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Create Object Types in the Product Designer
An object type that you create serves as a template that stores the configuration of attributes, fields, and layouts. Object subtypes (or child object types) or associated products inherit the configuration of the base object's layout, fields, and attributes. You can modify this configuration for each object type. But you must modify it before you create object subtypes so that they inherit the newly modified configuration.
With an object type's layout, you control the layout and organization of its attributes and fields. A layout has one or more sections, and each section has attributes or fields.
Object types are internal classifications of products. Object types differ from specifications in two key ways:
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Object types are used in EPC but not by order capture.
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Product specifications have cardinalities while object types don’t.
Example: Smart Device Object and Child Objects
To model smart phones and wearables, Monique creates a Base Product object type for all object types. She creates a child object type named Smart Device, which can be the parent for a variety of object types. In this case, Monique creates two children of the Smart Devices object: Smart Phone and Smart Wearable.
The following diagram shows the objects that Monique creates.
Example: Base Commodity Object and Child Objects
To model Energy offers, standing charges, and unit rates, Monique creates a Base Commodity object for all Commodity products. She creates child objects named Commodity Offer and Commodity Component, which can be the parent for a variety of products. In this case, Monique also creates two child objects of the Commodity Component object: Standing Charge Component and Unit Rate Component.
The following diagram shows the objects that Monique creates.
Don’t create child object types until you define attributes, fields, and layouts for the base object type. This order ensures the children inherit the basic settings, which you can later modify.
- Object Types and Guidelines (Communications)
An object type is a reusable entity that defines properties, such as fields and attributes, and layouts for all product instances. Object types are like Salesforce record-types but with enhanced capabilities. You can use object types to group products with similar characteristics and ensure consistent behavior and application of rules. - Create an Object Type
An object type that you create serves as a template that stores the configuration of attributes, fields, and layouts. Object subtypes (or child object types) or associated products inherit the configuration of the base object's layout, fields, and attributes. You can modify this configuration for each object type. But you must modify it before you create object subtypes so that they inherit the newly modified configuration. - Define an Object Layout with Fields and Attributes in Product Designer
Use this procedure for new object types (not for the Product2 Object). An object type's layout has sections, which contain attributes and fields that you can sequence. You can modify inherited sections and create ones for child objects. For each section, you can define the number of columns (one or two) and the movement direction when the tab key is used (up-down or left-right). - Apply Attributes to an Object in Product Designer
When you create an attribute, you can specify the objects to which the attribute applies. Use this procedure if you created an object after you defined an attribute or if you didn't assign objects when you created the attribute.
