Pagination rules are evaluated one-by-one in the list from top to bottom. When the condition of a rule evaluates to True, the associated action is then evaluated. The layout of a page is decided by the sum of all conditions with actions that evaluate to true. The order of evaluation means that one action can override an action associated with a rule further down in the list. Therefore, you should always specify the rule with the more general rule first and the most specific rule last.
The order of the pagination rules can be changed by using drag and drop.
Examples
The following two examples use object layout rules to illustrate pagination rule evaluation.
Example 1
- Condition = always, Action = Use product template = template1
- Condition = objectType is OT1, Action = Use product template = template2
When an object is paginated with object Type OT2, then the first condition Always evaluates to True and the rule assigns the product template template1 to the product. The condition of the second rule (objectType is OT1) evaluates to False, and the action of the second rule is therefore not used.
However, if you paginate an object with object Type OT1, the first condition is still True and the rule assigns the product template template1 to the object. The second condition also evaluates to True and the action for the rule then assigns the product template template2 to the object and then overwrites the assignment done by the first rule.
Example 2
- Rule 1: Always use the product template 'Acme Products'
- Rule 2: If the value of the 'Folder' attribute equals 'Folder Template,' then use the product template 'Folder Template.'
- Rule 3: If the product is of the object type 'Nice Family,' use the product template 'Nice Product Template.'
The rules are applied as follows:
- A product that is not of the object type 'Nice Family' and does not have the attribute 'Folder' with the value of 'Folder Template' will be paginated using the 'Acme Products' product template according to rule 1.
- A product that is not of the object type 'Nice Family' but the value of the attribute 'Folder' is 'Folder Template' will be paginated using the product template 'Folder Template' according to rule 2.
- A product of the object type 'Nice Family' will be paginated using the product template 'Nice Product Template' according to rule 3.
To Change the Evaluation Order of Pagination Rules
Click the rule you want to move, then drag and drop it to its new position in the list.