About Decision Table Input

An input (also referred to as input clause) to a decision table is represented as a column within the table. It consists of an input header cell and several input entry cells. A decision table may have multiple inputs.

Input Header Cell

The input header cell contains the following two components:

Input expression

In combination with input entries, an input expression determines the value of a particular input column. It can be a simple test expression, for example, Age>50. You can use input variables, outputs of other decisions, or built-in functions to define input expressions.

In the decision designer, the expression language used for all expressions, including input expressions, is friendly enough expression language (FEEL). See About Friendly Enough Expression Language.

Allowed values

Using this component, you can specify the input entry mode (or type) and the associated allowed-value constraints for an input column. Click the Mode icon in a header cell to select a mode or specify allowed values.

However, for an input column, the mode of allowed values (or specific allowed values) are automatically populated when you specify the input expression for the column. For example, if an input expression returns Boolean values, allowed values for that column are populated as true, false.

The options you can choose from for changing the mode of allowed values are listed in the following table. Note that, after you specify the input expression for a column, the type of allowed values you can toggle between are limited.

Header Cell Modes	Description
Auto	Use this mode to determine allowed entries for the column based on the input expression. This is the default selection for a new input column.
Text	Use this mode to restrict entries to text strings. Optionally, you can specify a particular string or list of strings.
Number	Use this mode to restrict entries to numbers. Optionally, you can specify a particular number, limit, or range.
Date and Time	Use this mode to restrict entries to date and time values. Optionally, you can specify a particular date and time value, limit, or range.
Duration	Use this mode to restrict entries to time duration values.
True or False	Use this mode to permit only Boolean entries.
Other Type	Use this mode to restrict entries to a given custom data type.
Any	Use this mode to specify that there are no restrictions on the data type of entries. Optionally, you can restrict entries to a given value or list of values. This is the default selection for an output column.
Advanced	Use this mode to permit FEEL expressions and null values as entries. Optionally, you can specify constraints using FEEL expressions.

Note:

The data type of input entry cells is determined by the data type of the input expression. Make sure that the type of allowed values you supply is consistent with the data type of the input column.

Input Entry Cells

In the input entry cells, you enter strings, numbers, Boolean values, date and time values, and so on, based on the mode selected. If your input expression returns a finite set of values or if you've provided specific allowed values, an auto-suggest menu appears when you click an empty input entry cell. Use the suggestions to specify the input entries.

Note:

If the data type of an input entry does not match the data type of the column, or if the input entry is not among the allowed values, an error is displayed in the decision table editor.

Mode for input entries

Based on the input expression or allowed values you specify in the header cell, the mode for entry cells is automatically selected. If required, click the Mode icon in a cell to switch to a different mode. The mode options available to switch are dependent on the data type of the input expression or the allowed values you've specified.

The following table details all available modes for an input entry cell. Optionally, use the constraint options available in the Mode editor.

Entry Cell Modes	Description
Text	Use this mode to enter strings. In this mode, you can enter a string as a plain literal without double quotes.
Number	Use this mode to enter numbers.
Date and Time	Use this mode to enter date and time values.
Duration	Use this mode to enter time duration values.
True or False	Use this mode to enter Boolean values.
Any	Use this mode to mark an entry as irrelevant (-).
Advanced	Use this mode to enter advanced FEEL expressions and null values. To learn more about the syntax and examples, see Grammar Rules.