Constraining Behavior
Once the Structure and Controls steps have been completed, you have set up a fully functional Configuration Process. The step Constraints will now allow you to add Filtering BRC to the Configuration Process.
Constrain the model
In order to apply Filtering BRC, you will first need to decide where the BRC needs to be attached to. Indeed, whereas a domain BRC is attached to a form property, a filter BRC has to be attached to a Form or to a Configuration Process.
This common denominator is necessary because whenever a variable involved in the BRC is answered by the user, the BRC has to be able to execute. Therefore, it normally should be loaded before the variable is accessed by the user.
The fact that it concerns the lowest common denominator is important for performance reasons. Indeed, the BRC will only be loaded in memory whenever the object it is attached to is loaded.
Basically, the BRC should be loadable before each of the variables involved in it is answered by the user, but as late as possible.
The table ‘Constraints overview’ shows all the constraints positioned on the selected node in the explorer:
| COLUMN | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| CPE | This column holds the CPE. In order to modify a cell, drag & drop a new CPE on it or open the CPE builder in order to change the current CPE. |
| Type | The type is normally automatically deducted, but in some cases it is to be specified by the user. |
| Other columns | Any other columns will be manually added by adding BRC Columns. |
How to position filtering BRCs
How-To:
- [Via the ‘Explore Structure’ explorer]
- Select the object on to which you want to associate the > BRC. Remember: this is normally the lowest common denominator between the variables involved in the BRC.
- Once you’ve selected an object, a table for that object will appear in the working area.
- Select the object on to which you want to associate the > BRC. Remember: this is normally the lowest common denominator between the variables involved in the BRC.
- Add a CPE by either one of the following possibilities:
[Using the “Explore CPE” explorer]
- Click on the “Explore CPE’s” explorer tab.
- Drag and drop each CPE that is involved in the BRC to an empty table row in the working area.
- Each time a CPE is dropped on an empty line, a new empty line is created in the table
[Using the CPE Builder]
- Each time a CPE is dropped on an empty line, a new empty line is created in the table
- Drag and drop each CPE that is involved in the BRC to an empty table row in the working area.
- Click on the ‘Constraints overview’ table cell to which you would like to add a CPE
- [In the popup]
- Use the combobox in order to sequentially construct the CPE and validate the CPE by clicking on OK.
- Click on the “Explore CPE’s” explorer tab.
- Add all the CPE involved in the constraint.
- Check the type of each CPE that has been added to the table.
- Add a BRC using the column-based method and associate the CPE to this BRC.
- Save