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Provide and Consume, Simple

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The Simple Provide template has the form:

Provides [a value] to [a target]

The Simple Consume template has the form:

Consume [a value] from [a target]

The Simple Provide and Simple Consume templates positively or negatively increment the amount of the target operand. These templates are intended for use as the action portion of a conditional rule. If the condition is true, then a value is provided or consumed from the specified target.

The Simple Provide template contributes a positive amount, that is it increases the amount of the target. The Simple Consume template contributes a negative amount, that is it reduces the amount of the target.

Value

The value operand defines the quantity to be contributed to the target. The Rule Designer provides several methods for determining this quantity:

You can explicitly state a number as the value.
You can define the value as the quantity of another item, or the value of an attribute, linked item or resource. For example, you can provide three times the quantity of Item B to Item C.
The value can be an expression that resolves to an amount. This amount is then contributed to the target. For example: When a condition is true, it provides Relationship A, Attribute Color = Red to Item B. This rule means that when the condition is true, then each item in Relationship A for which the attribute
Color = Red that is added to the solution, increments the quantity of Item B by one.

Target

The target operand is incremented by the amount specified in the value operand. The target can be a product, resource, or product attribute. It cannot be a relationship, a class, or an expression.

Product Target

When the target operand is a product, the quantity of the product is incremented in the solution.

Resource Target

When the target is a resource, the value of the resource is incremented.

Attribute Target

When the target is an attribute, the value of the attribute is incremented. Attribute targets are similar in behavior and use as resource targets. There are several restrictions on using provide and consume rules to manipulate attribute values:

The data type of the attribute must be numeric (Integer or Number).
The attribute must be available for manipulation. You must not have set the value of the attribute. You set the value of an attribute by selecting an attribute value and saving it in Product administration > Dynamic Attributes.
A child customizable product can contribute to attributes defined on the parent. The parent cannot contribute to attributes defined on the child product. For example, customizable product CP2 is contained within customizable product CP1. CP2 can contribute to attributes defined within CP1. CP1 cannot contribute to attributes defined within CP2.

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