Create a Link RuleCreate a Link RuleYou use the Link Rules (SP) application to create link rules to add to a reconciliation task. You can create link rule records from the List tab or from the Link Rule tab in the application. A link rule is a required component of a reconciliation task; it establishes the basis of the comparison by identifying the top-level object and attribute in Data Set 1 to link to a specific attribute of the top-level object in Data Set 2. You use the Reconciliation Tasks (SP) application to create reconciliation tasks and to add link rules and other components to the task.
Link rules are often based on unique identifiers. The attribute most commonly used to link assets and deployed assets is a serial number or asset tag. The attribute most commonly used to link configuration items (CIs) with actual CIs is ACTCINUM, the actual CI number.
You can associate a link rule with a specific customer. You can then apply the link rule only to reconciliation tasks that are created for that customer. If you do not specify a customer, you can apply the link rule only to reconciliation tasks that are not associated with customers.
On the toolbar
in the Link Rules (SP) application, click New
Link Rule 
. The application displays a new link rule
record on the Link Rules tab.
In the Link field, enter the name that you want to assign to the link rule. This name is the unique identifier of the link rule.
If appropriate,
in the Description field, enter
a brief description of the link rule. To enter additional information,
click Long Description 
.
Optional: In the Customer field, specify the customer associated with this link rule
In the Type of
Reconciliation table window, in the Data
Set 1 field, click Select Value
to select the appropriate authorized data set. The application
automatically populates the Data Set
2 field with the corresponding discovered data set. For example,
if you select ASSET for Data Set 1, the application selects DEPLOYED ASSET
for Data Set 2.
To add a link rule clause, in the Link Clauses table window, click New Row. The Row Details open.
Note: The application generates a sequence number for each new row created. By default, the application creates sequence numbers in increments of ten in ascending order. You can modify the numbers as needed or add new clauses with sequence numbers that fall between already-existing numbers. When you save the record, the application sorts the clauses in ascending numerical order.
If appropriate, in the (... field (open parenthesis), enter an open parenthesis.
In the Data Set 1 Object field, click Select Value
and select an object from the Select Value dialog
box. The value selected populates the Data
Set 1 Object field.
Note: If you select ASSETSPEC (Asset Specification) or CISPEC (CI Specification) for the Data Set 1 Object field, then you must also select a value for the Data Set 1 Class Structure field.
If appropriate,
in the Data Set 1 Class Structure
field, click Select Value and select a class structure from the Select Value dialog
box. The selected class structure populates the Data
Set 1 Class Structure field. The application displays the classification
for the selected class structure in the Data
Set 1 Classification field and a description in the Data
Set 1 Class Structure Description field.
In the Data Set 1 Attribute field, click Select Value and select
an attribute from the Select Value dialog box. The values displayed in
the Select Value dialog box depend on the value that you selected for
Data Set 1 in step 7. The value selected populates the Data
Set 1 Attribute field, and the application displays the title of
the attribute in the Data Set 1 Attribute
Title field.
In the Data Set 2 Object field, click Select Value
and select an object from the Select Value dialog
box. The value selected populates the Data
Set 2 Object field.
Note: If you select ACTCISPEC (Actual CI Specification) for the Data Set 2 Object field, then you must also select a value for the Data Set 2 Class Structure field.
If appropriate,
in the Data Set 2 Class Structure
field, click Select Value and select a class structure from the Select Value dialog
box. The selected class structure populates the Data
Set 2 Class Structure field. The application displays the classification
for the selected class structure in the Data
Set 2 Classification field and a description in the Data
Set 2 Class Structure Description field.
In the Data Set 2 Attribute field, click Select Value and select
an attribute from the Select Value dialog box. The values displayed in
the Select Value dialog box depend on the value that you selected for
Data Set 2 in step 10. The value selected populates the Data
Set 2 Attribute field, and the application displays the title of
the asset attribute in the Data Set 2
Attribute Title field.
If appropriate, in the ...) field (close parenthesis), enter a close parenthesis.
If you want to
add more link rule clauses to the link rule, in the Sequence
Operator field, click Select Value
. A Select Value
dialog box opens. On the dialog box, click to select the appropriate sequence
operator. The Select Value dialog box closes, and the selected operator
populates the Sequence Operator field.
Note: When more than one link rule clause exists, the sequence operator is required. It specifies how the current clause relates to the next clause in the sequence.
If appropriate, repeat steps 5 through 14 to create additional link rule clauses.
When you have
entered all clauses, click Save Link
Rule 
to
save the link rule.