An abandon data group acts as a block to further data group's data gathering. By executing a function, or another DSD and getting a result of “true”, all of the data groups designated as abandoned will be prevented from gathering data.

This is a useful security tool to prevent inappropriate data being gathered.

The Abandon data group works by checking the test function or DSD and if “true” it changes the “Execute If” setting of all designated data groups to “false”, thereby cancelling all data gathering for the following data groups.

Use of the Abandon data group type is not recommended for child data groups. If an Abandon data group has a parent data group it will be tested for every record in the parent (and their parent, and so on). The first time “true” is returned all data groups that follow it in the order of data groups are stopped, but not the subsequent execution of the parents. This may cause some confusion.

Enter a function using the Function Builder. The function must return “true” for the designated data groups to be stopped.

If the test to abandon is more complex, or based on data not in this data group, use the DSD method.

Select a DSD using the DSD Picker. If the DSD requires external inputs, they will be shown in a list. All inputs must be matched with a data group input in this abandon data group (i.e. with the same id). This will be used to set the inputs required and pass them to the external DSD.

The external DSD must have a data group with the id of Result and a field called “Abandon” which contains the result ('true' to abandon).

There are two options when choosing which data groups to designate for abandoning:

• Abandon all other data groups
• Select individual data groups

Abandoning all other data groups will stop execution of all data groups not directly or independently depended on by this data group.

Selecting individual data groups will stop those data groups from executed, provided they are not depended on by this data group.