This new wizard guides you through the steps it takes to create a product model. The wizard can be accessed from Product Builder > Setup > Product Model Wizard.

The use of the wizard is optional. If you want it to automatically appear when pressing Ctrl+N in the Product models form, click Setup > Options in this form, and select the Use wizard when creating check box.

For more information, see Product Model Wizard (form)

The Product Builder validation rules have been extended and changed. Three kinds of rules are available:

• Formula
  
• Action
  
• Constraint
  

Moreover, all the rules in a product model are now available from a single form, which improves the overview of the product model rule system.

In Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0, the rules are not connected to a single variable, a variable group, or to the whole product model; instead the rules are connected to all the concerned variables. Therefore, a single copy of each rule serves the same purpose as multiple copies did in previous product versions. Because of these changes, the three levels of rules that were used in the previous product version have been removed.

Validation rules can be global and local. Global rules can be applied to several models; local rules are set up for only one product model.

For more information, see Validation rules

The new product model graphics feature enables you to view a drawing of the configured item that reflects choices made in the Product Builder configuration form. If you set up the Graphic parameters form and create the appropriate drawings, the graphics will be shown on a separate tab in the Product Builder configuration form and will be available for printing from the configured line.

For more information, see Visualization

You can now compile the modeling tree and validate the rules for several product models at the same time.

Multiple compilation and rule validation is possible in two different ways:

• A new Periodic submenu has been added. The new Compile product models form has been placed under this new submenu. In this form, you can select the models to compile and you can run compilation as batch job.
  
• You can compile multiple models by selecting them in the Product models form (Product Builder > Product models) and clicking Functions > Compile product model.
  

In Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0, product models are always compiled to the Application Object Tree (AOT). In earlier product versions, it was also possible to save compiled product models in the database. This feature had limited practical use, and therefore it has been removed.

• Additionally, a new Layer field has been added to the Product Builder parameters form. Use this field to select which application object layer the generated code must be placed in. Additionally, use this field to verify that the product models are compiled to the correct code layer. Therefore, after a layer ID has been selected in the Layer field, product models can only be compiled if the current code layer matches the specified layer ID.
  
• For more information, see Compile the product model
  

In previous product versions, it was only possible to automatically calculate item sales price and delivery date. Four new options are now available to make item configuring mandatory, automatic, partially automatic, or automatically started. All four options are represented by check boxes on the General tab of the Item form. They are set up for each modeling-enabled item.

For more information, see Item configuration

You can configure the item not only from sales, purchase, or production orders and item requirements, but also from sales and project quotations. Regardless of where you configure the item from, the principle is the same: after you select the modeling-enabled item in the quotation line, the Configure line button becomes available. Click this button to configure the selected item.

When the quotation becomes an order, the configuration is transferred to the created order.

Other enhancements that have been introduced mainly concern the Product model and Parameters forms.

In the Product model form, the enhancements include the following:

• Drag-and-drop functionality for building the modeling tree. A list of icons has been added to the form that shows the different node types available. The functionality is similar to the BOM designer. When creating a new node or move an existing node, drag the icon to the specific position in the tree where the node should be placed.
  
• In the Field properties field, four options are available now:
  
• Hide – If Hide is selected for the variable, the field defined by this variable will not be displayed in the Product Builder configuration form.
  
  • Show only – If Show only is selected for the variable, the field defined by this variable will be visible in the Product Builder configuration form, but the user will not be able edit it.
    
  • Allow edit – If Allow edit is selected for the variable, in the Product Builder configuration form, you can choose a value for the field defined by this variable.
    
  • Mandatory – If Mandatory is selected for the variable, in the Product Builder configuration form, you must choose a value for the field defined by this variable.
    

In the Parameters form, the enhancements include a new Lookup method field. If the user selects Configurable in this field, in the sales order or quotation, the lookup form for selecting item numbers will be split into two tabs:

• Configurable items – Shows only modeling enabled items.
  
• All items – Shows all existing items, including modeling enabled items.