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Allocation Rules (Constraints)

Rules—also known as constraints—are the "brain" of AutoAllocate. They determine exactly how the engine solves your allocation puzzle.

:::warning Important

Care must be taken when defining your rule set. If your rules are too restrictive, the solver may return an "unfeasible" result. If they are too loose, you may get an unintended solution (e.g., a target assigned to three people at once).

:::

1. Topology Rules​

These rules define the "shape" of your allocation and how many assignments are allowed.

  • Every target must be assigned to exactly 1 resource: This is the most common rule. Without it, the solver might assign a target multiple times or not assign it at all.
  • A resource can only be assigned at most 1 target: Used for exclusive 1-to-1 matching scenarios, such as booking a specific room for a specific event or assigning one driver to one route.

2. Capacity Rules​

These rules govern how the "Size" of your targets interacts with the "Capacity" of your resources.

  • Allocation to resource limited by maximum capacity: This is the standard rule for most use cases. It ensures that the sum of the sizes of all targets assigned to a resource never exceeds that resource's total capacity.
  • Allocation to fulfill minimum load: Ensures a resource only receives work if a certain threshold is met. You can configure this as:
    • Absolute Value: e.g., "Assign at least 5 hours of work."
    • Percentage: e.g., "Assign at least 50% of this resource's total capacity."

3. Compatibility Rules​

These rules use your Custom Attributes to perform intelligent matching.

  • Exact Match: Select a Resource Attribute and a Target Attribute that must have the same value.
    • Example: Marker "Subject Specialism" must match Submission "Subject".
  • Avoid Exact Match: Ensures that specific combinations never happen.
    • Example: Prevent a "Conflict of Interest" by ensuring the resource and target attributes do not match.
  • Date Range Overlap: Specifically for "Date Range" attributes. This rule allows allocation only when the timeframe of the target falls within the timeframe of the resource's availability.

Managing Your Rules​

As you add rules, they appear in a list within the Rules Tab.

  • Context: You can add descriptions to each rule to document its purpose for your team.
  • Removal: You can remove constraints at any time to adjust your solver logic.

Remember, building a successful allocation is an iterative process. You may need to adjust your rules and re-run the solver several times to find the perfect balance. ust your rules and re-run the solver several times to find the perfect balance.