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How to update the rules without recompiling or redeploying an app...

Hi,

I am having Xoml file with rule conditions. Anybody help me how can I update the Declarative Rule Condition without redeploying. I got an External Toolkit to update the RuleSet, but I can't find any tool for updating RuleConditions. I got the information from one of the site(http://www.odetocode.com/Articles/458.aspx) regarding updating the rules that we could store workflow and rule definitions inside of database records, and update the rules without recompiling or redeploying an application.

Please help me if any body having tool or sample code for storing and updating the rules as said above.

Thank you

Satya

satya vani

Satya vani

Hi Vani,

As far as i understand, you want a tool or code, that can edit .rules file, which is created by rules editor.

If it is, currently, there is no such tool, to directly edit .rules file, as the file will be complied as embedded resource and workflow at runtime reads this file and creates .cs / .vb class using CodeDom.

An alternative solution for your proble is, as written by you, to use database support to store your rules and modifing them using ExternalRulesEditor which can be found at
http://wf.netfx3.com/files/folders/rules_samples/entry310.aspx

Also, see my post in the forums on the same, if you want more info:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=489272&SiteID=1

Hope we can get such tool very soon!

Regards,

Pavan

Pavan Apuroop

Hi Pavan,

Thank you for your great response. The tool u have suggested is for updating ruleset, But I need to update the .rules file as you said in your post. I have done the XAMLActivation as the response given by Tom Lake for your post. Like the following

objIDMServiceParameters.Add("wsCredentialsInput", requestDetails)

objIDMServiceParameters.Add("wsAction", action)

AddHandler workflowRuntime.WorkflowCompleted, AddressOf WorkflowRuntime_WorkflowCompleted

AddHandler workflowRuntime.WorkflowTerminated, AddressOf WorkflowRuntime_WorkflowTerminated

objxomlReader = New XmlTextReader(System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("IDMUpdateCredentials.xoml"))

objruleReader = New XmlTextReader(System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("IDMUpdateCredentials.rules"))

instance = workflowRuntime.CreateWorkflow(objxomlReader, objruleReader, objIDMServiceParameters)

instance.Start()

objSchedulerService = workflowRuntime.GetService(Of ManualWorkflowSchedulerService)()

objSchedulerService.RunWorkflow(instance.InstanceId)

WaitHandle.WaitOne()

The Declarative Rule Condition in my Workflow is this.validPassword == 1, this might be changed later like this.validPassword != -1.

I want to update the above condition in .rules file. Help me with sample code please.

Thank you

Satya

satya vani

Satya vani

Hi Vani,

I have tried couple of ways to directly edit .rules file, but found no luck.

But after seeing your code throughly, i can think of one possible solution.

Using the tool, i have suggested, we can import existing rules file, edit the same and export it back to .rules file.

And in your code, you are already loading both workflow definition and .rules file using xml readers.

So what i can suggest you is to try importing the rules file, make necessary changes and export it back to the same file by over writing the existing .rules file and loading new .rules file to the runtime.

This way may wor and please let me know, if you have any issues.

Regards,

Pavan

Pavan Apuroop

Hi pavan,

I have tried to import the .rules file which is having only RuleDefinitions instead of RuleSets with ExternalRuleSetToolkit. but it is showing error like "File Does not contain any RuleSets". I think we can't update RuleCondition in this way.

Thank you

Satya.

satya vani

Satya vani

reply 5