Online Helps > Rule Scenario Manager Console > Input Data > Working with Input Data

Working with Input Data

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Input data is organized into input datasets in the Rule Scenario Manager Console. You can create datasets in XML or Excel files and load them into scenario definitions with compatible rulesets, editing them in the Console if necessary.

In the Scenario Builder for each scenario, you can see at a glance the currently selected input dataset, or that none has yet been selected:

images/inputDataSelect.gif

Click the name of the selected dataset to open a page that displays the ruleset signature to which the dataset relates:

images/inputDataSelected.png

In this page, you can change the name or folder of the dataset and download the dataset as an Excel file by clicking the Excel icon images/inputDataExcelIcon.png . This allows you edit the dataset, which you must then re-import to the Console to register the changes.

To view all available input datasets, click Select/Change Input Data to open the Input Dataset Selector:

images/scenarioInputDataList.png

By default, the table displays only those datasets compatible with the ruleset selected in the scenario, indicated by the checked option Context Filters. You can view all datasets in the Rule Scenario Manager database, regardless of the ruleset signature to which they conform, by clicking this option off. Note that you would normally only need to do this to delete otherwise "hidden" datasets from the database.

The currently selected dataset, if any, is indicated by an arrow preceding the dataset name.

Note
Datasets that have been assigned to existing scenarios cannot be deleted. This is indicated by an inactive Delete button in the table.

From the Input Dataset Selector, you can perform or start the following actions, described in detail below:

Select an input dataset for use in a scenario

  1. In the Scenario Builder, click Select/Change Input Data.
    2. The Input Dataset Selector appears, listing all available input datasets compatible with the current ruleset (while the Context Filters option is switched on).
  2. Click Apply in the row of the input dataset that you want to apply to the scenario.

The Console returns to the Scenario Builder, now displaying the selected input dataset in the Selected Input Data box.

Edit a dataset

  1. In the Scenario Builder, click Select/Change Input Data.
    2. The Input Dataset Selector appears, listing all available input datasets compatible with the current ruleset (while the Context Filters option is switched on).
  2. Click Edit in the row of the input dataset that you want to edit.
    3. This opens a page that displays the ruleset signature to which the dataset relates.
  3. Click the Excel icon images/inputDataExcelIcon.png at the end of the Input Dataset Name field to download an Excel workbook containing the dataset.
  4. Edit the dataset as required.
    5. See Defining Input Datasets in Excel for information on defining datasets in Excel.
  5. Save your changes to the Excel workbook.
  6. Re-import the Excel file into the Console using the Update action. See Import a file containing input datasets.

You can now apply the modified dataset to the desired scenario.

Tip
You can also access the page from which you download the currently selected dataset by clicking the name of the selected input dataset in the Scenario Builder.

Import a file containing input datasets

  1. In the Scenario Builder, click Select/Change Input Data.
    2. The Input Dataset Selector appears, listing all available input datasets compatible with the current ruleset (while the Context Filters option is switched on).
  2. Click Browse at the bottom of the Input Data box.
  3. Select an XML or Excel file containing input datasets.
  4. Import the datasets in one of the following ways:
    5. - Click Add to import the datasets and add them to the Console database. Note that if an imported dataset is already registered in the Console, the Add action will effectively duplicate it.
    - Click Update to import the datasets, replacing any existing versions in the Console database. You would use this action when you have downloaded an input dataset from the Console and modified it, and you prefer to replace the older dataset with the updated one. This action avoids duplicating datasets in the Console database. See Edit a dataset.

The imported datasets are included in the Input Dataset Selector, and are now available for inclusion in scenarios. Note that imported datasets are organized into the current Working Folder.

Create an Excel workbook containing input datasets

To create a new Excel workbook with the input data template, you must have already selected a ruleset in the scenario under construction.

  1. In the Scenario Builder, click Select/Change Input Data.
    2. The Input Dataset Selector appears, listing all available input datasets compatible with the current ruleset (while the Context Filters option is switched on).
  2. Click Open an empty Excel spreadsheet in the Input Data box.
    3. Depending on the action of your browser, you will either open or save to disk an Excel workbook, or be prompted to choose. It is recommended to save the workbook and then reopen it for editing. This workbook contains a template for defining input data for the current scenario's ruleset.
  3. Edit the template to create input datasets as required, taking care to retain the dataset structure in the workbook, which represents the ruleset signature and therefore must not be modified.
    4. Full details on creating Excel datasets are provided in Defining Input Datasets in Excel.
  4. Save the Excel workbook.
  5. Import the Excel file into the Console using the Add action. See Import a file containing input datasets.

You can now apply the new datasets to the desired scenario.

Change the name or folder of a dataset

  1. In the Scenario Builder, click the name of the selected dataset in the Selected Input Data box.
    2. A page opens that displays the ruleset signature to which the dataset relates, as well as the dataset's name and folder.
  2. Edit the dataset name and/or folder as required.
  3. Save your changes in one of the following ways:
    4. - Click Save to register the changes and remain on this page.
    - Click Apply to register the changes, select the dataset for the current scenario, and return to the Scenario Builder.

The changes are reflected in the Scenario Builder and in the Input Dataset Selector table.

Delete datasets

If an input dataset is no longer required, you can remove it from the Rule Scenario Manager database.

Note
You cannot delete a dataset that has been selected in an existing scenario. This is indicated by an inactive Delete button and checkbox in the Input Dataset Selector.

To delete an input dataset:

  1. In the Scenario Builder, click Select/Change Input Data.
    2. The Input Dataset Selector appears, listing all available input datasets compatible with the current ruleset (while the Context Filters option is switched on).
  2. Click Delete in the row of the input dataset that you want to delete.
    3. The dataset is removed from the table.

To delete multiple datasets, click their checkboxes in the left column of the Input Dataset Selector table, and click Delete Selected Items.

See Also

Input Data | Scenarios | Viewing Datasets in the Input Dataset Selector | Defining Input Datasets in Excel

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