You could use the "from" keyword but your rules wouldn't work on *any* arbitrary object - but this could be overcome if you could identify a suitable super-class to extend for your arbitrary objects.... You should also direct this type of question at the user mailing list; aimed at users of the framework rather than developers of it... You're question would be open to a wider audience. -----Original Message----- From: rules-dev-bounces(a)lists.jboss.org [mailto:rules-dev-bounces@lists.jboss.org] On Behalf Of gazzaaa87 Sent: 04 February 2010 16:02 To: rules-dev(a)lists.jboss.org Subject: [rules-dev] Executing on a arbitrarily complex object Hi all, I am using a StatelessKnowledgeSession and therefore call the execute method to invoke the rules engine. Having carried out a basic test, it would appear that calling execute on an arbitrarily complex object does not insert child objects, rather rules will only fire if they are based on the parent. e.g. let's say you have a class called 'Father', which holds a collection of 'Child' objects. By calling session.execute(fatherObject) I need rules to fire that use the Child pattern without having to loop through 'insert'ing all the child elements manually. Has anyone come across a way around this? The only thing I managed to find was the use of a Batch Executor but you have to set that up before calling execute and therefore it's still effectively a manual process. If only Drools used java annotations, it would be ideal to specify behaviour similar to cascade with JPA. Any help or pointers much appreciated! Dan -- View this message in context: http://n3.nabble.com/Executing-on-a-arbitrarily-complex-object-tp187271p 187271.html Sent from the Drools - Dev mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ rules-dev mailing list rules-dev(a)lists.jboss.org https://lists.jboss.org/mailman/listinfo/rules-dev