Actually he can. Just use a simple trick and the mvel inline collection syntax:

$name: String() from  return( ["a", "b", "c" ] )

    Just to explain: in MVEL, you can inline create a collection by using [ ]. The DRL syntax does not allow you to use [] directly, but you can use a "return" statement to wrap the [] and return the collection created inline. 

    Yes, I know that ideally we should not need the "return", but for now, the parser requires it and due to some ambiguities in the grammar we could not get rid of this limitation yet. Maybe in the future.

    Edson

2010/6/23 Swindells, Thomas <TSwindells@nds.com>
I don't think you can unfortunately.
You've got a number of options:
1. define a global (in sheet headers) and insert the actual values from code (perhaps reading from the spreadsheet).
2. Define a custom datatype "Name", have a table with which each row inserts a Name object with associated value and then use it in your when clause like any other fact.
3. Have a separate row for each name, use activation groups or inserting a lock/latch object, or insert logical chaining so that the then part is only executed once.

Thomas


> -----Original Message-----
> From: rules-users-bounces@lists.jboss.org [mailto:rules-users-
> bounces@lists.jboss.org] On Behalf Of LeoIo
> Sent: 23 June 2010 15:09
> To: rules-users@lists.jboss.org
> Subject: Re: [rules-users] "Not exists" on at least one element from the set
>
>
> Thanks for the fast response.
> I am using excel decision tables and can't set globals with values from the
> cells.
> I can only use brown fields and through $param refer to the contents of the
> cell.
> That leads me to a question.
> Can I define $collection in the when statement?
> something like this:
>
> when
>   exists (
>   $name: String from ('a','b','c')
>   not Object(name == $name)
>   )
> then
>
> Much obliged.
> --
> View this message in context: http://drools-java-rules-
> engine.46999.n3.nabble.com/Not-exists-on-at-least-one-element-from-the-set-
> tp916375p916887.html
> Sent from the Drools - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> _______________________________________________
> rules-users mailing list
> rules-users@lists.jboss.org
> https://lists.jboss.org/mailman/listinfo/rules-users


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 Edson Tirelli
 JBoss Drools Core Development
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