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Creating rules

Updated on November 18, 2021

To save time and ensure that your projects meet the needs of your clients, create rules and data instances using reusable elements of your application. By combining a rule type, name, class, and ruleset, you provide a unique identity for each rule that you create.

  1. In the header of Dev Studio, click Create, and then select the record category and type that you want to create.
    For example: To create a data transform, click CreateData ModelData Transform.
  2. In the record configuration area of the Create form, enter a name for your record and define its key parts:
    1. In the Label field, enter a short description in the form of a sentence that describes the purpose of the record.
      As a best practice, use up to 30 characters. Pega Platform appends rule information to the rule name that you enter to create the fully-qualified name.
    2. Optional: To manually set the name key part of your record to a value that differs from the default, in the Identifier field, click Edit, and then update the name.
      The default for this field is To be determined. The system populates this field with a read-only value based on the sentence that you enter in the Label field. The system ignores spaces and special characters.
      If you manually change the Identifier value, the system no longer populates this field after you enter a new value in the Label field.
    3. In the remaining fields, enter additional key parts for your record.
      The number of key parts, types, and restrictions varies by record type. As a best practice, start each key part with a letter and use only letters, numbers, and hyphens.
    4. Optional: To include other configuration options that this record type supports, click View additional configuration options.
      These options vary by record type and appear only for records that support Quick Create options. By using the Quick Create option for certain rule types, you can create rules in the Create dialog box without having to open the rule form. Rule types with this option include properties, field values, when conditions, flows, and activities.
  3. In the Context section, if the Development branch list appears, select a branch in which to store your record:
    • To create the record in a branched version of the ruleset, select a branch name.

      If the branched ruleset that you provide does not yet exist, the system automatically creates the ruleset when you create the rule.

    • To create the record in an unlocked ruleset version, select [No branch].
    The form displays the Development branch list when you define branches in the current application, or in one of the built-on application layers.
  4. Select an application layer in which you want to store the record.
    You can store records only in application layers that have access to the selected development branch.
    Note: The Production Rulesets option appears as the first option in the stack if your current access group has production rulesets. Choosing this option restricts only the Add to ruleset field.
  5. In the Apply to field, select the class to which this record applies.

    By default, the system populates this list with the cases and data types that your chosen application layer can access. Choose the lowest class in the class hierarchy that serves the needs of your application.

    For example: Choose MyCo-LoanDiv-MortgageApplication rather than MyCo-LoanDiv- as the Apply to class for a new flow or property, unless you are certain that the record can apply to all objects in every class derived from MyCo-LoanDiv-.
    Tip: To select a class name that is not a case or a data type, click the View all link.
  6. In the Add to ruleset field, select the name of a ruleset that you want to contain the record.
    If the development branch is [No Branch] or you have no available branches to choose from, specify a version for the specified ruleset name.
  7. Optional: To override the default work item that your application associates with this development change, press the Down arrow key in the Work item to associate field, and then select a work item.
    For more information about your default work item, see Setting your current work item.
  8. Click Create and open.
What to do next: Complete and save the record form on the next screen that opens after you click Create and open.
  • Copying a rule or data instance

    Save time and speed up the development process of your application by promoting reuse of resources. Instead of creating a new record that might be similar to a rule that already exists, copy an existing rule and then make the necessary changes.

  • Naming conventions for records

    Give informative and descriptive names to the records that you create in Pega Platform, such as rules and data instances, to help you manage your resources and provide quick context for other developers. As a result, you speed up application development and promote reuse across your application.

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