As of Release 2018 R1 SP1, you can now embed CSL logic into your mapping files.

This means that it is no longer necessary for the value of the CAD property to exactly match an available value of an aPriori field. For example, the CAD field COMMODITY with a value of “Casting” could be mapped to the “Casting – Die” process group in aPriori. This also means that the "Material" restriction in earlier versions is no longer necessary: CAD properties specifying materials no longer need to use terminology that is 100% the same as aPriori.

The availability of CSL expressions in the mapping file also means that the value of the aPriori field can be driven based on the value of multiple CAD fields as well as just a single CAD field. For example, the aPriori VPE may be chosen based on the values of both the PRODUCTION_REGION and TOOLING_REGION CAD fields.

For a brief introduction to CSL, see the CSL Overview section of the chapter "Working with Cost Model Logic" in the aPriori Professional Cost Model Workbench Guide. See also the chapter "Cost Scripting Language Reference" in the same Guide.