Rules Guide
CHAPTER 6
This chapter describes how to use the Pipeline and Binding Editors in exteNd Director to set up a rules pipeline. It has these sections:
A pipeline is a mechanism for running a set of rules that are associated with specific users or groups, or for running any set of rules in a prescribed sequence.
Here is the basic procedure for setting up a pipeline:
Use the Pipeline Editor to create a pipeline and associate it with one or more of the three binding steps (types): User, Group, and Pipeline.
Use the Binding Editor to bind rules to a user, group, or pipeline.
After you set up a pipeline, you fire the rules defined in the pipeline by calling the validate() method in your application:
If the pipeline includes the User or Group step, the Rule subsystem fires the rules defined in the user or group binding definition when the user or group member is in the current application context.
If the pipeline includes the Pipeline step, the Rule subsystem fires the rules defined in the pipeline step defined for the pipeline being validated.
The rest of this chapter describes how to create a pipeline in the Pipeline Editor and define a rule binding in the Binding Editor.
For background information about using pipelines in exteNd Director applications, see How You Use Rules.
You use exteNd Director's Pipeline Editor to create a pipeline and associate it with a step or steps.
Enter information on the General tab:
In the Available steps section, select a step and click Add to Selected:
If you add more than one step, the rules defined in the corresponding binding will fire in the order of the steps in the Selected steps section.
Select File>Save or press Ctrl-S.
The contents of the pipeline definitions folder display in your project resource set.
Exit the editor by choosing the exit icon in the upper-right corner.
In your project source or archive layout in exteNd Director, navigate to the pipeline XML descriptor.
You use the Binding Editor to bind a rule or set of rules to a selected user, group, or pipeline.
Select the Group Bindings, Pipeline Bindings, or User Bindings icon.
The appropriate binding editor displays. The name of the text box at the top of the editor depends on which icon you selected.
Make the appropriate entry in the text box:
In the Available rules section, select a rule and click Add to Selected.
Add other rules as needed. Rules will fire in the order in which they appear in the list.
Choose File>Save or press Ctrl-S.
A dialog displays with the contents of the appropriate binding definitions in your project resource set.
Exit the editor by choosing the exit icon in the upper-right corner.
In your project source or archive layout in exteNd Director, navigate to the location of the binding XML definition in your project resource set:
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