A FormalExpression used within a ConditionDef or a RangeCheck must evaluate to True or False. A FormalExpression referenced within a MethodDef having Type Imputation, Computation, or Transpose must evaluate to the correct DataType for an Item that may be imputed or computed using the Method. A FormalExpression gets parameter and return value definitions from the MethodSignature element. The data types in the MethodSignature parameters and return values must match the corresponding data types in the FormalExpression.
FormalExpressions are defined using the Code or ExternalCodeLib child elements. The Code element contains the text of the source code as PCDATA. The ExternalCodeLib references the source code in an external library or file.
| Element Name | FormalExpression |
|---|---|
| Parent Elements | MethodDef, ConditionDef, RangeCheck, StudyEndPoint, StudyTargetPopulation |
| Element XPath(s) |
|
| Element Textual Value | None |
| Attributes | Context |
| Child Elements | (Code | ExternalCodeLib) |
| Usage/Business Rules |
| Attribute | Schema Datatype or Enumeration | Usage | Definition | Business Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Context | text | Required | A free-form qualifier to suggest an appropriate computer language to be used when evaluating the FormalExpression content. |