> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nected.ai/nected-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nected.ai/nected-docs/references/allowed-status-combinations.md).

# Allowed Status Combinations

Every Nected connector, dataset, and rule has a state, which defines the status of the object and how/where it can be used.

There are various possible combinations of connector, dataset, and rules states that you can use on the Nected platform. The following table describes these state combinations:

**Table 1 – Allowed Object Status Combinations**

| Connector Status | Dataset Status | Rule Status |
| ---------------- | -------------- | ----------- |
| Pending          | -              | -           |
| Staging          | Draft          | -           |
| Staging          | Tested         | Draft       |
| Staging          | Tested         | Tested      |
| Staging          | Published      | Draft       |
| Staging          | Published      | Tested      |
| Staging          | Published      | Staging     |
| Staging          | Published      | Published   |
| Production       | Draft          | -           |
| Production       | Tested         | Draft       |
| Production       | Tested         | Tested      |
| Production       | Published      | Draft       |
| Production       | Published      | Tested      |
| Production       | Published      | Published   |

The state combinations listed in this table can be read as follows:

* A connector in the **Pending** state cannot be used with any dataset or rule.
* A connector in the **Staging** state can be used with a dataset in the **Draft** state, but this state combination cannot be used with any rule.
* A connector in the **Staging** state can be used with a dataset in the **Tested** state, and this state combination can be used with a rule in the **Draft** and **Tested** states.
* A connector in the **Staging** state can be used with a dataset in the **Published** state, and this state combination can be used with a rule in the **Draft**, **Tested**, **Staging**, and **Published** states.
* A connector in the **Production** state can be used with a dataset in the **Draft** state, but this state combination cannot be used with any rule.
* A connector in the **Production** state can be used with a dataset in the **Tested** state, and this state combination can be used with a rule in the **Draft** and **Tested** states.
* A connector in the **Production** state can be used with a dataset in the **Published** state, and this state combination can be used with a rule in the **Draft**, **Tested**, and **Published** states.

You must ensure the correct object status before you start using it with other objects.