Attribute Value Matrices are used to associate attributes to the product. You can use the attribute value matrices to drive the product selection. You can associate a maximum of five attributes with each other. The attributes defined in the Attribute Value Matrices are bi-directional. Once you create a matrix, a compatibility table is created. This compatibility table for Attribute Values helps you define all the valid combinations for the attribute values.

Use Case

For example, Amttus, a leading laptop manufacturer, wants to use attributes to drive the product selection of their users. A laptop has five attributes: Color, HDD, RAM, Screen Size, and Fingerprint Reader. The following table describes the products and its attributes. 

ProductA-560A-560mA-440A-440mA-320A-320m
ColorBlackBlackWhiteWhiteBlackWhite
HDD1 TB2 TB500 MB500 MB1 TB1 TB
RAM81648816
Screen Size14 HD14 HD1515 HD1414 HD
Fingerprint ReaderYesYesYesYesNoYes


After you create an attribute value matrix, when the user selects Black from the Color picklist menu, the HDD picklist menu will contain only 1 TB and 2 TB as options. RAM picklist menu will contain 8 and 16 as options. Screen Size will contain 14 and 14 HD as options. The Fingerprint Reader picklist menu will contain Yes and No as options. 

To Create an Attribute Value Matrix

  1. On App Menu, click Apttus CPQ Admin and then click the CPQAdmin tab. The new admin console is launched.
  2. On the Products menu, click Manage Products.
  3. Search and click any product, preferably the one you want to associate Attribute Value Matrix with.
  4. Click Rules. The page displays different rules tab.
  5. Click Attribute Value Matrix icon() next to the title, RULES. Attribute Value Matric tab is displayed
  6. Click the menu icon()  next to New Constraint Rule and click New Attribute Value Matrix.
  7. Fill in the required details.

    Field Name

    Description

    Matrix Name

    Enter name of the Attribute Value Matrix.

    Active

    Flags whether the Attribute Value Matrix is active.

    Effective DateSelect the date from which the Attribute Value Matrix is in effect.
    Expiration DateSelect the date until which the attribute value matrix is valid.
    DescriptionDescribe the attribute value matrix.
    Application TypeA picklist field, which contains Default, Constraint and Force Set values.
    Default: Selecting this lets you choose the picklist values which you have configured as default values in the Matrix View. The rest of the values are visible in the drop-down list, but you cannot select any of them on the Cart.
    Constraint: Selecting this value lets you choose only those picklist values which you have configured in the Matrix View. All the other values are disabled in the drop-down list on the cart. This also works with the Multi-select picklist.
    Force Set: Selecting this value lets you automatically set the picklist values which you have configured in the Matrix View (considering the last user selection). As soon as you change the attribute value for one attribute, the system sets the attribute values for other attributes immediately. If there is a Matrix entry with null values and Treat Null As Wildcard is set to false, the system resets the attribute values to null.
    Treat Null As WildcardThis field works in conjunction with Application Type. If you select this check box, all the picklist values (default or constrained) configured in the Matrix View are available for selection on the Cart. Deselecting this check box disables all the picklist values on the Cart.
    Matrix FieldsClick the plus icon to add attributes to the attribute value matrix. If you don't select any attribute then, THEN(statements)... section remains blank.
  8. Select the attribute value matrix you just created from the RULES section. 
  9. Fill in the required details under the IF(scope)... section.

    Field Name

    Description

    Product FamilyA multi-select field. Click in the text box to view the available product families and select the appropriate ones. You can also enter a keyword and search for a Product Family.
    Product GroupA multi-select field. Click in the text box to view the available product groups and select the appropriate ones. You can also enter a keyword and search for a product group. The product groups are filtered on the basis of product families that you select.
    ProductsA multi-select field. Click in the text box to view the available products and select the appropriate ones. You can also enter a keyword and search for a product. The products are filtered on the basis of product families and product groups that you select.
    Account LocationA multi-select field. Click in the text box to view the available account locations and select the appropriate ones. You can also enter a keyword and search for a location. The locations are filtered on the basis of product families, product groups, and products that you select.
  10. Define the desired matrix under the THEN(statements)...  section. Click Add Row to add more rows to the matrix. Click Add Column to add more attribute in the matrix. You can add or remove the row using the action menu icon().

  11. Create multiple valid combinations from the picklist menus. You can select the appropriate attributes from the picklist menu.
    Note that these attribute picklists work in a bi-directional manner. For example, if you choose LaptopColor = Black, LaptopHDD defaults to 1TB. Similarly, if you select Laptop HDD as 1TB, the system defaults Laptop Color to Black.
  12. Click Save.

If you create or edit the criteria, you must run Criteria Maintenance > Update Expression Fields.