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 "CR" column always displays the current value, while the "Variant Key" column serves as an archive. If the Variant Key is changed, [CR] the value in the "Variant Key" column is not updated until an explicit refresh is performed.

In detail this means:

If an element is used indirectly in a balancing via a database, the content of the Variant Key criterion [CR] is transferred to the element's "Variant Key" field.

If a variant is used in a balancing, the content of the Variant Key criterion [CR] is transferred to the variant's "Variant Key" field.

The "Variant Key" fields in a balancing are changed only when the user explicitly updates the variants in the balancing. A change to the variant key [CR] criterion on a variant or the elements has in itself no effect.