You can extend the business object model by specializing an existing class or adding methods or properties to it without changing the definition and the source code of the original class. This feature is particularly useful when:
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You do not have access to the source code of the original class.
This is the case, for example, if you want to write rules against classes that are defined in the .NET framework, or in third-party assemblies. It is also the case if you want to write rules against a COM-based object model.
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The source code of the original class is automatically generated.
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proxy classes to use Web Services
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classes that are generated from an XML Schema
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typed ADO .NET datasets
The members you add to a business object model are called business elements. There are three kinds of business element: business subtypes, business methods, and business properties. Business elements are sometimes referred to as "extenders" as they are similar to the Windows Forms principle of an extender provider. ILOG Rule Studio for .NET provides wizards that automatically generate the code of an extender with an empty implementation. You then implement the extender, and use the business element to write rules just as you would with a standard member of the business object model.
In This Section
Learn about how business subtypes specialize types in a business object model.
Understand how business methods and business properties add features to existing classes in a business object model.
Find out how to use the various wizards to add business elements to a business object model.