Hierarchy rule Completing the New or Save As form
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Create a hierarchy rule by selecting Hierarchy from the Decision category.

When a hierarchy rule is opened (copied to the clipboard), PRPC assembles the complete subtree hierarchy from the rules that share a common class and purpose, linking branch nodes into the structure.

A hierarchy rule has three key parts:

Field	Description
Applies To	Select the name of a class. A typical selection is a class that is derived from the Data- class.
Purpose	Enter a name for this hierarchy rule. Begin the name with a letter and use only alphanumeric, ampersand, and dash characters. The collection of hierarchy rules that have the same Applies To and Purpose key parts forms one hierarchy.
Branch	Optional. Leave blank if this rule defines an entire hierarchy or defines the topmost elements in a hierarchy that involves multiple rules. If not blank, type a name for the top element in this rule. Begin the name with a letter and use only letters, a dash character and digits. This name can also appear in as the name of an element in another hierarchy rule (with the same Applies To and Purpose key parts).

For general information about this form see Completing the new rule dialog box. For general information on the Save As form, see How to enter rule keys using Save As.

Rule resolution

Full rule resolution applies to this rule type. When searching for hierarchy rules, the system:

• Filters candidate rules based on a requestor's RuleSet list of RuleSets and versions
• Searches through ancestor classes in the class hierarchy for candidates when no matching rule is found in the starting class
• Finds circumstance-qualified rules that override base rules
• Finds time-qualified rules that override base rules

About Hierarchy rules