Half Fold
When you are estimating products that use envelopes, such as mailing packages, iQuote validates each of the components' sizes to check if they will fit into the envelope or not (i.e., all the components must be smaller than the selected envelope). This process happens before the system uses the Inserter functionality.
In scenarios where a component is larger than the envelope, the system requires you to use the Half Fold characteristic to add an additional fold to the product before the insertion, changing the component’s original size so that it fits into the envelope.
The Half Fold characteristic activates the 1095 - Half Fold engineering functionality, which you must have previously setup on a Production Group. Only with the functionality active, will the Engineering be able to simulate the Estimates that use this characteristic.
Note: For more information on how to add functionalities to a Production Group, see Production Group Functionalities.
Creating the characteristic
In the system’s main menu, navigate to Sales > Records > iQuote > Product Specification > Specification Characteristic Type or enter "Specification Characteristic Type” in the Quick Search field.
Click Add. Complete the fields in this screen, as described below:
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Field |
Description |
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Code |
Identification code for the specification characteristic type. |
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Description |
Description of the specification characteristic type. The system will show it in the other records. |
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Screen Description |
Description of the specification characteristic type that the system will show in estimate’s and Product Order’s product specification. If this field is blank, the system will use the description defined in Description as the product specification. |
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Characteristic Class |
Standard class that determines the type of specification characteristic, its information and viewing mode in the product specification. When you select a class, the Information about the Characteristic Class area will show how the system will present the characteristic in the product specification and how the characteristic will appear in the estimate’s and Product Order’s product specification. |
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Specification Characteristic Classification |
Characteristic type that indicates how the system will show the specification characteristic in the Job. |
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Create Engineering |
It indicates whether the specification characteristic is available for Engineering. You should select this option if you expect the specification characteristic to be available in the Engineering, to activate a functionality. If you mark a characteristic as "Create Engineering" and there is no recorded functionality that would suppress this characteristic, the system will not calculate the Engineering. For more information, refer to "Production Group". |
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Active |
Indicates whether the specification characteristic is available for use in the the estimate’s and Product Order’s product specification. |
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Technical Characteristic |
It indicates whether the specification characteristic is a technical characteristic. The user can view the technical characteristics in the estimate’s and Product Order’s product specification if they have the access control EPS > Sales > Records> iQuote > Product Specification > Characteristic Specification Type > View Technical Characteristics. |
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Allows Specialization |
Indicates whether the specification characteristic is available for you to select as a specialization characteristic of a product that have different models. If a product has two models, where one will be packed in a packet and the other in a shrinkwrap, it should be specified as a single product with 2 models and it should be indicated that both the shrinkwrap and the packet can be specialized. This way, both models will be available in the product specification. This option applies only to the following specification characteristic classes: Package - Box Package - Strap Package - Packet Package - Pallet Package - Bag Package - Shrinkwrap It’s not possible to specialize the other classes’ product specification. |
Note: Information about the Characteristic Class area.
By including the specification characteristic type in the Information about the Characteristic Class area, it is possible to view how the estimates' and jobs' product specification will display the selected characteristic, making it easier to choose the correct class.
The fields displayed in this area are only for viewing and cannot be filled. For more information on how to fill the characteristic fields in the estimate’s or Job’s product specification, refer to Estimating.
Click Confirm. Complete the new fields that will open in this screen, as described below:
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Field |
Description |
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Characteristic Description Mode |
Define the description that the system uses by default to describe the characteristic in instances such as the Job. By choosing a mode, you set which data the description displays (e.g., the size and delivery type). You can also choose one of the Customized Description options. To set them up, go to the Customized Description tab to define a customized set of data for the system to use. Note: Select in the Specification Components Types record the specification characteristic description to be displayed in the Proposal. |
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Simple generic characteristic added |
Type of specification class characteristic Generic Characteristic that you can link to another specification characteristic. For example, if you select the lamination specification characteristic for the product, it is necessary to automatically create a Review laminated materials specification characteristic. This second characteristic is assigned to the product, but the system will not show it in the specification screen. This way, if the Create Engineering parameter is enabled for this characteristic, it is possible to use the linked characteristic to make filters in the Engineering or to activate generic functionalities. The system displays this field only if you enable the Generate Engineering options. |
Note below a brief description of this toolbar’s button:
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Button Name |
Button Function |
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Edit Characteristic Info |
Allows the user to edit additional information to the specification characteristic, if the selected class type accept it. |
Note: This characteristic does not have additional information. When clicking Edit Characteristic Info the system will display a message informing this action is not required.
Validation limits tab
Note: The validation limits can be used in some characteristic classes to determine a range that can be specified in the estimate or Job. For example, if a minimum and a maximum format are set as a characteristic’s validation limit the system will show a message informing there is an inconsistency in the estimates anytime someone tries to enter a value outside this range in the product specification.
To add a new validation limit, click New.
Click the arrow next to the Validation Type box and select the appropriate validation, if there are any.
In the Minimum field, enter the value to be the lowest validation limit value.
In the Maximum field, enter the value to be the upper validation limit value.
Repeat steps from 1 to 4 to add all the validation limits.
When finished, click Save.
Note: After adding the appropriate specification characteristic, it shall be linked to the same specification component so it will be shown in the estimate’s and Job’s product specification. For more information, refer to "Linking the Specification Characteristic to the Specification Component".
Using the characteristic in estimates and jobs
The estimate and job will show this specification characteristic class as in the following screen:
To use this characteristic in an estimate or job, fill in the fields as described below:
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Field |
Description |
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Fold Position |
Select whether the system should fold the product on its height or width length. Height:
Width:
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EXAMPLE:
Assume a magazine is 6x8", but must fit into an Envelope Number #10, 4.125x9.5". In this case, you can select the Half Fold Specification Characteristic Type and indicate that the additional fold applies to the magazine’s width. This is the resulting Engineering simulation:
