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

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Allowed Value Enumerations

When defining data inputs for a decision, it is common to want to restrict the set of allowable values for an input.  For example, you might want to restrict the allowed values for Marital Status to just two options, Single and Married.

You can specify the allowed values for any leaf component of an ItemDefinition. These are called Allowed Value Enumerations and they are also used to support Auto Completion.  When specifying values for an InputData element or an input parameter that references an ItemDefintion where Allowed Values have been defined, the user can simply choose a value from the list.

Each 'leaf' component of the ItemDefinition can define a list of Allowed Values.  For example, the ItemDefinition Strategy has three allowed values - BUREAU, DECLINED and THROUGH.

A DMN Item Definition example of a simple data type using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect.

The input parameters and output clauses of Decision Tables also support specification of allowable values.  This restricts the values that can be used when defining the rules in the table, but also allows the user to fast fill the rules by pressing the spacebar then selecting the required item:

Auto-filling value fields in a DMN Decision Table in the context of an Item Definition using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect.

You can also autocomplete by typing the first letter of the option you want to enter.

A more complex example can include a number of Allowed Value Enumerations:

A DMN Item Definition example of a complex set of data type using Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect.

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