Adding Bindings to a Primary or Sub-Rule

Bindings are variables captured in a pattern; they are used for:

  • Storing information from one record to compare against another.
  • Tracking running counts or aggregate amounts across multiple records.
  • Defining highlights.

Bindings Tab

Use the Bindings tab to specify bindings for any rules and sub-rules that you add to the rule pattern.

Figure 8-9 Edit Rule Dialog Box—Bindings Tab


Edit Rule Dialog Box—Bindings Tab

Variables can use conditional (if/then/else) logic. Proper syntax for a bound threshold expression is: cond(<condition>;<value>;<default value>)

You can also string together conditional statements, as follows:

cond(<condition 1>;<value 1>;<condition 2>;...;<condition n>;<default value>)

Note:

Use conditional expressions only within sum and average aggregate functions.

The Bindings tab contains the following elements:

  • Variable and Expression: Lists all variables and their definitions (expressions) that a rule defines.
  • Name: Enables you to specify the attribute to add to a rule (the attribute must be in all of the datasets you previously selected).
  • Expression: Specifies the bindings expression you want to add to a rule.
  • Comment: Specifies any additional information about the bindings.
  • Add Variable: Opens the Variable Selector dialog box, in which you can use another binding to define the current binding.
  • Add Attribute: Opens the Attribute Selector dialog box, in which you can add attributes from the current dataset for use in defining the current binding.
  • Add Threshold: Opens the Threshold Selector dialog box, in which you can add a threshold from the current scenario for use in defining the current binding.
  • Add: Saves any new bindings to a rule.
  • Delete: Deletes a rule binding.
  • Modify: Saves any changes you made to an existing rule binding.
  • Move Up: Scroll binding upward.
  • Move Down: Scroll binding downward.

When you create a new rule scenario (through the Rule Scenario Editor Scenario menu), the Primary Rule for the scenario displays in the Pattern Editor area.

To add bindings to a primary or sub-rule, follow these steps:

  1. From the Windows menu of the DataSet Editor, select Rule Patterns.

    The Rule Scenario Editor window displays.

  2. From the scenario navigation tree area, navigate to the desired pattern element.
  3. Double-click Primary Rule [DESCRIPTION] in the Pattern Editor area, or click Modify.

    Alternatively: Double-click Sub-Rule [DESCRIPTION] in the Pattern Editor area, or click Modify.

    The Edit Rule dialog box displays.

  4. Click the Bindings tab.

    The Bindings tab displays.

  5. Type the name of the variable to be bound to the selected rule in the Name field.
  6. Specify a binding by doing any of the following:
    1. Click the Add Attribute button to select attributes you want as part of a binding expression.
    2. Not applicable for Primary Rule: Click the Add Variable button to select variables you want as part of a binding expression.
    3. Click the Add Threshold button to select thresholds you want as part of a binding expression.

    The attributes, variables, and thresholds display in the Expressions field in the added order.

  7. Click OK. Added bindings display in the Bindings list box.

    Optional: Type any additional information you want to associate to the selected rule in the Comment field.