📄️ Examples
Rule authors often have a need to work with data that is not available in a rule applications entity structure. For example:
📄️ Using a Value List in Rules and Field Validations
irAuthor provides various features around a concept called a value list. Values lists are intended to be linked to fields that should have a distinct a set of values. These fields might show up in your application as drop down or list boxes. Values lists are intended to allow rule authors to do the following:
📄️ Getting Data Using a Table Lookup
A table lookup is an excellent way to pull a value from a data table into a rule or calculation. They can be used with data stored in your rule application (Inline Table) or in a database table. Inline Tables work particularly well for relatively small tables (e.g. under 500 rows). If the table is large (e.g. a customer table) it would be better to use a SQL query.
📄️ Getting Data Using a SQL Query
Using a SQL query within rules and calculations is a powerful way to combine database functionality with rules. This functionality was designed for you to:
📄️ Getting Data Using a Web Service
Many times the data that you want to use is not available directly from the database. Instead it is made available to applications through a web service. InRule provides robust functionality for interacting with web services right from the rule authoring environment. In irAuthor a technical user generally sets up the connection to the web service. Then less technical users can map data into and back out of the web service.
📄️ Getting Data Using a REST Operation
Sometimes a rule author will want to access data from external websites that have exposed data through REST-based services. Typically web websites will use REST when they want to have as broad a reach as possible, allowing people to use simple HTTP verbs to manage data.
📄️ Getting Data Using a .NET Method
Many organizations use a ".NET layer" to handle the communication between applications and their databases. For those situations, rule authors can use functionality in irAuthor that allows them to execute a .NET method. irAuthor provides the ability to setup user-friendly business language that can be used to execute the .NET method. In that way technical users are able to provide business- user-friendly access to traditionally technical functionality.