How is the order of execution of print rules decided?

1. Print rules are executed in the order they are listed (top to bottom), with the most recently created rule appearing at the top.

2. If the conditions of a rule are met, a print file is generated, and the process stops. If not, the system proceeds to the next rule in the list until a matching rule is found.

We received multiple client requests to allow customizing the execution order of print rules. This is particularly important for organizations managing multiple groups and large sets of print rules (e.g. 50-100 active print rules).

Common Challenges:

• Sometimes, misconfigured or generic print rules (e.g., missing criteria like collection protocol, users, specimen types, etc.) exist in the middle of the rule set.

• These generic rules can block the execution of more specific rules intended for certain specimens.

• As a workaround, admins either had to check each rule one by one and fix the rules or create additional rules to nullify the impact of these misconfigured print rules.

Sort Order

In response to the common challenges, we have introduced a new field: Sort Order.

• Sort Order is a non-negative integer (>= 0) that determines the execution priority of print rules.

• Rules with lower Sort Order values are given higher priority during execution.

• If multiple rules have the same Sort Order, they are evaluated in the order they were created (most recent first).

• If the Sort Order is not defined, rules are executed based on the default behavior — the most recently created rule appears at the top and is evaluated first.

This enhancement gives users better control to customize the execution order of print rules helps:

• Ensure specific rules are prioritized over generic ones.

• Simplify maintenance by avoiding redundant rules.

• Reduce confusion and errors during label printing.