Managing Variations

A model serves as a template that can also auto-populate many fields on a new application. However, differences will arise from one application to another. For example, in a subdivision with three basic models, residents may choose to add bay windows, fireplaces, a central vacuum system, or they might increase the square footage of the family room, thereby increasing the overall square footage. Other residents might choose not to get central air conditioning or they might combine two adjoining bedrooms into one. Someone may remove certain features to get their house built on a tighter budget.

Such deviations can be managed by creating variations for a model. Each variation can list several choices, each of which can be configured to save time during the application intake process.

Topics

Creating a Variation

The first step to creating a variation is to name it and establish the principle details. Once you have created a variation, you may add variation choices and occupancies. For instructions on managing variation choices, see Establishing Choices for a Variation. For instructions on managing occupancies, see Establishing Choice Occupancies for a Variation.

To create a variation

  1. Choose Modeling Maintenance.

    Civic Platform displays the Modeling Maintenance window.

  2. Create a new model or open the model you want to work with (see Creating a New Model).

  3. Click the Variations tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Variations tab.

  4. Click New.

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Detail form.

  5. Enter available data in the form fields. See Variation Details for field definitions.

  6. Click Submit.

    Civic Platform adds the new variation to the Variations tab.

  7. Update variation details as described in Establishing Choices for a Variation.

Deleting a Variation

You may delete a variation if it is no longer needed or if it was created by mistake.

Note:

Deletion is permanent. If you are uncertain whether a variation is unnecessary, you can disable it rather than deleting it.

To delete a variation

  1. Choose Modeling Maintenance.

    Civic Platform displays the Modeling Maintenance window.

  2. Create a new model or open the model you want to work with (see Creating a New Model).

  3. Click the Variations tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Variations tab.

  4. Select the variation you want to delete.

  5. Click Delete.

    Civic Platform removes the variation from the Variations tab.

Establishing Choices for a Variation

A variation typically provides choices. For example, you can create a fireplace variation that offers choices such as wood burning, electric, gas, or none. Or you can create a building materials variation that offers choices such as stone, brick, or marble.

To establish choices for a variation

  1. Create a new variation or open the variation you want to work with (see Creating a Variation).

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Detail tab.

  2. Click the Variation Choice tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Choice tab.

  3. Click New.

    Civic Platform displays the Choice Detail tab.

  4. Enter data as appropriate.

    Choice Name This is the option you are offering. For example, if you are creating a fireplace variation, you can enter Gas Brick, Electric Brick, Gas Rock, and None as different choices.
    Default Choice Defines whether a choice is the default selection.
    Display Order This defines the display order of variation choices in the drop-down list. For example, if you want the most common variation choices listed at the top, you can set a high display order value.

  5. Click Submit.

    Civic Platform adds the detail to the Variation Choice tab.

Deleting Variation Choices

To delete variation choices

  1. Open the variation you want to work with.

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Detail tab.

  2. Click the Variation Choice tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Choice tab.

  3. Select the variation choice you want to delete.

  4. Click Delete.

    Civic Platform removes the selected variation choices from the Variation Choice tab.

Establishing Choice Occupancies for a Variation

Choice occupancies are the details about a variation that save time and effort. For example, if a variation increases the square footage of a plan, the choice occupancy can automatically adjust the new square footage on the application.

To establish choice occupancies for a variation

  1. Create a new variation or open the variation you want to work with (see Creating a Variation).

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Detail tab.

  2. Click the Variation Choice tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Choice tab.

  3. Click the link for the variation detail you want to work with.

    Civic Platform displays the Choice Detail tab.

  4. Click the Choice Occupancies tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Choice Occupancies tab.

  5. Click New.

    Civic Platform displays a Occupancy and Unit Type form.

  6. Select the desired Occupancy and Unit Type values.

  7. Click Submit.

    Civic Platform adds the occupancy to the Choice Occupancies tab.

Deleting Choice Occupancies from a Variation

You may delete a choice occupation from a variation if it is no longer needed or if it was created by mistake. Deletion is permanent.

To delete choice occupancies from a variation

  1. Open the variation you want to work with.

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Detail tab.

  2. Click the Variation Choice tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Variation Choice tab.

  3. Click the link for the variation detail you want to work with.

    Civic Platform displays the Choice Detail tab.

  4. Click the Choice Occupancies tab.

    Civic Platform displays the Choice Occupancies tab.

  5. Select the choice occupancies that you want to delete.

  6. Click Delete.

    Civic Platform removes the selected occupancies from the Choice Occupancies tab.