A qualifier consists of qualifier lines that define eligibility for a particular price, discount, promotion, or benefit. You can assign qualifier grouping numbers to qualifier lines to create AND and OR conditions that define how the pricing engine should evaluate the qualifier lines. For example, if the customer is Vision Corporation AND they pay by credit card and then apply the 10 percent Discount modifier.
You must use qualifier grouping numbers correctly because they indicate to the pricing engine how to evaluate the qualifiers:
Qualifiers with the same grouping number are evaluated as a Boolean AND condition (an entity must meet all of the conditions to qualify).
Qualifiers with different grouping numbers are evaluated as a Boolean OR condition (an entity must meet one of the conditions to qualify).
If - 1 is used as a qualifier grouping number, the qualifier is ANDED to each qualifier group so that you do not have to manually add it to each qualifier group.
Note: Qualifier grouping numbers are not used in the HTML user interface (UI). Instead, you use common or unique qualifiers to create grouping conditions.
An AND condition means that all qualifier lines with the same Qualifier Grouping Number must evaluate as true before the pricing engine can select the associated modifier.
In the following example, both Line A and Line B, which have the same Qualifier Grouping Number, must be true to satisfy the AND condition. So, for example, if the customer is not Vision Operations but the credit rating is Excellent, then the modifier cannot be selected (assuming these are the only qualifiers for the modifier). The modifier will only be selected if the customer is Vision Operations (qualifier line A) AND the credit rating is Excellent (qualifier line B).
| Qualifier Grouping Number | Qualifier Line | Qualifier Context and Attribute Values | Condition Created |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Line A | Customer: Vision Operations | AND |
| 1 | Line B | Credit Rating: Excellent | AND |
The next table shows a setup where a 10 percent discount on each order is offered only if a Preferred customer spends more than $150:
| Qualifier Group | Qualifier Attribute | Operator | Value From | Value To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Class | = | Preferred | Null |
| 1 | Order Amount | Between | 150 | 99999999 |
An OR condition is created by assigning a different qualifier grouping number (such as 1 and 2) to successive qualifier lines. The OR condition provides more flexibility because only one of the qualifier groups needs to be eligible to be selected. In the following example, if either the customer is Vision Operations (qualifier line A) OR if the credit rating is Excellent (qualifier line B), then the modifier is eligible for selection. If both are true, then the modifier is also selected:
| Qualifier Grouping Number | Qualifier Line | Qualifier Context and Attribute Values | Condition Created |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Line A | Customer: Vision Operations | OR |
| 2 | Line B | Credit Rating: Excellent | OR |
In the following example, a 10 percent discount is given on each order placed by a preferred customer OR each order in which a customer spends more than $150:
| Qualifier Group | Qualifier Attribute | Operator | Value From | Value To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Class | = | Preferred | Null |
| 2 | Order Amount | Between | 150 | Null |
The following table displays a grouping number setup using a combination of AND and OR conditions:
| Qualifier Grouping Number | Qualifier Line | Condition Created |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Line A | AND |
| 1 | Line B | AND |
| 2 | Line C | OR |
| 3 | Line D | OR |
An AND condition is created for Lines A and B because they are both assigned the same qualifier grouping number (1). Qualifier lines assigned the same grouping number must both be evaluated as true statements before they can be selected.
An OR condition is created between qualifier lines with different grouping numbers. If either Line A/B (both must be evaluated together) OR Line C OR Line D evaluate as true, then the pricing engine can select the modifier.
Typically, positive integers are used for qualifier grouping numbers such as 1, 2, or 3. However, if - 1 is used as a qualifier grouping number, the qualifier is ANDED to each qualifier group saving you time from manually adding the AND qualifier.
Note: In the HTML UI, the Common qualifier is used to create a common qualifier condition instead of the - 1 grouping number.
For example, to offer a discount in which a qualifier is mandatory for all qualifying conditions, the mandatory qualifier would be assigned the - 1 qualifier group. The search engine processes - 1 qualifying conditions first and only processes other qualifier groups if the pricing request qualifies for the - 1 qualifier grouping number conditions.
For example, suppose you wanted to give a 10 percent discount on an order provided the:
Customer is a Preferred customer.
Customer (any customer) orders from a US web site and spends more than $150.
However, to be eligible for the discount the customer must use a Visa credit card to pay. In the following example, the credit card type of Visa is assigned the - 1 Qualifier Grouping Number to make it a mandatory qualifier before the modifier can be selected.