Rule Application Scope
A rule is applied to a MetaClass. By default, it can be applied to all objects of this MetaClass. However, it is sometimes necessary to define the scope of application of a rule more precisely.
Restricting application scope
Consider the example of the following rule:
"An external org-unit cannot execute an operation".
This rule is only meaningful for external org-units. It is therefore appropriate to restrict application of this rule on the org-unit MetaClass, so that it executes for external org-units only.
To restrict scope of application of the rule:
Create a test filtering the scope of application of the rule.For example, in the rule you will define a filter so that the rule applies not to all org-units but only to external org-units.
If the filtering test is true, in other words if the org-unit is external, the implementing test executes.
Several filtering tests can be used. In this case, the rule applies if all filtering tests are true.
Extending application scope
Certain highly specific rules can apply to several MetaClasses.
Consider the example of rule:
"Important objects must have a comment".
MetaClasses considered as "important" are business process, org-unit, organizational process, application, etc. For each of these MetaClasses, the condition applied is: "The comment should not be empty".
Creating a rule for several MetaClasses is of interest only if the condition applied is valid whatever the MetaClass. In our example, the condition refers to the comment which is a property of all MetaClasses, and consequently of all those concerned by the rule.
Conditioning application of a rule
In the modeling regulation around the business process, two rules have been defined for the "Operation" MetaClass:
• An operation must be performed by an org-unit
• An operation must be performed by only one org-unit
For pedagogical reasons, these two constraints have not been grouped in a single constraint (an operation must be performed by an org-unit and by only one org-unit).
However, it is obvious that if the first rule is not verified, the second is of no interest.
This is why application of the second rule depends on verification of the first. In other words, the second rule is only applied only if the first is verified.
Open the dialog boxes of these two rules in turn and select the Complements tab.You will see that:
• The rule "An operation must be performed by only one org-unit" is conditioned by the rule "An operation must be performed by an org-unit".
• The rule "An operation must be performed by an org-unit" conditions the rule "An operation must be performed by only one org-unit".
