Back Forward Designer Studio — Completing the new rule dialog box

Complete the New rule dialog to define the key parts of a new rule.C-244

  Show all 

Overview

As you complete the New form, you provide one or more parts that together determine the external form of a unique rule key. (In some other object-oriented environments, this is called object creation, instantiation, or the New() function.)

Use these steps to complete the process:

  1. Click the New toolbar button ( New) or right-click a class name or category name in the Application Explorer.
  2. Choose a category, one of the fourteen (or possibly more) broad groupings of rule and data classes. C-2442
  3. Choose a Type — a rule type or data class common name — within that category.
  4. Selecting an Applies To class filter. GRP-441
  5. Enter one to three parts that together name the new rule. The key parts together must form a unique visible key (within the selected RuleSet).
  6. Complete the RuleSet and Version resolution fields if they appear.
  7. Complete the Availability field.
  8. If the application uses the optional project management interface, complete the Project field. 5.4
  9. Click Create.

Step 1: Open the New dialog

Use any of these methods to access the New dialog

Chose a category, then a type. The Type determines which rule type or data class is created. Accept the default type shown as the Type, or click that type to pick a category and then a type.

The form changes to identify fields appropriate to that type.

NoteYou can't select a data class that does not belong to a category. For such cases, review help topics for each data class for instructions.

Step 2: Select a class filter

Select a filter to restrict the SmartPrompt list of Applies To classes to a smaller, more relevant subset of classes. This avoids searching long lists of classes that are not part of your implementation or framework and eliminates validation errors caused by creating instances in the wrong RuleSets. GRP-441

NoteThe filter appears only when you create a rule that requires an Applies To class as part of its key structure, such as a property or activity rule.

  1. Click the Filter By link to display a pop-up window and select a filtering option.
  1. Select the Include Index/History classes check box to include internal Index- and History- classes in the SmartPrompt list.
NoteThe distinction between implementation classes and framework classes becomes more meaningful when your applications are built and extended using the Application Accelerator. For implementation classes, the second segment of the class name is a division name, for example MyCo-Treasury-Payables. For framework classes, the second segment is the placeholder FW, indicating a framework; for example MyCo-FW-Payables.

Step 3: Enter or select each name fields (key parts)

Complete the key fields (often labeled Name). Use SmartPrompt if it is available. Generally, start each key part with a letter and use only letters, digits, and the dash character. (Certain rule types have additional restrictions on names.)

Click the help icon (Help) to learn more about the key parts for the type.

Many rule types require a class as a key part, often with the label Applies To. Generally, choose the most specific class — that is, lowest in the class hierarchy — that serves the needs of your application. For example, choose MyCo-LoanDiv-MortgageApplication rather than MyCo-LoanDiv- as the Applies To class for a new flow or property rule, unless you are certain that the rule is applicable to all the objects in every class derived from MyCo-LoanDiv-.

Some classes may not be appropriate as the Applies To key part, or may not be appropriate for your RuleSet. For example, you cannot save a rule with Data-North as the Applies To class into the South RuleSet if the class Data-North class is restricted to (say) the North RuleSet.

See Choosing good rule and data instance names for more about names.

Step 4: Select a template

Optional. When creating a flow rule, harness rule, section rule, or flow action rule, you can copy a template.

A few standard flow rules, harness rules, flow actions, and section rules are known as templates. These rules have special characteristics and settings.

If the Template field appears on the New dialog, you can select one to use as a base (similar to copying) for this rule. This can save time and typing.

Step 5: Complete RuleSet and version fields

Identify the RuleSet and version for the new rule. Process Commander supplies default values for these if the access group referenced in your Operator ID data instance contains default values. The RuleSet Name list and version list include only those that appear on your RuleSet list and that are not locked. R-10780

You can select any RuleSet and version values from the list, if your choice meets the prerequisites RuleSets and version requirements in the RuleSet Version.

Rule resolution applies to all but a few rule types. See rule resolution for a definition and a list of the exceptions.

Step 6: Set the rule availability

Choose an initial availability value for the new rule. You can change this value anytime later using the Availability button (Availability). Choose Yes, No/Draft Mode, Blocked, Final, or Withdrawn:

Exceptions: The Available field is not present on a few rule forms. For example, Rule-Obj-Class instances are always available.

After you save this rule instance, you can change the availability value during the Availability (Availability) or Save As (Save As) operations.

Step 7: Advanced featureComplete the Status field

Advanced featureLeave the Status field blank except in special situations. Select:

NoteThe value you select for this property (Rule-.pyMethodStatus) does not affect validation, execution, rule resolution, or migration of the rule. The value does not appear on the rule form and cannot be changed later.

Step 8: Complete the Project Management field

If the Project Management interface is enabled for this application, select the TaskID you want to associate with this rule.

The Project Explorer displays a link to this rule under the TaskID you specify making it easy to find rules modified as a part of this task. 5.4 PROJ-833 See About the Project Explorer and the project management interface.

Step 9: Click Create

Click Create to reserve the rule key you have entered and to view the rule form. This is an intermediate step; it does not save a complete, valid rule.

TipFor simple field value rules, when condition rules and Single Value property rules, you can complete the rule creation and bypass the rule form if you choose the Quick Create button rather than the Create button. Review the relevant help topics for details.

Troubleshooting

Several restrictions may prevent the New or Save As operation from completing. This list explains common situations:

Definitions available rule, blocked rule, category, final rule, key part, internal rule, Quick Create button, rule resolution, template rule, withdrawn rule
Related topics Choosing good Short Descriptions
Choosing good rule and data instance names
How to change rule availability
How to enter rule keys using Save As
Using the toolbar
Using the Search facility

UpDesigner Studio basics