Specializing a rule

Use one of the specialization forms when you want to keep the same name as an existing record but modify the context or add a circumstance that will affect rule resolution.

As a best practice, use the Specialization item on the Case Designer's Details tab to circumstance case type rules, as case types should only be circumstanced by a single property.

See: Designer Studio > Process & Rules > Case Management > Case Designer

Overview

The Specialization forms copy an existing record's functionality to a new record with the same name (identifier). You decide whether this new record will have a different context, configuration or circumstance definitions applied.

Use these steps to complete and submit the form:

1. Choose your Specialization form.
2. Specialize by class or ruleset.
3. Define a set of circumstance definitions.
4. Track changes in PMF (optional).
5. Create the record.

Note: Because the Specialization forms share a majority of the fields and functionality found on Create form, only exceptions and special cases are outlined in this topic. For general definitions and instruction on how to define a record's configuration and context, see Completing the Create form.

Step 1: Choose a Specialization form

There are two specialization forms available to you based on the record type you want to create:

• Save > Specialize by class or ruleset
• Save > Specialize by circumstance

Both options allow you to copy a record in a new context (class, ruleset, version). In addition, the Specialize by circumstance option lets you define one or more circumstance definitions.

Step 2: Specialize by class or ruleset

If you want to copy an existing record but only change parts of its context, change the values in the Apply to, Add to ruleset and version fields as desired.

The identifier is the only field on the form that is restricted (read-only), however, you may provide an alternative short description.

Step 3: Define a set of circumstance definitions

If you have chosen the Save > Specialize by circumstance menu item, you may still change its class or rulesetwith the following restrictions:

• The Apply to class may only be changed to a descendant of the original value
• The identifier is restricted (read-only)

Next, select the appropriate type of circumstance in the radio button list as follows:

Template

Choose the Template radio button when you plan on creating a record that is circumstanced by more than one property value (also referred to as multivariate circumstancing). This option requires you to have at least one template rule created ahead of time that is visible to the selected application layer.

Property

Choose the Property radio button when you plan on creating a record that is circumstanced by a single property value, date property value, date range (or any combination of the three).

Use the Add a date range link to define a date range value in conjunction with a property or date property circumstance. Otherwise, we recommended you use the Date range only option below. The Remove date range link is available if you decide your circumstance definition no longer requires a date range.

Date range

Choose the Date range only radio button when you plan on creating a record that is circumstanced by a range of time (evaluated at time of rule execution).

Select a start and end date by using the calendar controls. This is the window of time that will be evaluated against the current system time to determine whether or not your circumstanced version is selected.

After you save the rule, the rule is active during the specified time interval. At all other times, the base rule is active.

Note: During rule resolution, if two or more date range circumstanced versions (or time-qualified rules) are candidates at the current time and date, the system selects the ones with the nearest end date. Of these, if multiple remaining candidate rules have the same end date, the system picks the candidate with the most recent start date.

For more information, see Circumstances — Concepts and terms and Contrasting time-qualified rules, DateTime circumstances, and historical processing.

Step 4: Track changes in PMF (optional)

Use the Project Management area of the form to link your development changes to items in your PMF worklist. These options are only available if your application is enabled for Project Management tracking .

Project Item

Select an item from the list that you want to associate with this rule. This list is populated from your Project worklist. To update the list with the latest information from your integrated PMF system, use the Refresh link.

Description

This read-only field displays when a User Story item is selected from the Project Item list. Use this field to view more information about the item.

Effort tracking

Two additional fields display in this area when a Bug or Task item is selected from the Project Item list.

• Use the Additional worked field to capture the amount of time (in hours) you have spent working on this item since the last time it was updated. The time you enter here is added to the Actual Hours of the item.
• Use the Remaining hours field to estimate the amount of time (in hours) you think it will take to complete the item.

Note

Add a development note describing the work done for the item selected in the Project Item list. The text you enter here adds an entry to the Related Updates tab of the item.

To view a list of record changes for your operator without logging into PMF, launch your PMF worklist from the Home Page and click the View Changes link. You can choose display a list of your changes from the My Changes tab or all record changes in the application from the All Changes tab.

For more information about the framework and tracking development progress, see the PDN publication Project Management Framework User Guide.

Step 5: Submit the form

Once you have verified your selections for the record configuration, context and PMF integration, use the Create and open button to submit the form to create the record.

Notes and special cases

• The rule resolution algorithm operates differently on different rule types. See the help topics Completing the Create form for each rule type to understand specifics of rule resolution for that type.
• The different circumstance definition options appear when rule types have the Allow selection of rules based on property values? (circumstance qualified)  or Allow rules that are only valid for a certain period of time? (date range availability) selected on the Class form. See Class form – Completing the General tab.
• The Save As and Specialize By toolbar tools are restricted to those users who hold the privilege @baseclass.ToolbarFull or @baseclass.ToolbarSaveAs.
• The availability of your new rule is not specified on the Specialization form. See Identifying form parts for details on how to set this attribute using the form header of the rule.
• The status of your specialized rule may be automatically cleared if the following criteria are met:
  • The original rule status is not internal
  • One of the following conditions apply
    • You are specializing by rulesetand the new ruleset is not a branch of the original rule
    • You are specializing by class
    • The original rule has circumstances defined

     

Related information

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