation.

Step Card Setup: Define the image lines on the Customisation Images subpage. For each line, enter a description and specify the accepted file types.

Sales Configurator Appearance: The column header reads "Image Type". A Filename column shows the name of the uploaded file. The user clicks the assist-edit button on the Filename field to open the file upload dialog.

Calculations (Cross-cutting Feature)

Calculations are not a step type but a feature that can be added to any workflow step. They use formulas that reference Parameter IDs to compute derived values (e.g. Area = LENGTH x WIDTH). Calculated values are displayed in the Calculations FactBox on the Sales Configurator when enabled in the setup.

Calculations are defined per step and are re-evaluated automatically whenever the user changes a selection or parameter value on that step.

Common Step Fields

The following fields are available on the workflow step card for all step types:

Step Type Availability

The step types available on the workflow step card depend on the workflow's configuration method and the licensed features:

Note: The Resource step type is not available when the workflow uses the Production Order configuration method. The Production Operation step type is only available with the Production Order configuration method.