A RuleDoc is a regular Microsoft Office document that contains business rules or decision tables. Some RuleDocs can also contain ruleflows.

RuleDocs fully exploit the capabilities of the new OpenXML-based file format used by Microsoft Office 2007 and enable you to seamlessly combine production-ready business rule data with other document content.

Each business rule in a RuleDoc is stored within a content control that separates the content of the business rule from the surrounding text. When you click or move your cursor over a business rule, it is highlighted in the document. The name of the content control appears in a small tab in the top left corner of the content control.

Inside the Business Rule content control there is a Rule Body content control that contains the actual business rule logic. You can insert text, graphics, and other content controls inside the Business Rule content control (but not inside the Rule Body). Rule properties, such as the name of the business rule, the author's name, or the creation date of the rule, are displayed in separate content controls.

For a more detailed technical description of OpenXML and the RuleDoc file format, please refer to the ILOG Rule Studio .NET manual.