public void appendRules(List rules)	{
		if (rules != null)	{
			if (rules.size() > 0)	{
				if (this.rules == null)	{
					allocateRules(rules);
				}
					
				for (int i = 0; i < rules.size(); i++)	{
					Object o = rules.get(i);
					if (o instanceof Rule)
						addRule((Rule) o);
					else	// must convert from List to Rule
						addRule(new Rule((List) o));
				}
			}
			else	{
				if (this.rules == null)	{
					allocateRules(rules);
				}
			}
		}
	}