Supporting Feature Model-Based Configuration in Microsoft Excel

Feature model-based configuration is a process of select- ing desired features from a collection of features (called a feature model) which satisfy pre-defined constraints. Configurator develop- ment can be performed by different stakeholders with distinct skills and interests, who could also be non-IT domain experts with limited technology understanding and programming experience. Therefore, a simple configuration framework is required to facilitate the partici- pation of non-IT stakeholders in configurator development processes. In this paper, we propose an approach that uses Microsoft Excel to represent configuration knowledge. Our approach shows how to for- mulate an Excel worksheet from a feature model and also supports the formulation of corrective explanations that help stakeholders re- solve configuration inconsistencies.