Worked example: a garage door configurator

This walkthrough builds a garage door configurator. It’s a simplified version of the ConfigBid demo. Customers choose a door, say how many openings they have, pick an opener and accessories, and add installation. Prices are examples.

Follow along in your own admin panel, then delete or deactivate what you built (or keep it as a starting point).

1. Parts

In Parts, create these (or import them as a CSV with sku,name,unit_price columns):

SKU	Name	Unit price	Category label
DOOR_STEEL	Steel door panel	499.00	Door
DOOR_WOOD	Wood composite door panel	1,150.00	Door
TRACK_KIT	Track and roller kit	149.00	Hardware
SAFETY_SENSORS	Photo-eye safety sensors	69.00	Hardware
OPENER_BELT	Belt-drive opener	329.00	Opener
REMOTE	Wireless remote	39.00	Hardware
WIFI_MODULE	WiFi connectivity module	89.00	Hardware
INSTALL	Professional installation	350.00	Services

2. Sections

In Sections, create three, in this order:

1. Door specs, short label Door
2. Openers & accessories, short label Opener
3. Installation, short label Install

3. Questions

In Door specs:

• Door type: Pick one, required, large tiles. Options: Manual, Automatic.
• Openings: Number, required, minimum 1, maximum 6. Create it with the short label “Openings” so its key is openings, which keeps formulas short. Then edit the label to “How many door openings?” and set the review label to Openings.
• Panel material: Pick one, required. Options:
  • Steel, which adds DOOR_STEEL, qty 1 per Openings
  • Wood composite, which adds DOOR_WOOD, qty 1 per Openings

Then go back to Door type, open Automatic, and add SAFETY_SENSORS qty 1 per Openings. Every automatic door needs a set.

In Openers & accessories:

• Add a belt-drive opener?: Yes / No. Under Parts added by the answer, add OPENER_BELT qty 1 on Yes. Under When to ask it, add a check: Door type equals Automatic.
• Which accessories do you want?: Pick many, compact list. Options:
  • Wireless remote, which adds REMOTE, qty 1
  • WiFi module, which adds WIFI_MODULE, qty 1

In Installation:

• Add professional installation?: Yes / No. On Yes, add INSTALL qty 1.

Click Preview on the card at the top of the admin menu. Customers can’t see any of this yet; it’s all unpublished. You already have a working configurator: a two-opening steel job gets two panels, automatic doors get sensors, and the opener question only appears for automatic doors. Three small rules cover the rest.

4. Rules

Rule A: one track kit per opening

• When: no checks. It runs on every quote.
• Then: Add a part TRACK_KIT, Qty formula openings.

An Always included category with TRACK_KIT qty 1 per Openings would do the same job. The rule is here so you’ve built one with no checks.

Rule B: WiFi needs an automatic door

• When: Door type equals Manual
• Then: Grey out an answer → Which accessories do you want? → WiFi module, with the message “Requires an automatic door”.

Test it in Test this rule: set Door type to Manual and check that WiFi is greyed out.

Rule C: travel fee for big jobs

• When: Openings is greater than 3
• Then: Add a fee or credit, Amount fixed number 75.
• Name the rule “Multi-door site visit”, because that name is what customers see on the line.

5. Check it

Preview, and try:

• Manual, steel, 1 opening, no extras: steel panel, 1 track kit. The opener question is hidden.
• Automatic, wood, 2 openings, opener, both accessories, installation: 2 wood panels, 2 track kits, 2 sensor sets, opener, remote, WiFi, install.
• Automatic, steel, 4 openings: 4 panels, 4 track kits, 4 sensor sets, plus the $75 site visit fee.
• Pick WiFi, then switch the door to Manual: WiFi is unticked, greys out, and a notice explains why.

Then open the Dashboard’s Engine health card. It lists Rule A under “active rules with no conditions”. That’s expected, because Rule A is meant to run on every quote. Anything else it lists is worth fixing.

When every path looks right, click Publish…. Customers see the new configurator from their next visit.

Where to go from here

• Swap Rule A for an Always included category with the track kit per Openings.
• Add a section header image and option images for the main choices.
• Write your terms and set up notifications.