Please note:

There are two columns for the variant key, which can be displayed for the variants / processes in the Variants tab and in the Assignment tab. The column "CR" always shows the current value; the column "Variant key" has an archive function. This means, if the variant key [CR] is changed, the value in the column "Variant key" is only adjusted after clicking the Refresh button.

In detail this means:

If an element is used indirectly via a data basis in a balancing, the content of the criterion variant key [CR] is transferred to the "Variant key" field of the element.

If a variant is used in a balancing, the contents of the variant key [CR] criterion are copied into the "Variant key" field of the variant.

The "Variant key" fields in a balancing are only changed if the user explicitly updates the balancing - in particular the variants. Only a change to the variant key criterion [CR] on a variant or the elements has no effect.