Function Alias form – Completing the Reference tab

Field

Description

Provide a name for each input parameter.

Provide a short meaningful description for each parameter.

Select the appropriate data type from the drop-down menu.

Select an option for how the system prompts users to enter a value for this parameter within the template when this alias is selected:

• Autocomplete — As the user starts to type an entry, the application provides available options that match the text entered.
• SmartPrompt — To present properties through a SmartPrompt list, starting at the Applies To class of this alias rule.
• Drop-down Menu — To require selection from a fixed list of constants (recorded on this form) or defined through the Table Type fields on the General tab of a property.
• Property aliases — To allow users to select a property based on Rule-Obj-Property-Alias rules that belong to a specific category (and match the rulesets and Applies To class of the user context).
• Textbox — To allow users to enter unedited text.
• No Prompt — Users are not prompted for a value. The value is a constant or is provided by a clipboard property reference and appears in read-only format at runtime.
• No Prompt (Hide) — The user is not prompted for a value. The value is a constant or is provided by a clipboard property reference and is not shown at runtime.

If the parameter has a default value, select it from the list of available properties.

Check the box if the parameter is optional.

Field

Description

Select the return type for this SQL expression from the drop-down menu.

Select a category from the drop-down menu, or select the Edit button beside the menu to add a custom category.

Enter the prompt text to display when the user edits this template in the Calculation Builder. Reference the input parameters by their row number in the Input Parameters table, surrounded by curly brackets, such as:

{3} characters from {1}, starting at position {2}

To see examples, review an existing SQL function alias rule.

Enter the text to display in a Report Definition rule using this SQL function alias in one of the columns of its report.

Select an output format from the drop-down menu, or select the Edit button beside the menu to add a custom format.

Provide the syntax that generates the SQL text for this function here. You may use JSP tags such as <pega:choose > and <pega:when > to derive the correct text.

Field

Description

Select a function name from the drop-down menu when creating the function alias. This populates fields in the Function reference section.

Information about the function that is populated after choosing a function name.

The name of the function (Rule-Utility-Function rule type) that this rule provides an alias for. Click the Edit icon to review the function defined by the Name, Description, RuleSet, and Library fields.

The function description, from the function rule.

The library containing the function.

The ruleset to which the function belongs.

Field

Description

Note the sequential number of each parameter, as this identifies the parameter in the Template text.

Name of the parameter, from the function rule.

Enter a short text description for this parameter as internal documentation of this function alias rule.

Select to determine how the system prompts users to enter a value for this parameter within the template when this alias is selected:

• SmartPrompt — To present properties through a SmartPrompt list, starting at the Applies To class of this alias rule.
• Drop-down Menu — To require selection from a fixed list of constants (recorded on this form) or defined through the Table Type fields on the General tab of a property.
• Property aliases — To allow users to select a property based on Rule-Obj-Property-Alias rules that belong to a specific category (and match the rulesets and Applies To class of the user context).
• Textbox — To allow users to enter unedited text.
• No Prompt — Users are not prompted for a value. The value is a constant or is provided by a clipboard property reference and appears in read-only format at runtime.
• No Prompt (Hide) — The user is not prompted for a value. The value is a constant or is provided by a clipboard property reference and is not shown at runtime.
• HTML Property — The input field presentation is a control rule associated with a designated property. This may be a check box, radio buttons, a selection list, or other familiar input field format.

Provide a literal constant default value for this parameter, or enter a property reference starting with a period.

Enter the maximum length in characters that the text box should accommodate.

Field

Description

Select the type of the function return when this alias function rule is used. Ordinarily, this is the same as the type of the function, but you can choose another type if desired to cause the system to convert the result to a different (compatible) type. See Data type conversions in expressions.

Enter a text description of this function suitable for display in decision rules. Surround references to parameters in this text by curly brackets. Identify each parameter by number, as:

Integer remainder of {1} divided by {2}

The system uses the Short Description of the function as the default text in this field, followed by all parameters in curly brackets. You can edit it as desired. Make sure all the parameters are identified, except for those you marked No Prompt (Hide).