OpenL Tablets Tutorial

OpenL Tablets Tutorials consists of the set of working Eclipse projects. Each Tutorial is well documented and demonstrates specific features of OpenL Tablets. You can run these tutorials, try different changes etc. It is strongly recommended that you go through at least first 3 tutorials in order to get familiar with OpenL Tablets basics.

Tutorial Installation

All the tutorials come pre-packaged as part of the OpenL Tablets Eclipse plugin. To install the tutorial in your workspace simply go to Eclipse menu File|New|Project. Select the folder OpenL Tablets/Tutorials and click on the tutorial you want to install. The best way to explore OpenL Tablets tutorials is through the Web Studio.

Learning by Running

We are convinced that the best way for the developer to learn new stuff is by example. Therefore, our tutorials present a comprehensive demonstration of major OpenL features. Moreover, we are committed to keep it this way with all the new exciting features. And, personally, it is much more satisfying for me to spend time on a working project, than trying to document it. Fortunately, Excel provides such a nice array of documenting possibilities that we can have both - working self-documented project. To make understanding easier we put a lot of comments inside Excel spreadsheets. Java code is also well documented. As an additional bonus, tutorials show you how to format your tables to underscore business logic using colors and bounds.

Some of the tutorials will require some interaction from you. For example, we specially designed tutorial that teaches error correcting techniques using OpenL Tablets Eclipse plugin. Another tutorial guides you through the basics of Eclipse edit/refresh/compile cycle that is required due to the fact that we use external editor (Excel or OpenOffice) to edit files.

Tutorial 1 - Introduction to Decision Tables

Step 1. Simple decision table hello1									
Step 2. Decision table hello2. Returns value to the calling program									
  Step 2-1. Decision table hello21. Demonstrates using of 2 variables for one condition						   
  Step 2-2. Decision table hello22. Demonstrates using of custom class as Parameter Type						
Step 3. Decision table hello3. Demonstrates transposed Decision Table									


Tutorial file: Tutorial_1.xls
Java file:     Tutorial1Main.java

Tutorial 2 - Introduction to Data Tables

Step1. Simple Data Table. Using OpenL Datatypes									
  Step1-1. Same table  transposed.									
 Step2. Primitive and non-bean(semi-primitive) types									
  Step2-1. Array of Strings									
  Step2-2. Array of integers									
  Step2-3. Array of IntRange									
Step3. Data Table with Java Beans									

Tutorial file: Tutorial_2.xls
Java file:     Tutorial2Main.java

Tutorial 3 - More Advanced Decision and Data Tables

Step1. Formulas in Decision Tables									
Step2. Using Arrays in Decision Tables									
  Step2-1. Arrays in Decision Tables - transposed									
  Step2-2. Using Arrays in Decision Tables - transposed table, transposed array cells						
Step3. Foreign Keys and Aggregate Objects in Data Tables									

This tutorial also introduces simple testing table and include directive in Environment table

Tutorial file: Tutorial_3.xls, Tutorial_3_Tests.xls 
Java file:     Tutorial3Main.java

Tutorial 4 - UServ Product Derby

This tutorial should be viewed as "the reference implementation" of the well-known Business Rules Forum 2005 challenge. 

Even though it is not 100% finished yet, we decided to publish it because it demonstrates a lot of useful techniques for
developing and managing the medium-size projects. The Tutorial's updates will be available either from the project's 
CVS or as the part of the upcoming releases. 



Tutorial file: Tutorial_4.xls, Tutorial_4TestData.xls 
Java file:     Tutorial4Main.java


Repository and Rule Engine Service demo based on Tutorial 4 is available here

Tutorial 5 - Explaining Decision Table Performance Optimization

Contains examples for different index types. Each example can be compared with old-style not-optimized version. 


Tutorial file: Tutorial_5.xls
Java file:     Tutorial5Main.java

Tutorial 6 - Sudoku Puzzle and more

As every respectable open source rule engine from Drools to Clips has provided it's "reference" 
implementation for the famous Sudoku Puzzle, it was just a matter of time for OpenL to pitch in.
This tutorial introduces OpenL Constrainer, demonstrates how easy it is to define and solve 
a relatively complex problem, when you use the right tools. In addition, you may learn how to 
use OpenL Tablets API to retrieve and reuse Excel formatting information to generate html output
based on existing Excel table. 

 

Tutorial file: SudokuRules.xls
Java files:    SudokuSolver.java - main algorithm, 
               SquigglySudoku.java - a nice twist on the base puzzle,
               GameInterface.java - handles in- and output

Fire off the Web Studio and explore the amazing world of OpenL Tablets, Constrainer and Sudoku!

You will learn how to do this:

And this:

And even this:

Also see Decision Tables , Data Tables