Lesson 6:  Dependencies

Dependencies

Dependencies provide a means to specify certain conditions that must be met for both configuration and processing of Operations, Steps and Jobs.  Dependencies can exist for Operations, Steps and Jobs based on file conditions or string (that is, keywords) conditions in a file.  A Job can be configured to be dependent upon another Job, but a Step cannot be configured to be dependent on a Job and vice versa.  If an Operation needs to be dependent on another Operation, you simply add the Operation to a Step and order them appropriately on the Step Properties window.  The similar dependency ability is available for Steps.  If you need a Step to be dependent on another Step, you add the Step to a Job and order the Steps appropriately on the Job Properties window.  

File Watch

An Operation, Step or Job can have a file watch dependency.  This dependency will cause the Operation, Step or Job to be executed when some condition with a file or folder changes.  For example, when a file is created you can have a object executed by the Executive Server.  An object with a file watch dependency cannot also have a schedule assigned.

Creating Dependencies

Example 1: Creating a file Dependency for an Operation, Step or Job

1.Right-click on the Dependencies node in the tree view and select the New Dependency menu item.  

2.Enter the Dependency Name, Description, a Dependency Type of File Existence, Object Type, Object Name, File Name, File Attribute, Condition and Parameter (you must have previously created a Parameter) or place a specific value in the Value field.  

3.Select the Apply button to add the Dependency.  

Example 2: Creating a Job dependency on another Job

1.From the Dependency Properties window, enter a Name, Description, and Dependency Type of Object to Object.

2.Select an Object Type of Job.

3.Select the depends on Object Type.

4. Select the depends on Job Name.  

5.Determine a time frame in minutes that indicates the depends on Job must have completed within this amount of time.

6.Enter a time out value (0 indicates to wait forever).

7.Click the Apply button to add the Dependency.

Example 3:  Creating a File Watch Dependency

1.From the Dependency Properties window, enter a Name, Description, Dependency Type of File Watch, Object Type, Object Name, Folder, File Name, Change type and Filter on change in options.  

2.Click the Apply button to add the Dependency.

You will now see the File Watch Dependency you just created show up in the Status list.  If the Status list is not visible, click on the Status node in the tree view to display the Status.