Default Design Choice Selection for Configurable Modules

We are currently using PTC Windchill+ 13.0.2.12 and are working extensively with the Configurable Module functionality.

During the configuration process, we noticed that it would be beneficial for users entering configuration data to have the ability to define a default design choice for a design option, representing a standard or most common configuration.

By default design choice, I mean a design choice that is initially selected when the configuration is created, without requiring any prior user input. The user would still be able to modify the selection as needed.

This capability could provide several benefits:

• Faster configuration entry for standard products.
• Improved data quality and consistency.
• Reduced verification effort, since users would only need to review and modify deviations from the standard configuration.
• Improved user experience by clearly indicating the preferred or recommended initial selection.

For example:

Design Option: Color

Design Choices:

• Blue
• Yellow (Default)
• Red

In this example, Yellow would be preselected when a new configuration is created, while still allowing the user to change the selection if necessary.

While it is possible to add an indicator to a Design Option or Design Choice to identify the preferred selection, that approach does not provide automatic selection behavior and can be difficult to maintain if the preferred default changes over time.

Has anyone implemented a workaround for this requirement using standard Windchill functionality, such as rules, Variant Specifications, or customizations?

Additionally, I am interested in learning whether other organizations have encountered a similar need and would find this capability valuable as a potential enhancement in a future Windchill release.

Thank you in advance for your feedback and suggestions.