If you’re building complex configurable products, you’ve probably hit a wall: too many options, logic everywhere, and salespeople making mistakes that cost money. This guide is for anyone who needs to actually control how their product can be configured in Tacton—whether you’re a product owner, sales engineer, or the poor soul tasked with fixing the rules after someone else made a mess.
Let’s cut through the noise and get straight to how you can set up real-world product rules and constraints in Tacton without losing your mind.
What Are Product Rules and Constraints, Really?
Let’s get our terms straight before we dive in:
- Product rules: These are “if this, then that” logic statements about how your product can be built. For example: If you pick the 200HP engine, you can’t have the economy gearbox.
- Constraints: The hard limits that prevent impossible, illegal, or just plain bad combinations. Think: Don’t allow any product with a width over 2 meters to fit in a 1.9-meter crate.
Why does this matter? Because if you get the rules wrong, you’ll either frustrate your sales team (too strict) or end up quoting products you literally can’t build (too loose). Neither is fun.
Step 1: Map Out What Needs to Be Controlled (Don’t Skip This)
Before you even touch Tacton’s rule editor, spend an hour mapping out:
- Which options depend on each other? (e.g., motor size and power supply)
- What’s technically impossible? (e.g., certain materials can’t be welded)
- What’s just a bad idea, even if technically possible? (e.g., gold-plated screws—unless you’re selling to billionaires)
- Where have quotes gone wrong in the past? (Use actual errors as rule inspiration)
Pro tip: Use a spreadsheet or a flowcharting tool. Don’t trust your memory—write it down.
Step 2: Know the Types of Rules You Can (and Should) Use in Tacton
Tacton supports a few different rule types. Not all are created equal, and more isn’t always better. Here’s what you need to know:
- Constraint rules: The backbone. These are logical expressions that define what’s allowed or not. They’re strict and enforceable.
- Recommendation rules: Useful for nudging users in the right direction without forcing them. (e.g., "We recommend X if you picked Y.")
- Calculation rules: Automate derived values, like “if width > 2000mm, then price = base + 10%.”
- Visibility rules: Hide or show options based on previous choices. This keeps your UI sane.
What to ignore: Resist the urge to overuse recommendation rules. If something must be enforced, always use constraints. Recommendations are for nice-to-haves, not dealbreakers.
Step 3: Translate Business Logic into Tacton Syntax
Tacton uses its own rule language. It’s pretty readable, but you’ll want to double-check your logic. The basic structure usually looks like:
IF [condition] THEN [action]
Examples: - IF MotorType = "HighPower" THEN Voltage >= 400 - IF Material = "Plastic" THEN NOT (Welding = "Yes")
Tips for writing good rules: - Be specific. Vague rules create loopholes. - Keep rules short. Break complex rules into smaller ones. - Test edge cases. What happens if someone picks the weirdest combo?
What doesn’t work: Trying to use “soft” language in constraints. Tacton doesn’t do nuance—either it’s allowed, or it isn’t.
Step 4: Build and Enter Rules in the Tacton Model Editor
Now you’re ready to get your hands dirty.
How to do it: 1. Open your model in Tacton Studio or the web editor. 2. Navigate to the “Rules” or “Constraints” section. 3. Add a new rule. Name it clearly (e.g., “NoPlasticWelding” not “Rule1”). 4. Enter your condition and action using Tacton syntax. 5. Save and document each rule. A quick comment (“Prevents welding on plastic materials”) will save hours later.
Watch out for: - Duplicate logic. Don’t write the same rule twice in different places. - Order of rules. In Tacton, constraint rules are evaluated together, not in a sequence—so don’t rely on order saving you. - Overlapping rules. If two rules contradict, you’ll confuse users (and yourself).
Step 5: Test the Rules—Like, Really Test Them
Don’t just assume it works because the editor says “no errors.”
Your testing checklist: - Try every combination you can think of, especially the weird ones. - Make sure error messages make sense to a non-engineer. - Ask someone from sales or support to try breaking it. - Check that the UI updates as expected (options hide/show, recommendations appear only when relevant).
Honest take: Most rule failures happen because someone only tests the “happy path.” Spend 20 minutes trying to break your own logic.
Step 6: Handle Exceptions and Must-Haves
No matter how many rules you write, someone will ask for an exception.
Here’s how to deal: - Decide if it’s a true exception or a missing rule. If it keeps coming up, you need a rule. - Use “override” flags sparingly. If you let people override constraints, document who can do it and why. - Keep a log of exceptions. This helps you spot patterns and fix root problems.
What to avoid: Don’t build a “rule for everything.” You’ll overwhelm yourself and everyone else. Cover 90% of real-world cases and be ready to fix the rest as they pop up.
Step 7: Maintain and Iterate—It Never Ends
As your product evolves, so do the rules. Don’t treat this like a one-and-done job.
Best practices: - Review rules quarterly (or after every big product change). - Keep documentation with the rules, not in a separate file you’ll forget about. - Encourage feedback from users—if they’re fighting the configurator, something’s wrong.
Honest take: Over time, your rules will get messy. That’s normal. Just set aside time to clean them up, or you’ll end up with a spaghetti mess nobody understands.
Pro Tips from the Trenches
- Start simple. Get the basics right before layering on edge cases.
- Document as you go. Future-you (or the next person) will thank you.
- Don’t trust “best practice” templates blindly. Your product is unique—borrow ideas, but test everything in your context.
- Be ruthless about clarity. If a rule is confusing, rewrite it. Ambiguity is the enemy.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Setting up product rules and constraints in Tacton isn’t rocket science, but it does take patience and a willingness to rethink things as your product changes. Keep your logic clear, your rules documented, and your ears open for feedback. Don’t try to solve everything at once—start with the big blockers and refine as you go.
The best Tacton configurations aren’t the most complex—they’re the ones that make life easier for everyone. So aim for clarity, not cleverness, and you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches down the line.