Breakpoints in the Rule Debugger

Both in debug mode and in edit mode of the EH&S Expert rule editor you have the option of setting breakpoints at different levels of the set of rules.

Note Note

To set breakpoints, position the cursor and choose Start of the navigation path Debug Next navigation step Breakpoint End of the navigation path . With Go the set of rules runs through to the next breakpoint.

Even when you use the step functions in the rule debugger , processing of the set of rules is stopped by breakpoints that lie before the end point of the step function.

End of the note.

Effect of a Breakpoint Depending on the Level in the Set of Rules

Level in Set of Rules	Debugger Reaction
Rule	Stops before executing the rule, before checking the IF part
Todo	Stops before executing the todo
Fact	Stops after the todo that changed the value of the fact
Condition (see Advanced Breakpoint)	Stops after the todo that set the TRUE condition

Advanced Breakpoint

You can use the advanced breakpoint function to attach conditions to breakpoints. The debugger stops as above, but only if the condition is fulfilled. You can also specify a single condition that causes the process to stop as soon as it is fulfilled.

Note Note

To set advanced breakpoints, position the cursor and choose Start of the navigation path Debug Next navigation step Advanced Breakpoint End of the navigation path .

The Insert Breakpoint dialog box appears.

End of the note.

In the Insert Breakpoint dialog box you can make entries for breakpoints with the following syntax under Enter the breakpoint .

	Syntax	Example
Condition	<Expression>	DENS.VAL > 2
Rule	RULE <rule name>	RULE rule1
Fact	FACT <fact name>	FACT DENS_VAL
Todo	RULE<rule name>@<todo number>	RULE rule1@1

You can link breakpoints with a condition using the WHEN supplement. Conditions are formulated in the same syntax as in the set of rules . The following advanced breakpoint stops at todo 2 of rule 1 when the value of the density is > 2.

RULE rule1@2 WHEN DENS.VAL > 2

In the Insert Breakpoint dialog box you can disable, enable, or delete breakpoints using the checkboxes in the list.

Notes

With Enable / Disable Breakpoint you can temporarily deactivate breakpoints. These are then colored gray. This option is useful if you do not want to stop every time when processing many instances.

It may also be useful not to delete breakpoints that were linked to conditions, but simply to disable them. This means you avoid having to enter the condition again.

You can activate the breakpoint again by placing the cursor on the breakpoint and choosing Enable / Disable Breakpoint again or by enabling the breakpoints in the Insert Breakpoint dialog box.