| Object Control Properties | Using Inference from Pattern Matching | |
Constraints tab (not applicable to string and link types)
Checkbox to enter the property into property instance constraints (default set as checked).
Pattern Matching tab (disabled for string and link types)
Pattern Matching can be used to select an instance of a list object, based on selected properties (even if all properties are not selected and/or there is more than one instance in the list that matches the selected properties).
Pattern Matching in itself does not constrain the list. Pattern Matching can be used in conjunction with Instance Properties Constraint to constrain the instances based on previous selections and then select from the instances that remain. Use @Do with the object name to run the Pattern Matching inference.
The check box 'Enter into pattern matching inference' determines if this property is to be considered during Pattern Matching. If this box is unchecked, then the other fields on the tab are disabled. The 'Match Comparator' field determines which instances in the list match the input criteria.
For list type properties, the only valid comparator is =. In this case Pattern Matching works much the same as Instance Properties Constraints since only the instances that equal the input value will be considered part of the valid set.
For boolean properties <> and = are the valid comparators.
For integer, numeric and date properties <, <=, >, >=, <> and = are all valid comparators.
The Sort Order and Sort Direction fields are used to determine the best match of the qualifying instances. All qualifying instances are sorted based on the Sort Order and Direction and then the first instance in that list is selected (note also that all sorting is done internally and is not reflected in any dialog control). If there is no instance that matches the user selections then no selection will be made.