Edit Decision Function Dialog

5.12 Edit Decision Function Dialog

Use to edit and define a decision function.

Element	Description
Name	Enter the decision function name.
Rule Firing Limit	Select unlimited or enter and select a value for the rule firing limit. This option sets the maximum number of steps (rule firings). Using this option and specifying a value other than unlimited can help you debug certain rule design problems and can help prevent java.lang.OutOfMemoryError errors at runtime.
Will Be Invoked As A Webservice	Select to specify that the Decision Function is invoked as a web service.
Service Name	Specifies the service name for the Decision Function.
Check Rule Flow	Select to provide validation messages to ensure that facts of the appropriate type are either explicit inputs to the Decision Function or are asserted by rules in the flow. Checking is not always possible.
Stateless	Select to specify the Decision Function is stateless.
Rule Sets on Stack Once	Select to specify Rule Sets on Stack Once. This checkbox only appears if the business rules algorithm in the preferences is set to non-Rete.
Available	Shows the available rulesets and Decision Functions.
Selected	Shows the selected rulesets and Decision Functions. Use Move Up and Move Down to change the stack order of the selected ruleset or the Decision Function.
Description	Enter the description for the decision function.

Inputs Tab

Provides a list of Decision Function inputs. Click Add Input to add inputs. Click Delete Input to delete an input. Select an input and click Move Up to move the input up. Select and input and click Move Down to move the input down.

Element	Description
Name	Enter the input name.
Fact Type	Select the input type.
Tree	When Tree is selected, the Decision Function uses assertTree to assert the Fact. When Tree is unselected, the Decision Function uses assert to assert the Fact.
List	When List is selected the input is a List of the specified type. When List is selected the parameter in the input table is a List.

Outputs Tab

Provides a list of Decision Function outputs. Click Add Output to add outputs. Click Delete Output to delete an output. Select an output and click Move Up to move the output up. Select and input and click Move Down to move the output down.

Element	Description
Name	Enter the output name.
Fact Type	Select the output type.
Tree	When Tree is selected, the Decision Function uses assertTree to assert the Fact. When Tree is unselected, the Decision Function uses assert to assert the Fact (Tree only applies for output facts when Decision Functions are nested).
List	When List is selected the output fact is specified as a List of the specified type, for example List[OutputFactType]. When List is unselected, the output Fact is specified using the type.

Initial Actions Tab

In the Initial Actions tab, you can add actions that could be used to change input facts before they are asserted, change the ruleset stack, set the effective date, or even assert output facts. These actions could be used instead of rules, or to "set up" the environment for running rules.

You can add any required action ranging from assert, call, modify to even programming structs such as if, else, elseif, while, for, if(advanced), and while(advanced).

Rulesets and Decision Functions Tab

Use the shuttle buttons to move available Decision Functions and Rulesets from the Available area to the Selected area. Select a ruleset or Decision Function and use Move Selected Values to move selected items. Use Move All Values to move all values between lists.