The Automatic Assignment Criteria tab allows users to create criteria expressions to define an assignment batch. Criteria may be assembled from patron-to-patron or patron-to-facility attribute comparisons or patron preferences. Multiple criteria statements can be created and combined for an assignment batch.
When assembling attribute-based criteria, there are two types of expressions that can be created:
•Candidate to Candidate – This type of criteria allows users to compare candidates to candidates OR candidates to occupants. Candidates are patrons who have not been assigned to a room, while occupants are patrons who are assigned to a room. For example, Candidate to Occupant can be used to compare potential roommates’ study habits or music volume preferences.
•Candidate to Facility – This type of criteria allows users to compare candidates to facilities. For example, Candidate To Facility can be used to assign patrons to special housing.
•Candidate to Value – This type of criteria allows users compare candidates by defined attribute values. For example, Candidate to Value can be used to assign patrons by their gender.
•Candidate to Date – This type of criteria allows users compare candidates by date-oriented attribute values. For example, Candidate to Date can be used to assign patrons by their birth date.
Both criteria types allow users to compare items against values and dates. Values can be used to compare a candidates housing choice to a list of values, for example. Dates can be used when working with application dates. An attribute’s value is determined as of the Occupancy Start date. The attribute’s value is not verified over the entire occupancy date range.
Criteria may be part of an assignment batch or in the criteria library. If a user adds criteria to the library, it can then be selected for use in other assignment batches. Building the criteria library can save time when creating assignment batches.