Assigning association criteria to objects

Although the functional focus of association criteria is to 'read' or evaluate, they often are crucial elements of dynamic processes. The most important user of association criteria are 'Assignments' to objects, to be associated dynamically depending on context. Assignment criteria determine whether and, if so, which of these objects are to be considered 'relevant' in certain situations. Many objects of varying nature rely on dynamic association, as shown in the following overview:

^{*) Dynamic enum filters may use 'all-matching' association logic in forms when a Combobox uses enum filter modes AND or OR.}

Multiple association criteria assigned to the same object are evaluated independently. An object qualifies as 'relevant', if at least one of the assigned criteria matches.

Often more than one objects of a type qualify a 'relevant' in a certain situation according to one or more of the assigned association criteria. Which type of association logic applies in this case, depends on the type of object (see table above):

• 'Best matching' logic: Priority settings for all matching criteria are considered to 'pick' exactly one of all qualified objects (e.g. an input form to show, an external link to follow).

• 'All matching' logic: All objects with at least one matching criterion assigned are associated (e.g. Online help entries to offer, ribbon macro elements to present in a view).

Association criteria in forms

Besides assignments for the form as a whole, specific association criteria may be addressed directly from a form by using the behaviour Association criterion matched to trigger specific mechanisms within the form depending on circumstances.

Sub criteria and 'Logical components'

Technically, any association criterion may be addressed by a Sub criterion rule rule as a logical component of other association criteria or Event handling, without formally declaring it as a 'Sub criterion' in any way.

However, association criterion can be restricted for use as a sub criterion by setting the 'Logical component' flag (see Defining association criteria). Logical components serve as a kind of vocabulary that can be used to express more complex conditions in an efficient and transparent way. Association criteria explicitly flagged as logical components are not individually evaluated as part of the data context for object association or forms (see sections above), but only if they are relevant as sub criteria. Section Association criteria of type 'Logical component' provides more information on logical components.

Further details:

• Principle of association criteria

• Defining association criteria

• Rules of association criteria

• Association criteria of type 'Logical component'