Stopping Rule Processing

I am wondering about a Rules action that stops rule processing.

I created two rules, both of which trigger on "After updating existing content." Both operate on a certain content type.

The first sends an email whenever any field of the content type has been modified.

The second checks to see if a field is empty and if it is not, uses the Set a data value action to set the value of another field to the current date and time.

The problem is that both rules would run and, presumably because Rule 2 updated content, both rules would run a second time, resulting in two emails.

What I was looking for was an action that I could put in Rule 2 that would stop any further rule processing, but I couldn't find such an action.

Then I tried using the Add a variable action to set a variable in Rule 2 that would then be detected as a condition in Rule 1, but I couldn't figure out how to get Rule 1 to see the variable.

I ended up getting it to work by using the custom PHP action and custom PHP condition, but I'm curious if there's a better way.

Should I have used a Rule Set?

• Ethan