Configurator - What & How to use?
What is a Configurator?
A Configurator is a product that consist of multiple Configurations with each their own Variants.

When the 3D scene from each Variant is loaded together, they will then combine and create one 3D scene displayed in the 3D viewer.

What are Configurations?
Configurations are containers for Variants that allow you to categorize your options to sub-groups.
They allow you to create, update and load multiple 3D scenes in independently of one another.

How are Configurations displayed in the 3D viewer picker?
In the 3D viewer picker, Configurations are separated to their own option menus.

What are Variants?
Variants are the options in your configurable product. Each of them has its own 3D scenes that can be customized independently.

Changing a Variant in Configuration will load a new 3D scene which updates that part of your product.

How are Variants displayed in the 3D viewer picker?
In the 3D viewer, Variants translate to the options in a Configuration dropdown that the customer can choose from.

How to build a Configurator?
Building a Configurator is similar to building any other product. The only difference is that you will be editing multiple 3D Scenes in the same product.
Basic Configurator workflow
1. Create new Configuration
To add a new Configuration, click on the Add configuration button.

2. Add Variant to the Configuration
Add a new Variant to a Configuration with the + Variant button.

3. Add node to a Variant?
To add a Node to a Variant:
Select the Variant in a Configuration to load the 3D scene
Click Add node or drag & drop a Mesh to the 3D scene

4. Change a Material on the Node
To change a Material on a Node:
Select the Variant to load the correct 3D scene
Then select the Node and assign another Material to it.

How to transfer a node from a configuration to another?
To transfer a Node from a Configuration to another:
Select the Variant and delete the original Node from the 3D scene

Select the Variant in the other Configuration
Add node to the 3D scene.

Base configuration (for shadow plane, screws, stoppers)
Configurations with only one Variant will not be displayed in the viewer picker. They are a great way to store models that will used in all Variants such as shadow plane, screws, stoppers etc.

Advanced configurator features
This article will break down more advanced configurator features which will be needed to build complex configurators.
Sub-configurations
Sub-configurations are used to categorise Variants within a Configuration to their own selections/dropdown menus.
When selected, another dropdown will be added with the Variant option within that Sub-configuration.
Sub-configurations are obsolete if you are building a custom picker

How to add a sub-configuration?
To add a Sub-configuration, simply click on the highlighted icon.

Optional configurations
Optional is used to disable/hide a configuration from the initial load.

How to add Optional to a configuration?
To add Optional, simply select a Configuration and check the Optional box.

Using an empty variant
Same effect can be done by adding an empty variant as the first option. This will offer more flexibility as the empty scene does not need to be the first choice.

How to remove models from AR view?
Ignore in AR is used to remove Nodes within a Configurator from AR viewer.
How to add Ignore in AR?
To add Ignore in AR, simply select a Configuration and check the Ignore in AR box.

What should Ignore in AR be used for?
The Ignore in AR is mainly used for custom environments, shadow planes and any other meshes that you do not want to add to AR view.
Mesh & Material replacements
Mesh & Material replacements are an advanced tool with a lot of different use cases. They are an important tool for advanced/complex Configurators.
Mesh replacement
Mesh replacement is a condition you can add to a Variant that changes a Mesh in the 3D scene to another while the Variant is selected.
To learn more, check out Mesh Replacement

Material replacement
Material replacement is a condition you can add to a Variant that changes a Material in the 3D scene to another while the Variant is selected.
To learn more, check out Material Replacement

Updated on: 09/03/2023
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