Book a Demo

Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

Prev Next

DMN Expression Validation

DMN defines many expressions, such as FunctionDefinition, DecisionTable, Boxed Context, Invocation and Literal Expression. The parameters, arguments and logic of these expressions are implemented largely by 'text'.

To make modeling easier and more reliable, Enterprise Architect provides two features: Auto Completion and Validation.

  • Validation: Identifies modeling errors caused by typos, logic incompleteness, inconsistency, and so on
  • Auto Completion: You can select a text string from a list of enumerations rather than type the text in

In this topic, we will show you how to validate a DMN Expression.

Access

DMN Expression Window

Simulate > Decision Analysis > DMN > DMN Expression : Validate button

DMN Simulation Window

Simulate > Decision Analysis > DMN > Open DMN Simulation > Simulate : Validate icon

Common Validations

Variable Name Validation

In this example, the Boxed Context Business Knowledge Model BKM1 defines two parameters, 'Input 1' and 'Input 2', and two local variables, 'Local Variable 1' and 'Local Variable 2'. The expression has been validated, and the results output to the 'DMN Validation' tab of the System Output window.

  • Context Entry #1 failed because there is a typographic error; it should be operator '-', but the user typed or copied in '–'
  • Context Entry #2 failed because there is no space between 'Input' and the number 2;  note that the function 'ceiling()' is defined in the DMN Library so it can be successfully parsed
  • Context Entry #3 failed because there is no space between 'Local' and 'Variable'

It is hard to visually identify these kinds of error. Running validation can help identify errors and then you can easily perform a correction.

Dependency Validation

A decision might require other decisions, input data and business knowledge models; these relationships are identified by InformationRequirement and KnowledgeRequirement connectors.

When the graph is getting complex, it is quite possible that some connectors are missing or the wrong connector type is being used.

In this example, click on the Validate button, Enterprise Architect will show that:

  • 'Decision3' is used by 'Decision1' by binding to a parameter of the called BKM2; however, it is not defined - an InformationRequirement connector is missing
  • The Invocation defined in 'Decision1' is not valid; the connector type from 'BKM2' to 'Decision1' should be a KnowledgeRequirement

After fixing these problems, run the validation again:

Learn more