The Action Entry area of a decision table identifies the action(s) to perform under a set of true/false conditions. More specifically, the actions specified in this area define what must occur when a rule is found to apply. You enter single digit values (1-9) in the action entry area to indicate the order of execution of the actions in that column. A single action to perform under one set of conditions (rule) is identified by the number 1 for example. If multiple actions are to be performed for one set of conditions (rule) they can be numbered according to the required execution sequence or they can be assigned the same number and executed top to bottom. If there are more than nine actions under a rule, you can number all the actions greater than nine with the number 9, and they will be executed in top to bottom order.

For example, the first rule in Figure 12 could have also included an action entry of 1 in Action 3 "watch sports on TV." Rule 1 would be read as "Go to work and Watch sports on TV." But for Rule 2, an additional action entry of 2 in Action 2 would be read as "Watch sports on TV then Go on a picnic."

To enter action entries, click on an action column and enter the appropriate number in the box provided.