What is a combination?

A combination is a link between a lens and one or more option(s). A combination may not have any characteristics, but it can still be:

• Mandatory: the optician will be forced to select the option of the combination in its sales software. It is possible to put several options of the same type (tint for example), in this case all the options of Tint type should be incompatible with each other (IWICATALOG - Options: Incompatible options) so that the optician can only select one tint when selling the lens. The code of the option will be transmitted in the order

• Included: in its software, the optician will visualize the option of the combination without having to select it. Generally the lens price already includes the price of the option which translates into an combination at 0€ in the catalog. The option won't be transmitted when ordering the lens

• Hidden: the optician won't see the combination's option in its software. The idea here is to include descriptive options such as a photochromic or polarized option, for example. Its price will be 0€ and the option won't be transmitted in the order. Depending on the sales software, this will allow to filter the lenses according to their combinations (i.g. search for a polarizing lens). These combinations will only be present in the Opto11 catalogs. In an SF6 format, this management makes it possible to indicate in the LensType.Dat file if the lens is polarized or photochromic

How to create a combination?

To create a new combination, you have to go on the Conceptual view tab and then click on the blue button showing a +.

Following this action, a popup window opens so that you can select the options to associate with the lens.

Without filter	With filter	Checked elements with or without filters

By default we only display in the above table the options that are not combined to the lens so we don't have duplicate combinations.

If you want to have duplicates, you must activate the check mark (squared in blue in the 1st screenshot) Display options already added. Warning, this will not prevent the validation of a catalog to the EDI-Optique.

The different actions available to add an option:

• The All button: it takes into account the filter presents in the upper part. In the Without filter example, 310 combinations will be created whereas in the With filter example, only 75 will be created. It is recommended to refine the filters if you wish to use this button.

• The Checked button: only the checked options will be combined the active lens. In the example Checked elements with or without filters only 2 options "teinte dégradés" and "019 teinte au modèle" will have a possible combination with the lens.

• The blue + button: this button allows to add a combination, element by element. 

When you perform an action on one of these 3 buttons a new popup, as below, will allow you to:

• Visualize all the previously selected elements (Option frame)

• Indicate if the combination:

  • Doesn't have any particular characteristic (in this case do not activate any check marks)

  • Is mandatory

  • Is mandatory and included (the check mark Included automatically activates the Mandatory one)

  • Is mandatory, included and hidden (the check mark Hidden automatically activates Included and Mandatory)

• Indicate a price if this one has to be different from the price defined in the option. If the price is not entered, as on the screenshot below, the option price will be used in the combination price. When a price is entered then the origin of the price will come from specific prices.

Finally, click on the "Validate" button to create combinations.

How to edit and modify a combination?

When editing an association you can enter specific characteristics for each supplement.

You can do it by clicking on the icon showing a note in the second column of the table. The access to the editions is only through Conceptual view.

After clicking on this edit button, find below the page you will have access to. It is composed of the following three tabs:

GENERAL

• Main characteristics: we enter the Mandatory, Included and Hidden notions that we have seen previously.

• Price: in the example below, as the combination is hidden then the price is 0€ (the lens is packaged therefore its price takes into account the combined option.  Thus the red cross visually informs that the price is different from the supplement. In this case, a specific price will be created. To see the original value of the price, you juste have to push the red cross.

TECHNICAL

• Characteristics: 

  • Rannfe: allows to specify what manufacturing range has to be applied to the range. By default the value is All. In the case where the lens only includes one range, it is not necessary to modify its value. On the other hand, if the lens is multi-range then it is possible to specify which manufacturing this option refers to.  

  • UVA and UVB: for options that already have this information, it is necessary to indicate a value only when it is different from the value given in the option.

  • Teletransmission: indicates whether or not it is possible, mandatory or not, to place an order by EDI (lens combined with the option).

  • Requires a tint: allows to specify whether this combination requires a tint or not. For example for mirror processing, this check mark could be active. Three possibilities are offered :

    • Indefinite: allows to take the value of the option. So if this information is already on the mirror option, no need to repeat it here.

    • Yes: forces the information to Yes and allows to handle exceptions.

    • No: forces the information to No and allows to handle exceptions. 

• Measurement: the information presents here allows to indicate:

  • The limited values inferior to the diameter

  • The limit values lower of diameter, sphere, cylinder and/or prism for the option. Below the applied value, the option will not be available.

• Product state in the catalog: defines if the combination is available or not for selling. Only handle exceptions here. When exporting, if at least the lens or option is no longer active (deleted state) then the combination will also be active. This option can be used if a particular lens is no longer being processed. With this option you can inform the optician software that the lens and the option are still active, but the combination between the two is no longer active or available.

• Refund: the refund class inherits the lens and then the option. Only handle exceptions here.

• Marketing information:

  • Code of the special price: is the code that designates the supplier special price. The list of the special price codes and their meanings must be previously established between the buyer and the supplier.

  • Name of the special price: the name is applicable for the option concerned but it may be different for another option even if the special price code is the same.

  • Discount on balance lens: to indicate the approximative percentage of discount applied in the case where the option is applied to a balance lens.

  • Additional delay: already available for options. Only handle exceptions here.

How to manage combinations inheriting a model?

When a model is used by a lens you can decide whether or not to inherit the combinations declared in the model.

• Combination of the model: all combinations present on the model will be recovered from the lens. However exceptions will be possible. As a reminder: any addition or removal of combination in the model will be automatically carried over to the inheriting lens.  The characteristics of the combination (mandatory, included, hidden) will also be transferred to the "child" lenses. 

• No combination of the model: in this case, you choose to make the lens "live" with its own combinations. As a reminder: any addition or removal of combination in the model will not be reported.

Combination of the model table

When you decide to inherit the combinations present on the model, this table will allow you to visualize all the possibilities. It is possible to delete one or more combination(s). You will then have to click on one of the red crosses. The line of the table stays active but you can see that another line has been added in the table below.

Delete a combination from the model:

To add a combination which is not on the model:

How to use the option packs?

The option packs must be used like any other option when creating a combination.

As a reminder, a pack includes one or more options that can be managed according to the lenses to which it is assigned. In the example below, the Gradient Tint pack includes 3 options that can be viewed by clicking on the pack label (1 and 2).

How to delete an option present in the pack?

1.  Click on the name of the pack

2.  Click on the red cross of the option needing a removal

3.  Visualize the element(s) deleted from the pack.

4. These steps must be realized for every option you want to delete

1 - Click on the label to view what are the option included in the pack	2 - Click on the red cross to delete (or don't include) the combination in the lens	3 - Visualize all deleted options from the packs

Difference between conceptual view and actual view

The conceptual view is the view on which you work. Any addition or removal of combination goes through this view that offers the possibility to:

• Create/delete the combination

• Include the characteristics of the combination (mandatory, included and/or hidden)

• The management of the packs

• The visualization of the combinations inherited from the models

The actual view allows to visualize:

• The combinations present on the lens when exporting (publics or specifics to a groupment)

• The original pack of a combination

• The origin of the combination if this one comes from a model

• The price (only the first price entered is entered on the table)

• The origin of the price (for further explanation on the origin of the prices, click on the following link: IWICATALOG - Options: Specific prices)

Impact of the mandatory combinations in the catalog