Using tables for pattern parameters
Use table parameter types to create tables of pattern parameters in your user-defined patterns.
Before you begin
About this task
You can add tables to your user-defined patterns, into which pattern users can enter rows of data. To add a table, you must define a table parameter type by specifying the columns you want in the table. You must then assign this parameter type to a pattern parameter when you define the user interface for the user-defined pattern.
When a pattern user configures an instance of your user-defined pattern, the table columns are displayed and the pattern user can enter one or more rows of data into the table. You can write Java™ or PHP code to use the values entered in parameter tables to modify the pattern instance.
When
you use tables in your user-defined patterns, consider the following
points:
- Values entered in parameter tables are handled as strings.
- Values entered in parameter tables cannot be transformed by using XPath expressions and cannot be used in XPath expressions.
- You can use enabling XPath expressions to enable a pattern parameter that uses a parameter table type.
Procedure
- To create a table parameter type, see Adding pattern parameter table types.
- To edit a table parameter type, see Editing pattern parameter table types.
- To assign a table parameter type to a parameter, see Defining the user interface.
- To write Java or PHP code to read the values entered in a parameter table, see Reading table values or Examples of PHP API code.