Review methods for creating a rule

You can create rules by using the method that best fits your requirements. If an existing rule fits all or most of your requirements, you can import the rule from another model and then modify it. Alternatively, you can use one of the predefined rules. Finally, if you want complete control over the behavior of a business rule, you can write the rule yourself using the PerformancePoint Expression Language (PEL), SQL, or multi-dimensional expressions (MDX).

For background information about the environment for creating and managing business rules, see How to: Business Rules.

The following list provides more information about each of these options.

• Import an existing rule or rule set from another model in Planning Business Modeler.

  From the model site workspace, you can import an existing rule from another model. For information about this, see Importing a rule set.

  Note

  You may not import a Definition rule set. Planning Business Modeler provides a predefined Definition rule set, and does not support the importation of other Definition rule sets.

• Create a rule from a predefined template in the Planning Business Modeler.

  You can create rules by using business rule templates in the Planning Business Modeler. The templates are based on common business tasks, such as seeding or allocation. When you create a rule by using a template, you select the template based on the business task that you want to perform. For more information, see Predefined templates for general business rules.

  After you select a business rule template, Planning Business Modeler displays an outline of the rule that contains the required dimension scope and expression logic for the rule type. You add values unique to your task. To make adding values easier, Planning Business Modeler creates placeholders for logic that you have to provide. You put the applicable values for your rule at the placeholder locations.

• Create a custom rule from a blank template with PerformancePoint Expression Language.

  If you want more control than the predefined rules and templates provide, you can create customized business rules by using PEL. You can also use PEL to customize the business rules that you create by using predefined rule templates.

  Note

  You can use Microsoft Office Excel functions in a business rule if Excel is installed on the underlying SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) system. If Excel is not installed on the SSAS system, Excel functions will fail at run time.

  For general information about how to write a rule in PEL, see Review formats for business rules in PEL.

  For more information about types of rules, see Choose a rule type.

  For more information about types of rule sets, see Choose a rule set type.

• Create a rule with SQL or MDX Query.

  You can write custom rules in SQL or MDX by using NativeSql, NativeMDXQuery, or NativeMDXScript implementation.

  For more information, see Native code implementation.

See Also

Other Resources

About business rules
Predefined templates for general business rules
PerformancePoint Expression Language Reference