Managing normalization rules

Normalization rules enable you to standardize configuration items (CIs) and assets in BMC Remedyforce CMDB 2.0 and records in your models repository. When users manually enter data or you import data from various sources, the values might not be consistent. To accurately report on this data, it must be consistent. Normalization rules help you to achieve that consistency.

For example, in different data sources, the manufacturer for the BMC_ComputerSystem class could be stored as BMC Software, Inc., BMC, or BMC Software. When you import data from all these sources, multiple different values for the same manufacturer are stored in BMC Remedyforce CMDB. You can define the normalized value that you want to use as the manufacturer, such as BMC Software. You can then define aliases, which are other similar values that are replaced with the normalized value. In this case, the BMC and BMC Software, Inc. values are defined as aliases. When the normalization process is run, all instances of BMC and BMC Software, Inc. are replaced with BMC Software.

For values that are not covered by your normalization rules, you can choose to generate exceptions and then manually manage these exceptions. In the case of specific values that you want the normalization process to ignore, you can create an ignored value rule. The normalization process does not generate any normalization exceptions for these values.

The following topics are provided:

See this video (6:01) to understand how to manage normalization rules in BMC Remedyforce.

 https://youtu.be/5olTIVmoUsE

Considerations for creating rules

Consider the following points before you create normalization and ignored value rules:

• You can create rules of the Normalization Rule or Ignored Value Rule type.

• You can create normalization or ignored value rules for fields of the Base Element or Model object.
  If you are upgrading from BMC Remedyforce 20.15.02 (Spring 15) or earlier to version 20.15.03 (Summer 15), the Model object is displayed only if you have enabled models.

• Other than the Model Name field of the Model object, you can create rules only on non-unique fields of the Text, Text Area, and Numeric data type. However, you cannot create rules on the Record Update Count field (data type: Numeric) of the Base Element object.

• You can create multiple rules for the same combination of object and field, such as Base Element and Manufacturer Name. You can also create multiple rules with the same normalized value.
• During the normalization process, if a field value in a record qualifies for two or more normalization rules that are defined for that field, only one of the rules is applied.
• By default, normalization exceptions are not generated for a specific combination of object and field. However, you can choose to generate exceptions for a specific combination of object and field. The normalization process identifies and lists records (CIs, assets, or models) that do not match any rule defined for a specific combination of object and field. For information about resolving the exceptions, see Managing exceptions to normalization rules.

Managing normalization rules

Normalization rules contain a set of criteria that defines the normalized value and aliases that must be mapped to this normalized value. You must create rules for a specific combination of object and field.

The following topics are provided:

• To create a normalization rule
• To activate a normalization rule
• To edit a normalization rule
• To inactivate or delete a normalization rule

To create a normalization rule

1. Click the Remedyforce Administration tab.
2. On the Home page, click the Configure CMDB 2.0 tile, and from the menu, select Normalization Rules.
3. On the Normalization Rules tab, click .
4. On the New Rule tab, from the Object Name list, select the object for which you want to create a normalization rule.
5. From the Field Name list, select the field whose data you want to normalize.
6. From the Rule Type list, select Normalization Rule.

7. In the Normalized Value box, type the value that you want to populate in the records that meet the rule criteria.
   If you are creating a rule for the Model Name field of the Model object or the Model field of the Base Element object, you must select from an existing list of models.

   Note

   To avoid conflicts while processing normalization rules, ensure that the normalized value in a normalization rule is not defined as an alias in another normalization rule.

8. In the Map Aliases section, define the field value, or alias, that you want to replace with the normalized value.
   

   Note

   Ensure that the aliases you specify are not defined as normalized values in other normalization rules or as ignored values in any ignored value rules. Ignored values are given precedence over aliases in the normalization process.

9. (Optional) Select the Generate exceptions to rules for selected object and field check box.
   Select this check box if you want the normalization process to identify and list records (CIs, assets, or models) that do not match any rule defined for the selected combination of object and field.
10. (Optional) To start normalizing CIs and assets on this rule, clear the Inactive check box.
    Normalization rules are not activated by default. After you have defined all the required aliases and are ready to use the rule for normalizing records, you can activate the rule.
11. To save the normalization rule, click .

To activate a normalization rule

The normalization process considers only active rules to normalize BMC Remedyforce CMDB and model records. Additionally, only active rules are displayed by default in the Rules list view.

When you create a new rule, the Inactive check box is selected by default. After you have defined all the required aliases and are ready to use the rule for normalizing records, you can activate the rule.

Navigate to Remedyforce Administration > Configure CMDB 2.0 > Normalization Rules, and from the list view, select the normalization rule that you want to activate. By default, only active rules are displayed in the list. To view inactive rules, from the Views menu, select the Inactive Items check box and click Apply.

To edit a normalization rule

1. Click the Remedyforce Administration tab.
2. On the Home page, click the Configure CMDB 2.0 tile, and from the menu, select Normalization Rules.
3. On the Normalization Rules tab, open the normalization rule that you want to edit.
   
4. On the ruleName tab, edit the existing normalized value or mapped aliases based on your requirements.
   In the Map Aliases section, you can specify keywords in the Search box to locate existing aliases. The search results display alias values that start with the specified keyword.
5. (Optional) In the Available Rules section, select another rule that you want to edit.
   By default, this section lists all active rules for the selected object and field.
6. (Optional) Select or clear the Generate exceptions for selected object and field check box.
7. To save your changes to the rule, click .

To inactivate or delete a normalization rule

Based on your requirements, you can either inactivate or delete a normalization rule that is no longer valid. To perform either action, you must navigate to Remedyforce Administration > Configure CMDB 2.0 > Normalization Rules.

Goal	Action to be performed
Retain the normalization rule but no longer normalize records based on that rule. Additionally, do not display the rule in list views.	From the list of normalization rules, open a rule, select the Inactive check box, and click .
Permanently delete a normalization rule.	From the list of normalization rules, select a rule, and click .

Managing ignored value rules

Ignored value rules define the field values that are ignored by the normalization process. You must create ignored value rules for a specific combination of object and field.

The following topics are provided:

• To create an ignored value rule
• To activate an ignored value rule
• To inactivate or delete an ignored value rule
• To edit an ignored value rule

To create or an ignored value rule

1. Click the Remedyforce Administration tab.
2. On the Home page, click the Configure CMDB 2.0 tile, and from the menu, select Normalization Rules.
3. On the Normalization Rules tab, click .
4. On the New Rule tab, from the Object Name list, select the object for which you want to create an ignored value rule.
5. From the Field Name list, select the field for which you want the normalization process to ignore specific values.
6. From the Rule Type list, select Ignored Value Rule.
7. In the Ignored Value box, type the value that you want the normalization process to ignore.
   If you are creating a rule for the Model Name field of the Model object or the Model field of the Base Element object, you must select from an existing list of models.
8. (Optional) To ignore this value during the normalization process, clear the Inactive check box.
   Ignored value rules are not activated by default.
9. To save the ignored value rule, click .

To activate an ignored value rule

For each combination of object and field, the normalization process checks if the field values in records match any active ignored value rules. If a field value matches an active ignored value rule, other active normalization rules are not applied to this field. Additionally, only active rules are displayed by default in the Rules list view.

When you create a new rule, the Inactive check box is selected by default. When you are ready to use the rule in the normalization process, you can activate the rule.

Navigate to Remedyforce Administration > Configure CMDB 2.0 > Normalization Rules, and from the list view, select the ignored value rule that you want to activate. By default, only active rules are displayed in the list. To view inactive rules, from the Views menu, select the Inactive Items check box and click Apply.

To edit an ignored value rule

1. Click the Remedyforce Administration tab.
2. On the Home page, click the Configure CMDB 2.0 tile, and from the menu, select Normalization Rules.
3. On the Normalization Rules tab, open the ignored value rule that you want to edit.
   To easily locate the rule you want to edit, you can sort the rules based on any column, group rules based on specific fields (such as Object Name or Field Name), or specify keywords in the Search box.
4. On the ruleName tab, edit the existing ignored value.
5. (Optional) In the Available Rules section, select another ignored value rule that you want to edit.
   By default, this section lists all active ignored value rules for the selected object and field.
6. (Optional) Select or clear the Inactive check box.
7. To save your changes to the rule, click .

To inactivate or delete an ignored value rule

Based on your requirements, you can either inactivate or delete an ignored value rule that is no longer valid. To perform either action, you must navigate to Remedyforce Administration > Configure CMDB 2.0 > Normalization Rules.

Goal	Action to be performed
Retain the ignored value rule but no longer consider the rule during the normalization process. Additionally, do not display the rule in list views.	From the list of ignored value rules, open a rule, select the Inactive check box, and click .
Permanently delete an ignored value rule.	From the list of ignored value rules, select a rule, and click .

Related topics

Overview of the normalization process

Scheduling and running the normalization process