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The rule form has no single “master” field. Several independent
driver→dependent chains reshape it as you work. The single most
important thing to understand: Level, Rule Type, and Series Type each
drive a different part of the form and do not filter one
another. This page maps every relationship; the
Field reference above explains each field on
its own.
The dependency map — who drives whom
| Driver | Changes… | Effect |
| Series type (from the series, not a form field) | Position list | keeps only positions valid for this series type |
| Position | Condition (R-Condition) list | reloads the conditions mapped to that position |
| Position (+ Rule Type) | Cut L/T & Cut R/B labels; “Reverse” flag | relabels the cut indicators; relabels Global Option→Reverse |
| Rule Type | Value1 control + its list | combo (which lookup table) / number box / hidden |
| Rule Type + chosen Value1 option | Value2 | answer combo vs numeric vs wildcard vs parts-family vs hidden |
| Rule Type | Matrix / Allowed checkboxes | Matrix shows when ruletype ≤ 2; Allowed when ruletype == 1 |
| Level | Test Type list | the only thing that filters test types |
| Test Type | Test Value(s) panel | reshapes into one of 5 value layouts |
| Qty Type | Qty control | number / matrix / option / expression |
| Adjustment Type (W/L and H, each) | adjustment control | value / matrix / option / expression |
Level ↔ Rule Type ↔ Test Type
- Rule Type is NOT filtered by Level. Any level shows the full
rule-type list. - Level IS what filters Test Type — and it is the only thing
that does. Change the rule’s Level and the “Test On” list changes. - Rule Type and Position are inert for Test Type. Changing them
appears to refresh the test-type list, but the rows never change — only
Level narrows it. (The refresh is wired but discards ruletype /
position, matching the source.)
The one exception: a few text/expression rule types (e.g. rule type 4)
append a synthetic Assembly level to the Level combo — that is an
append, not a filter.
Position & Condition
Position is filtered by Series Type — not by Level or Rule
Type. Condition (R-Condition) is then filtered by the selected
Position (choose a position → its conditions load). So the
guard chain is series‑type → Position → Condition.
Position combines with Rule Type in two places, both cosmetic:
(1) it relabels the Cut L/T and Cut R/B indicators —
Top/Bottom → ?L-- / --?R, Left/Right →
?T-- / --?B; and (2) when Position is 8/9/10
and Rule Type is 7 or 8, the Global-Option checkbox is relabeled
“Reverse”.
Note: the cut fields are always visible — Position only
changes their labels; it never shows or hides them. The Condition combo
drives nothing else downstream.
The other cascades
| When you change… | …this reshapes |
| Rule Type | Value1: a searchable combo over one lookup table (options, parts, matrices, production lines/stations/stages, reports, error messages, suppliers, sub-routines, …), a plain number box, or hidden. |
| Value1 (an option, ruletype 1/2) | Value2: becomes that option’s answer combo when the option’s type ≤ 2; otherwise a numeric box. Ruletype 11 → wildcard combo; 114 → parts-family combo; 31/316/317 → hidden. |
| Matrix checkbox (ruletype ≤ 2) | answer comes from an answer-matrix; the allowed-answer list is suppressed. |
| Allowed checkbox (ruletype == 1, Value1 > 0) | Value2 becomes a multi-select allowed-answer list. |
| Qty Type | 1 → number; 2 (& 5) → matrix combo; 3 → option combo; 4 → expression (metric + imperial). |
| Adjustment Type (W/L and H separately) | 1 → metric + imperial number; 2 → matrix combo ×2; 3 → option combo ×2; else → expression. |
| Test Type (Rule Tests editor) | Value(s) panel → range numeric (4-box) / values numeric (2-box, per the Mode radio) / single combo + list / two cascaded combos Option→Answer (types 8, 9) / date range (type 76). Add/remove multiple values only for the combo shapes. |
Independent controls (no cascade): the end-type combos (Cut L/T,
Cut R/B) are free picks; Mortise (M&T) matters only when an
end type is a bracket cut [/]; and the remaining
checkboxes (Recalc, Nominal, Always Run, welds, splits, Affects Design,
Inactive) are plain switches. Force/Auto (L‑T, R‑B) are two-state radios.