Chapter 4. Decision table use case

An online shopping site lists the shipping charges for ordered items. The site provides free shipping under the following conditions:

  • The number of items ordered is 4 or more and the checkout total is $300 or more.
  • Standard shipping is selected (4 or 5 business days from the date of purchase).

The following are the shipping rates under these conditions:

Table 4.1. For orders less than $300

Number of itemsDelivery dayShipping charge in USD, N = Number of items

3 or fewer

Next day

2nd day

Standard

35

15

10

4 or more

Next day

2nd day

Standard

N*7.50

N*3.50

N*2.50

Table 4.2. For orders more than $300

Number of itemsDelivery dayShipping charge in USD, N = Number of items

3 or fewer

Next day

2nd day

Standard

25

10

N*1.50

4 or more

Next day

2nd day

Standard

N*5

N*2

FREE

These conditions and rates are shown in the following example spreadsheet decision table:

Figure 4.1. Decision table for shipping charges

Decision table example

In order for a decision table to be uploaded in Business Central, the table must comply with certain structure and syntax requirements, within an XLS or XLSX spreadsheet, as shown in this example. For more information, see Chapter 5, Defining spreadsheet decision tables.