Configuring Opportunity Rules

Overview of Opportunity Rule Functionality

Configuring Rule Groups

 

Use the Opportunity tab in the Options and Tools | Automate| Rules screen to create rules that will perform actions when specified conditions based on Opportunity record fields or events are met.  Rule creation involves entering a name for the rule, selecting the type of rule, selecting one or more conditions and time frame intervals if applicable, and then selecting one or more actions to perform if those conditions are met. The type of rule will determine the fields that appear.

In order for a rule to be evaluated, it must be included in a rule group; rule groups are applied to opportunities through customers, companies, and support representatives. (A default rule group will apply if none are applicable.) See Configuring Rule Groups for more information.

Creating an On Save Rule

On Opportunity Save or Email Update Received rules do not incorporate time frames; when an opportunity is saved, rules in the associated rule group are evaluated, and if conditions are matched, their actions are performed.

Configuring Conditions

Use the first Match <All/Any> of the Following Conditions field to specify whether you want every configured condition in this rule to be met, or any configured condition in this rule to be met.

Use the Add Condition and Remove Condition icons to display and remove a set of condition dropdown fields (a list of fields, a list of comparison methods, and a list of values applicable to the selected field) to evaluate upon opportunity save. In the Select a Target dropdown, select what to evaluate: an opportunity field or event, or whether it is within business hours.

In the next dropdown, select the comparison method.

Finally, select the value to be used with the comparison method.

Click the Add Condition icon if you wish to include another condition. You can use the Add Condition Group icon to put a set of conditions to be evaluated together in a group.

Configuring Actions

Use the Actions section to select the actions to perform when the conditions are met. After creating the first action you can use the Add Action icon to create another action. Use the Remove Action icon to remove any action lines.

You can configure the following actions:

Creating Time Frame Intervals for Time-Based Rules

Time-Based and Time-Based: Cumulative Rules

With Time-Based and Time-Based: Cumulative rules, the Time Frame Interval Settings section will include Intervals, Time, Minutes/Hours/Day(s) fields as well as a set of fields for entering an action to be performed when the condition is met for the interval time frame. The difference between these rules is that, if conditions change prior to the configured interval settings, Time-Based rules will clear all pending actions and the time frame will restart if conditions are met again; Time-Based: Cumulative rules will suspend all pending actions and if conditions are met again the time frame will include previous amounts of time in which conditions were met.

In the Configure Time Frame Intervals and Actions section, use the Intervals field to specify the number of times a time frame should be established and monitored, and use the Time and Minutes/Hours/Day(s) fields to specify the amount and unit of time (in minutes, hours, or days) in the time frame. Use the dropdowns in the indented actions line to specify the actions to perform if conditions are met for that interval time frame. Example

Time-Based: Important Dates Rules

Time-Based: Important Dates rules enable you to specify a number of days before or after the value in a specified date field. This type of rule will be evaluated when the defined number of days before or after the value in the specified date field occurs. Actions will be performed if the rule's conditions are met at the time the Time-Based Rule agent runs.

Configuring Multiple Time Frame Intervals

You can use the Add Interval icon to add another interval time frame set and actions to perform if conditions are met for that interval time frame. The Move Down  and Move Up  icons will appear for changing the order in which the interval time frames will be evaluated. Example

Enabling the Time-Based Rules Agent

If you are configuring Time-Based and Time-Based: Cumulative rules, ensure that the Time-Based Rules agent is enabled via the button in the Rules list screen. Note: If you change a condition, time interval, or time value in an existing time-based rule and interval timers are in process for any records associated with it, the timers will be reset.

Displaying a Timeline for Configured Time Frame Intervals

Use the View Timeline button at the bottom of the screen to display a dialog with a gauge chart depicting the time frames for each interval; actions will appear when you hover over a time frame with your mouse.

Associating Rules With Rule Groups

After creating a rule, you’ll need to include it in a rule group. You can do this via:

The rule group displays along with the Position field; use it to specify the order in which actions should be taken when conditions are met. If rules in a group contain duplicate actions, the position will determine the rule that will take precedence.