Name things so that they connect — gull system handbook

An input's name as the wiring: how a form field, an Excel column and a rule reference find it, what is compared and what is not, and how to find every reference.

Name things so that they connect

There is no "connect" in gull system: an input, a form field, an Excel column and a reference in a rule find each other by name. Whoever names, wires.

What is joined by name

• Where: Form field → input - What is compared: The field's ID with the input - Note: Case and spaces are ignored, diacritics count: `Delka` is not `Délka`.
• Where: Excel column → input - What is compared: The column heading with the input - Note: Same comparison. Until you save the wiring it is only a suggestion; after saving only what is saved counts.
• Where: Rule → input, variable, table - What is compared: `[Name]` or a bare name - Note: Case is ignored. A name with a space or an accented letter goes in square brackets.
• Where: Folder-name formula → input - What is compared: `[Name]` - Note: A document cannot be placed in a folder whose formula uses an input its configurator does not have.
• Where: Form → several configurators - What is compared: The field with each one's input - Note: One field "Délka" fills the input "Délka" in every connected configurator.

One namespace

A rule reads inputs, variables, constants and Library tables by the same bare name. When two things share a name, gull system refuses to save the rule and says what clashes — "The name "Šířka" is both an input and a Library table". Rename one of them.

The words of the rule language — `TRUE`, `FALSE`, `AND`, `OR` — cannot be a variable's name. An input of that name can be created, but a rule refers to it only in brackets: `[TRUE]`.

When you rename something

1. Rename the input in step 2.
2. In step 3 open any rule, right-click the name and choose Find all references. It shows every rule, variable and name formula still using the old name.
3. Fix the form field (its ID in the form designer) and the column heading in Excel — those are looked up by name on every order.

How to name

• The way you talk about the thing with a salesperson: "Bed length", not "D1@Sketch3". The CAD name is stored separately on the captured item.
• Without `[`, `]`, quotes or a line break — those cannot be written into a formula.
• For Library lists the item's name is the order's value: the customer sees "Stainless", the order carries "Stainless", and only the rule finds out that it is AISI 304.