Rule Specifications > Rule Statements
  

Rule Statements

A rule statement is a logical element in a rule set. A rule statement defines an operation to perform on the values in a data column. You can define a rule statement to validate or update a data value based on a business rule requirement.
You can add multiple rule statements to a rule set. If you define rule statements that perform the same type of analysis on a set of data inputs, add the rule statements to a single rule set. If you define rule statements that perform different types of analysis, add each type of rule statement to a different rule set.
The following image shows a rule statement in a rule set:
The rule specification contains a single rule set with a single rule statement. The rule statement analyzes age data and writes a status descriptor if the age specified is over eighteen years.

Rule Logic

A rule statement uses IF-THEN logic to analyze a column of data values and determine the action to take for each data value. Use the rule statement logic to define analysis or update operations that meet the requirements of the business rule.
The following table describes the logical elements in a rule statement:
Logical Element
Description
IF
Begins the IF clause in the rule statement. The IF clause identifies the input data, defines the analysis to perform on the data, and specifies a logical operator to filter the data analysis.
You cannot edit the IF element.
Input
Identifies the data to analyze or update. An input represents a column of business data.
Operator
Specifies a logical operator to apply to the input data.
Select an operator from the following list:
  • - IS
  • - IS GREATER THAN
  • - IS GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO
  • - IS LESS THAN
  • - IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO
  • - IS NOT
  • - IS WITHIN
Condition
Specifies the data analysis operation to perform on the data.
THEN
Begins the THEN clause in the rule statement. The THEN clause specifies the output of the rule statement.
You cannot edit the THEN element.
Action
Specifies the output that the rule statement generates if the input data satisfies the logical requirements of the IF clause.
If the input data does not satisfy the logic of the IF clause, the rule statement generates no output.
Add
Adds a rule statement to the rule set.
Add using result
Adds a rule statement to the rule set and links the two rule statements. The output from the first rule statement becomes the input to the second rule statement.