Display Question not allowed in a business rule

ddumas

I need to ask a question to the user if a certain condition exists at save. I then take action based on the Yes/No response.

At runtime I get the error message :

"The server may have started a process that requires user input... not allowed in the current context"

This is a pretty common requirement. How is this done in AwareIM?

kklosson

It's simply a fact that you cannot use these functions in a an object's rules - only in a normal process that is not run in a business rule. Without a description of what you need to do, I can't help further. But now that you know this, you should formulate a new approach.

ddumas

kklosson wrote
It's simply a fact that you cannot use these functions in a an object's rules - only in a normal process that is not run in a business rule. Without a description of what you need to do, I can't help further. But now that you know this, you should formulate a new approach.

Understood.

Here is a simple example:

"You are changing the vendor on this project, Ok to continue"

So, there would need to be a "Pre-Save event", which would execute prior to business rules, that would ask that question, and then take action as appropriate. I.E. continue with the save, or cancel (similar to REPORT ERROR)

Does that make sense?

Dave

kklosson

Not quite (to me). Consider wrapping the whole record update action into a process:

Edit Object
If Object.Vendor WAS CHANGED Then
Ask Question 'Do you want to change the Vendor?'

In this scenario, you need to save the current value so make an attribute like Object.Vendor_Save. Then make a business rule on change:

Object.Vendor_Save=Object.Vendor //Always save a copy of the value

So....

IF Question.Answer = No
Object.Vendor=Object.Vendor_Save

This is rough, but should get you started.

ddumas

kklosson wrote
Not quite (to me). Consider wrapping the whole record update action into a process:

Edit Object
If Object.Vendor WAS CHANGED Then
Ask Question 'Do you want to change the Vendor?'

In this scenario, you need to save the current value so make an attribute like Object.Vendor_Save. Then make a business rule on change:

Object.Vendor_Save=Object.Vendor //Always save a copy of the value

So....

IF Question.Answer = No
Object.Vendor=Object.Vendor_Save

This is rough, but should get you started.

That will not work. The Project screen is entered from multiple places - run queries, and several other processes. So its not as simple as a single point of entry.

In my opinion, AwareIM needs to implement form event handlers that let you trap and execute logic at specific entry points. Before Save, after save, etc. These event handlers would be completely separate from business rules. Business rules would execute prior to these event handlers, and thus not conflict with them.

aware_support

You can start the same process after a form has been saved. This has been added specifically to address this sort of issues. The process can be specified in the Buttons options - when you click the Buttons button on the form.

ddumas

aware_support wrote
You can start the same process after a form has been saved. This has been added specifically to address this sort of issues. The process can be specified in the Buttons options - when you click the Buttons button on the form.

Ah. That makes sense. So, I am assuming this is still pre-commit? Ex. The process could still do a REPORT ERROR '...', based on the Question.Reply, and abort a commit after the save clicked, correct?

aware_support

Yes

ddumas

aware_support wrote
Yes

I created a post form process on the save as you suggested. Although that executed, it uncovered a problem with OLD_VALUE() not working:

IF (Project.CapitalBudgetTotal + Project.OperatingBudgetTotal) > (OLD_VALUE(Project.CapitalBudgetTotal) + OLD_VALUE(Project.OperatingBudgetTotal)) THEN
Display Question 'You are increasing the budget to ' + AS_STRING(Project.CapitalBudgetTotal + Project.OperatingBudgetTotal) + '. This requires restart of the approval process. OK to Continue?'
else
DISPLAY MESSAGE AS_STRING(OLD_VALUE(Project.CapitalBudgetTotal) + OLD_VALUE(Project.OperatingBudgetTotal))

The display message is conforming that the OLD_VALUE() values are getting overwritten with the changes.

In the post save process OLD_VALUE(Project.CapitalBudgetTotal) and OLD_VALUE(Project.OperatingBudgetTotal) are identical to their changed values in the form at save.

ddumas

I have also confirmed that REPORT ERROR code in a post save form process does NOT stop the transaction from being committed. Below, when the report error code executes, all changes still commit to the database.

IF Question.Reply='No' THEN
report Error 'Note, Project Changes not submitted.'

Changes to the data were committed in spite of the above REPORT error executing, so it looks like we have a couple of bugs.