• The Variability modeling provided with Modeler 8.5 now supports the ability to change the order of the variants. For more information, see Overview of creating product models.

• Variability modeling in Modeler 8.4 now supports the ability to create a Product Model from a Product Line Model (private sandbox), or from a Product Model. For more information, see Overview of creating product models.

• Modeler now supports variability parameters: For more information, see Overview of variability parameters.

◦ A Variant can now have a parameter, which can be set through the Decision Set Editor and Variant Selector.

◦ A Requires Dependency can have a parameter and it can propagate a parameter from a source Variant to a target Variant.

◦ The value of a variability parameter can be derived through a derivation script.

◦ An Artifact Dependency can set a selected property of the target artifact from the parameter value of the source Variant.

• A Variant or Variation Point can now include validation script that you can use to label the Variant or Variation Point as inconsistent in the Decision Set Editor or Variant Selector. For more information, see Overview of validating variants and variation points.

• When a Product Model is created:

◦ An artifact that is linked to more than one Variant is now considered excluded unless included by a Variant. Previously, an artifact was included unless excluded.

◦ The Variants of the included Variation Point are now removed from the Product Model, except if a Variant is undecided and also linked to an undecided Variation Point.

• The name of the Optional property of a Variation Point has been changed to Mandatory. The check box is now selected when the Variation Point is mandatory.

• The name of the Internal property of a Variation Point has been changed to External. The check box is now selected when the Variation Point is external.

• The Status of a Variation Point is now set to Included when it is linked (through an optional or mandatory Variability Dependency link) to a Variant whose Status is set to Included, even if the Variation Point is linked to excluded Variants.

• A Requires Dependency now has a Bidirectional property. When a Requires Dependency is bidirectional, the Requires Dependency relationship applies in both directions. In addition, when the Status of a required item is set to Excluded, Studio now sets the Status of the requiring item to Excluded. For more information, see Requires dependency.

• In the Decision Set Editor:

◦ Variation Points that are Mandatory are shown in bold text.

◦ 'Undecided' has replaced '?' in the Decision column.

◦ The Mandatory and External columns have been removed.

◦ The icon of a Variation Point shows whether the Variation Point is Mandatory or Optional, and whether the Variation Point is External or Internal.

• In the Variant Selector:

◦ New hints feature for helping first-time users of the Variant Selector.

◦ New toolbar buttons for hiding excluded child Variation Points, and for turning off the hints feature.

◦ In the rightmost pane, the decision that is set for a Variant is now indicated through a green background to the button, whereas previously it was indicated through a white ring around the button.

◦ New buttons in the rightmost pane for navigating to the previous undecided Variation Point and the previous inconsistent Variation Point.