# Creating a rule definition

You create rule definitions to specify the criteria used and actions performed by a rule.

Perform the following steps to create a metadata rule definition:

1. Click **Management** in the left navigation menu.

   The Manage Your Environment page opens.
2. On the **Metadata Rules** card, click **Add New**, and then select **Add Rule Definition** from the menu.

   The Rule Definition page opens.
3. In the **Name** field, enter a name for the rule definition.
4. (Optional) In the **Description** field, enter a description for the rule definition.
5. Under **Rule Criteria**, for **Object is**, select the object type.

   For example, Choosing **File** applies the rule definition at the file level. Choosing **Column** applies the rule definition at the column level.
6. Click **Create a condition** to define the rule’s conditions.

   * Choose **OR** to identify when any condition is satisfied.
   * Choose **AND** to identify when all conditions are satisfied.
   * For **Attribute**, select the attribute that you want to use to target the action.

     Only business terms and custom properties already created in Data Catalog are available.
   * For **Operator**, select the operator that you want to use.

     Available operators depend on the selected **Attribute**.
   * For **Value**, select the value you want to use.

     Available values vary based on the chosen **Operator**.
   * (Optional) Click **Add Group** to nest a query when performing multiple **AND** operations on the same attribute, or to create other complex queries.

   You can expand the **Query JSON** section to view the JSON code that was created as the result of your settings, or you can click **Copy Link** to copy the pseudo code.
7. For **Add Action**, select an action. Depending on the action you select, you might see additional fields.

   For example, if you select **Start Process**, you must select the process to start.

   **Important:** The **Move**, **Delete**, and **Rehydrate** options for **Start Process** are available only if you have a license for Data Optimizer and permission to use it. In addition, all involved data sources must have the **Available for Migration** setting **Enabled**. The **Rehydrate** operation is only supported for HDFS data sources when using metadata rules.

   **Note:** The order of the actions does not matter. For example, on the Rule Definition page, an action to apply a tag can be located below an action that moves the data. However, if there is a delete action, other actions on the same data are skipped and an error message displays.
8. When you are finished defining the action, click **Save**.

   The rule definition is saved, and a status message appears in the upper corner of the page.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.pentaho.com/pdc-10.2-data-optimizer/pdso-management/pdso-use-rules/pdc-rule-definitions/pdc-creating-a-rule-definition.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.