13.3 - CategoryTree

When you work with a lot of categories, the XML-mapping could get indistinguishable. That’s why we implemented the CategoryTree. When working on a Quotation Template the structure will help you to keep track of the different feature levels you use in your EMS. In this Lesson, we will look further into the CategoryTree and how to implement a CategoryTree into your Environment

Creating a CategoryTree

In this lesson, we will create a CategoryTree for the Doors Configuration Model. In this case, we will focus on the Left door and Right door Features. We’re going to build the CategoryTree in a way that you can Separate the Choices that are made by the user, per door on your Quotation. By using this method, you can show both the Left Door and the Right Door separate on the Quotation, but using the same Features. To create a CategoryTree, follow these steps: 

1. Open the EMS 

2. Go to the Categories Page

3. Add a new Category. Call it: Doors 

4. Click on "Assign Features"

5. Add the "Left Door" and "Right Door" Features

6.  Click on Save

The next step is to add Subcategories to this Category and build our CategoryTree. In the "Doors" configuration model, you have to specify the dimensions and a color for the door, so we’re going to add two Subcategories: "Dimensions" and "Color". To add a Subcategory, follow these steps:

1. Click on “Add subcategory” 

2. Add a Dimensions and a Color Subcategory

3. Click on the pencil behind the Dimensions Subcategory

4. Add the "WIDTH" and the "Length" feature to the Subcategory

There is another way to add a Category to the right feature. We can also apply the Category directly to the Feature on the Feature page.

1. Open the "Color Picker" feature

2.  Click on the Pencil under the Feature category

3. Select the color category to the "Color Picker" Feature

Note:  The Color Category is now added to the Color Picker Feature. This only applies, if you’ve followed the instruction of using the copy function of the Left door. In that case, the Features under the left door and the right door should be the same Feature.

You may have noticed, that some Categories have a dash in front of them. The Dash is an indication that it is a Subcategory of the Category above. The Categories without a dash are main categories.

CategoryTree in a Quotation Template

Now that we’ve build all of the logic in the EMS, we're going to retrieve the information on a Quotation Template. Download the XML-scheme, and add it to your Quotation Template Word Document. We are going to retrieve the information, using the CategoryTree we've just created. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Create a 2x3 table

2. Click on the first column 

3. Open CategoryTree > Doors in the XML-mapping

4. Right click on description

5. Select Plain text

We have now specified that this field will take over the text value of either left or right door. In that case, the table will start with the name of the Configured door. We’re building the Template by using the Categories we’ve just made. The Quotation Builder will know the dimensions of each door. We’re going to build this template in such a way, that the Quotation Builder will go through all the configurations on the quotation. When it stumbles on a feature with a dimensions category, it will retrieve the information and then proceed further to look to other references.

6. Click on the second row of the first Column

7. Open the Dimensions category via: CategoryTree > Doors > Dimensions 

8. From this Category, we're going to retrieve the Dimensions - Description in the first column

9. In the second column of the second row, add the Dimensions - Quantity

With what we have built, the quotation will only generate one line of information. This will be the first feature with the Dimensions Category., In this case, this will be the WIDTH feature. In the configuration, there is another Dimension, namely the Length. By adding a repetition to this line, the quotation builder will repeat the line and will look for the next Category with the Dimensions Category in the configuration. 

1. Select the line

2. Right click on Dimensions

3. Add a repetition

In the third row, we want to retrieve the information of the color picker. To do this, we follow these steps:

1. Open CategoryTree > Doors > Color 

2. In the first row, we will retrieve the description from the "Color" category 

3. In the second column, we will retrieve the "TextValue"

By adding a TextValue, it will take over the Color that is configured and will add it as a Text to the table. If you have done everything correctly, your table should look like this:

The basic table is done. We will now only retrieve the information of one door. So, we need to set another repetition. 

1. Select the whole table (Again, make sure to have some extra space selected under the table to create some space between the tables.) 

2. Right click the Doors main category 

3. Add a repetition

Now we’ve specified that the Quotation Builder  has to repeat this step until it cannot find any configurations that contain these sets of value . Save the word document and Upload the Template into the EMS. Create a new Quotation through the order entry or use an older configuration from the last lesson. You will see that per configuration, a table will be generated with the information we’ve specified with help of the CategoryTree.