Rule order and how rules combine

Rules run top to bottom, and each one sees the result of the rules above it. Getting the order right is what lets several rules work together cleanly instead of undoing each other.

Why order matters

Because rules stack, a later rule operates on the output of earlier ones. If you build a title first and then run a find & replace, the replace acts on your new title — not the original. Reverse the order and you get a different result.

A sensible sequence

1. Fill gaps first — set missing brands, conditions and defaults.
2. Clean the data — find & replace to tidy text.
3. Build derived fields — titles, custom labels, category mapping.
4. Filter last — exclude products once everything else is set, so filters act on final values.

Testing

Change one rule at a time and re-run, then spot-check a few products. If a result surprises you, it's almost always a rule earlier in the list changing the input the later rule relies on.