Constraint Solving with

Advanced Variant Configuration

Andreas Koelbl, SAP
October, 2018

PUBLIC
Agenda

Constraint Solving with Advanced Variant Configuration

• Introduction into AVC Constraint Solving
• Constraint Solving Example
• Implicit Constraints - Examples
• Demo: Solving Sudoku
• Summary

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 2

 SAP
Introduction into AVC Constraint Solving
Configuration Engine

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 4

Future Direction
Constraint Solving

Constraint
• Describes a condition that some variables must satisfy

Constraint Solving
• process of finding a solution to a set of constraints
• solution is the set of values for all variables that satisfies all constraints

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 5

Sequence of dependency processing

Restrict Post Restrict Change

Solution Assignment Solution Facets

• Constraints • Interactive Assignments • Constraints • Precondition on Cstic

• Precondition on Value • Static Defaults • Precondition on Value • Selection Condition on cstic
• Procedures

• Unassign Defaults
leading to
inconsistency!

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 6

 SA
Constraint Solving Example
Example

Constraints

A 2 – 8 A = B
B < C
B 4 – 12
A ≠ D
C 4 – 8 Assignment

D = 5
D 4 – 8 C = 5
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 8
Event on Constraints

• Each constraint is triggered by an event

• Event depends on operator / syntax element

A = B → Domain Changed

B < C → Min / Max Value of Domain Changed

A ≠ D → Assignment Changed

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 9

Complexity of Constraints

• Each constraints is assigned to a a complexity cluster (from easy to crazy)

• Easy constraints are executed early, crazy constraints are executed latest

A = B → easy

B < C → easy

A ≠ D → easy

Read Table → crazy

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 10
Restrict Solution - Example

Restrict Post Restrict Change

Solution Assignment Solution Facets
Restrict Solution - Event Step 1.1

A 2 – 8
A = B Domain of A & B
are different

B 4 – 12 B < C

C 4 – 8 A ≠ D

D 4 – 8
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 12
Restrict Solution - Restrict Step 1.1

A 2 – 8 A = B
4-8
B 4 – 12

Create Intersection
between A and B

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 13

Restrict Solution - Event Step 1.2

A 44 – 88
A = B
B 4 – 8 B < C
Event:
Max of B changed
from 12
to 8

C 4 – 8 A ≠ D

D 4 – 8
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 14
Restrict Solution - Restrict Step 1.2

B 4 – 8 4 – 7
B < C
C 4 – 8 5 – 8
Compare Min & Max Values
Bmax < Cmax
Cmin > Bmin

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 15

Restrict Solution - Event Step 1.3

A 4 – 8
A = B
B 4 – 7 B < C
Event:
Domain of B changed from
4-8
to 4-7

C 5 – 8 A ≠ D

D 4 – 8
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 16
Restrict Solution - Restrict Step 1.3

A 4 – 8 A = B
4-7
B 4 – 7

Create Intersection
between A and B

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 17

Restrict Solution - Result

A 4 – 7
A = B
B 4 – 7 B < C

C 5 – 8 A ≠ D

D 4 – 8
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 18
Post 1st Assignment & Restrict Solution

Restrict Post Restrict Change

Solution Assignment Solution Facets
Restrict Solution – Assignment & Event Step 2.1

Constraints Event:

A 4 – 7 A = B
Assignment of D changed
from unassigned
to 5

B < C
B 4 – 7
A ≠ D
C 5 – 8 Assignment

D = 5
D 5
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 20
Restrict Solution - Restrict Step 2.1

A 4 – 7 A ≠ D 4/6–7

D 5 5
Exclude assigned value
from unassigned domain

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 21

Restrict Solution – Event Step 2.2

Constraints Event:

A 4 /6– 7 A = B
Domain of A changed
from 4-7
to 4/6-7

B < C
B 4 – 7
A ≠ D
C 5 – 8 Assignment

D = 5
D 5
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 22
Restrict Solution - Result

Constraints

A 4 /6– 7 A = B
B < C
B 4 /6– 7
A ≠ D
C 5 – 8 Assignment

D = 5
D 5
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 23
Post 2nd Assignment & Restrict Solution

Restrict Post Restrict Change

Solution Assignment Solution Facets
Restrict Solution - Assignment

Constraints
Event B < C:
A 4 / 6 -7 A = B Min/Max of C changed
from 5/8
to 5
B < C
B 4 / 6 -7 Result: B = 4

A ≠ D
C 5 Assignment
Event A = B:
D = 5 Domain of B changed
from 4/6-7
D 5 C = 5 to 4
Result: A = 4

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 25

Result

Constraints

A 4 A = B
B < C
B 4
A ≠ D
C 5 Assignment

D = 5
D 5 C = 5
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 26
Why you should use constraints…

Constraints

• restrict characteristic values to a feasible solution

• do not base on a general evaluation direction

• are not bound to a sequence

• are only executed if needed (principle of justification)

• discard inferences as soon as justification is not longer given

... and constraints are easy to maintain ☺

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 27

Implicit Constraints - Examples
Numeric characteristics w/o specific master data domain

VCH_DEMO_NO_DOMAIN < 100

VCH_DEMO_NO_DOMAIN ≥ 0

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 29

Condition in Constraints-Restriction

X =1 If Y = 2
X is assigned to 2!

2 =1 If Y = 2
Valid solution enforces Y <> 2

Value 2 is excluded from domain of Y

© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 30
 SAP
Demo: Solving Sudoku
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 32
 SA
Summary
Summary

• Constraints are triggered by events

• Easy constraints are executed first, complex constraints are executed later

• AVC restricts the domain of the characteristics satisfying all constraints

Stay Consistent
© 2018 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 34
Thank you.
Contact information:
Andreas Koelbl
Product Owner Advanced Variant Configuration Engine
[email protected]