Forced Decision methods for the Java SDK

These methods help test and debug various flows of your client applications by forcing users into a specific variation.

The Java SDK checks forced decisions before making any decisions. If a matching item is found for the requested flag, the Java SDK returns the forced decision immediately (audience conditions and traffic allocations are ignored) before making normal decisions.

The Java SDK checks for forced decisions at the start of each decision process. If a matching forced decision is found, it returns the decision immediately.

• Flag-to-Decision – The SDK checks at the start of any decide call for the given flag.
• Experiment-Rule-to-Decision – The SDK checks at the start of the decision for the given experiment rule of the flag key.
• Delivery-Rule-to-Decision – The SDK checks at the start of the decision for the given delivery rule of the flag key.

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Warning

You must associate your variation(s) to a flag rule before calling any Forced Decision methods.

On forced decisions, the Java SDK fires impression events and notifications just like other normal decisions (unless disabled by the disableDecisionEvent option).

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Note

These forced decisions are not persistent and are cleared when the OptimizelyUserContext is re-initialized.

For information about each method, click on the method name.

• setForcedDecision
• getForcedDecision
• removeForcedDecision
• removeAllForcedDecisions

OptimizelyDecisionContext

public class OptimizelyDecisionContext {
   public OptimizelyDecisionContext(@Nonnull String flagKey, @Nullable String ruleKey);
  
   public String getFlagKey();
  
   public String getRuleKey();
}

OptimizelyForcedDecision

public class OptimizelyForcedDecision {
   public OptimizelyForcedDecision(@Nonnull String variationKey);
  
   public String getVariationKey();
}

Set forced decision method - setForcedDecision()

Version

3.10.0

Description

Sets a forced decision (variationKey) for a given OptimizelyDecisionContext.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the Java SDK.

Returns

A boolean value that indicates if setting the forced decision (variationKey) was completed.

Example

See the full Java SDK code example.

Get forced decision method - getForcedDecision()

Version

3.10.0

Description

Returns the forced decision (variationKey) for a given OptimizelyDecisionContext. Returns the OptimizelyForcedDecision instance or null if there is no matching item.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the Java SDK.

Returns

A forced decision OptimizelyForcedDecision instance for the context or null if there is no matching item.

Example

See the full Java SDK code example.

Remove forced decision method - removeForcedDecision()

Version

3.10.0

Description

Removes the forced decision (variationKey) for a given OptimizelyDecisionContext.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the Java SDK.

Returns

A success/failure boolean status if the forced decision (variationKey) was removed.

Example

See the full Java SDK code example.

Remove all forced decisions method - removeAllForcedDecisions()

Version

3.10.0

Description

Removes all forced decisions (variationKey) for the user context.

Parameters

This table lists the required and optional parameters for the Java SDK.

Returns

A success/failure boolean status.

Example

See the full Java SDK code example.

Full Code Example

/* Create the Optimizely instance and provide the sdk-key */
Optimizely optimizely = OptimizelyFactory.newDefaultInstance("sdk-key");
/* Create the OptimizelyUserContext, passing in the UserId and Attributes */
OptimizelyUserContext user = optimizely.createUserContext("user-id", Collections.emptyMap());

OptimizelyDecisionContext flagContext = new OptimizelyDecisionContext("flag-1");
OptimizelyDecisionContext flagAndABTestContext = new OptimizelyDecisionContext("flag-1", "ab-test-1");
OptimizelyDecisionContext flagAndDeliveryRuleContext = new OptimizelyDecisionContext("flag-1", "delivery-1");
OptimizelyForcedDecision variationAForcedDecision = new OptimizelyForcedDecision("variation-a");
OptimizelyForcedDecision variationBForcedDecision = new OptimizelyForcedDecision("variation-b");
OptimizelyForcedDecision variationOnForcedDecision = new OptimizelyForcedDecision("on");
        
// set a forced decision for a flag
Boolean success = user.setForcedDecision(flagContext, variationAForcedDecision);
OptimizelyDecision decision = user.decide("flag-1");

// set a forced decision for an ab-test rule
success = user.setForcedDecision(flagAndABTestContext, variationBForcedDecision);
decision = user.decide("flag-1");

// set a forced variation for a delivery rule
success = user.setForcedDecision(flagAndDeliveryRuleContext, variationOnForcedDecision);
decision = user.decide("flag-1");

// get forced variations
OptimizelyForcedDecision forcedDecision = user.getForcedDecision(flagContext);
System.out.println("[ForcedDecision] variationKey = " + forcedDecision.getVariationKey()); 

// remove forced variations
success = user.removeForcedDecision(flagAndABTestContext);
success = user.removeAllForcedDecisions();

See Also

OptimizelyUserContext