Working with compositions (macro rules) in 3CAD Next

Compositions (Macro Rules) allow designers to work with predefined product configurations during order design. A composition groups multiple articles, options, and configuration rules into a single reusable entity that behaves as a single product when inserted into the workspace.

Designers can apply compositions directly from the Article Library and configure them within the limits defined by the catalog designer. This helps accelerate the design process while ensuring that the configuration remains aligned with catalog rules and pricing logic.

Key benefits

• Faster design workflow: Apply predefined product structures instead of configuring multiple items individually.

• Consistency in configurations: Ensure that complex product combinations follow catalog-defined rules.

• Simplified workspace management: The composition behaves as a single article until explicitly decomposed.

• Controlled flexibility: Designers can modify allowed parameters without breaking the underlying configuration logic.

Feature description

A composition is a predefined configuration template that groups multiple products and rules into a single design entity. When inserted into the workspace, the composition appears and behaves like a single product, even though it may internally contain several individual articles.

Designers interact with the composition as a unified object. Any allowed configuration changes apply to the composition as a whole, rather than to individual internal items.

If required, the composition can be disassembled into its individual components using a dedicated command. Once decomposed, the internal articles can be edited independently.

Using compositions in the workspace

In the workspace, a composition appears as a single product item.

Key characteristics:

• The composition is inserted from the Article Library like any other article.

• It behaves as a single object during placement and configuration.

• Internal components are not individually accessible unless the composition is decomposed.

In the Offer View, the display of codes and prices depends on configuration parameters defined in the composition.

Accessing predefined compositions

Predefined compositions are available in the Article Library, just like standard articles.

To insert a composition:

1. Open the Article Library.

2. Navigate to the folder where the composition is stored.
   Note! The exact folder depends on the composition classification.

3. Click the composition item.

The composition is automatically inserted into the workspace and behaves as a single product.

Modifying a composition

After inserting a composition, designers can adjust certain aspects of the configuration.

Allowed changes depend on the constraints defined during composition creation and may include:

• selecting alternative options or variants

• adjusting configurable parameters

• enabling or disabling optional features

These modifications apply to the composition as a whole.

Individual internal articles cannot be edited unless the composition is decomposed.

Decomposing a composition (explode rule)

In some situations, designers may need to work on individual components of the composition.

To decompose a composition:

1. Select the composition in the workspace.

2. Open the Tools menu in the top bar.

3. Select Functionality.

4. Click Explode Rule.

The composition is then separated into its individual articles.

Important:

• This action is irreversible: once decomposed, the items cannot be reassembled into the original composition.

• The change is reflected in the Offer View, where the composition will no longer appear as a single entity.

Restoring the original composition

If the composition configuration needs to be restored, the designer can simply:

1. Delete the composition from the workspace.

2. Insert it again by clicking the item in the Article Library.

This reloads the original configuration defined in the catalog.

System variants affecting composition behavior

Compositions include three mandatory system variants that define how the macro behaves. These variants are automatically generated when the composition is created. They are:

• CANEXPLODEMACRO
• MACROVISIBILITY
• MACROPRICINGTYPE

Learn more about these variants in the article Compositions (Macro Rules).