Modeling Instead of Coding Business Rules

Visual Rules Modeler provides an especially intuitive method of graphically modeling, simulating and testing business rules. The Modeler uses graphical editors that comfortably assist the user with tools and data palettes, wizards, zoom, undo/redo and advanced search functions. Easy drag&drop simplifies modeling of flow rules and decision tables.

Rule Editor with Flow Rule

Rule Editor with Decision Table

The hierarchical structure of rules and data, organized into rule packages, and the automatic filtering of data available in the context of a specific rule, simplify designing and maintaining the largest rule projects.

The Visual Rules Database Connectivity can be used for direct access to relational databases when modeling rules.

Business Rules Testing and Validation

The Modeler provides integrated testing that features graphical test cases that verify the proper functioning of all rules. This ensures that only tested and logically correct rules enter production. 

Rule Editor with Statistics and Integrated Test Editor

Input data and expected results are defined and administered in an easy-to-use Test Editor.  Tests can be performed directly and deviations from expected results are marked in the results display.

Tracking Test Performance

The results of the test run are displayed as statistics in the graphical model. The statistics illustrate which rule elements were executed. Statistics can be issued for single or accumulated test cases.

With the test coverage analysis, the user can ensure that business rules are tested thoroughly.

Debugging Rules

Visual Rules offers rule debugging in its graphical model. There are single-step execution and breakpoints available for debugging and tracing of rule execution. 

Debugging Views for Single-Step Execution

Automatic Documentation Of Rules

Visual Rules generates complete documentation encompassing all of the project information from the graphical model with the click of a button. It displays the project description, defined data and actions, the graphical rules and their structure.

Rule Project Documentation in HTML

The documentation can be generated in HTML or PDF format. It can be archived in a versioning system along with the rule models.

Organizing and Reusing Rules

Rules can be compiled in rule packages based on their substantive interconnections and organizational structures. This includes the associated data structures as well.

Clearly defined dependencies among rule packages make it easier to maintain an overview when a large number of rules are involved. In addition, it encourages the reuse of rules (including multiple projects).

Extensive navigation and search options support the rule author by maintaining relevant information in a rule model that is always directly at hand. 

Versioning Tested Rules

Rule projects can be fully administered in a versioning system - the Team Server. The versioning system makes it possible to revise rules and document the associated resources and make them available to other team members. The versioning system is the starting point for a robust rules testing and deployment process.

Editor for Rule Comparison

The Modeler offers the option of comparing any two versions of a rule — in graphical form. This way, modifications can be easily tracked and aligned as needed. 

Audit Trail of a Rule Project

All modifications to the rule models and tests are completely documented in the versioning system. That way it is always clear who made which modification and when, and which version of the rules is in production. Monitoring options and complete traceability during rule execution are readily available to the business analyst.

Audit Trail of a Rule Project

Monitoring Rule Execution

Decisions made during rule execution are thoroughly documented in Visual Rules and can be traced step-by-step in the graphical model.

Rule Editor with Flow Rule and Display of Statistics

The statistic illustrates every rule element and how often it was executed (Rule Audit Trails). Rule elements that are not executed are grayed out. The complete journal of rule execution enables effective audit capability. 

Analyzing Rule Runtimes

Visual Rules analyzes runtime behavior and delivers the results for each rule element. The detailed profiling statistics supports performance monitoring, particularly in creating complex rules with high runtime requirements.

Rule Editor with Run Times of a Flow Rule