NET/MASTER RMS Management and Operations Guide

Rulesets
Message Handlers, Timers, Rulesets, and Rules
2–8 115415 NonStop NET/MASTER RMS Management and Operations Guide
Rulesets A ruleset contains a collection of rules that define responses to events such as message
arrival or time conditions. You must have a ruleset before you can implement any
rules.
A message handler uses a ruleset to set up its working environment and, in response
to incoming messages, as a basis for its actions. The timer driver uses a ruleset as a
basis for determining whether a timer action is enabled or disabled when responding
to time events. See “Ruleset Control Options” next in this section for a description on
how a ruleset affects its rules. Message handlers can share the same ruleset.
A ruleset is stored in a database and can contain the following categories of records:
Control options (the record that is the basis of the ruleset and is always present)
Environmental profile (one optional record)
Function key settings (one optional record)
Message action rule (any number of records)
Message group rule (any number of records)
Time-based rule (any number of records)
Command group (any number of records)
You define the general characteristics of a ruleset in the following records:
Control options
Environmental profile
Function key settings
Ruleset Control Options The control options of a ruleset define the basic operations criteria for the rules in the
ruleset. These criteria include the following:
How should a message handler using the ruleset deliver messages that are not
accounted for by a rule? You can either deliver or suppress these messages. You
can also implement your own exit NCL procedure to process these messages.
Also, you can use one of your own exit NCL procedures to process messages
before RMS rule processing is performed.
What actions should a message handler using the ruleset take when a message
triggers more than one rule? You can base the actions on a single triggered rule or
on all the triggered rules. Rule selection is determined generally by how
restrictive a rule is. The most restrictive rule is selected. For example, a rule that is
effective on one day of the week is more restrictive than a rule that is effective
seven days a week.
Is the feature specified in a rule enabled or disabled? You can enable or disable
message presentation and rule action features. Furthermore, you can have
messages displayed (narration) that inform you of the actions requested. This
narrative feature is especially useful when testing the ruleset.