Working with Autoforecast

You trigger Autoforecasts either manually in the Process Monitoring perspective or using the AUTOFORECAST script function. Triggering an Autoforecast means to calculate or recalculate the forecasts for the period of time specified in AUTO_FORECAST_DAY in the UC_CLIENT_SETTINGS variable by your system administrator. For more information, see AUTO_FORECAST_DAYS. Once the Autoforecast is done, you can filter the list to get a better overview of the results.

The Autoforecast list in the Process Monitoring perspective contains all your autoforecast data. This list is not refreshed automatically. You must refresh it manually to update the content. Updating this list is particularly important after a (re)calculation.

Tip: You can share filtered lists with other users. You can also bookmark the filtered list to be able to access it quickly next time. For more information, see Bookmarking and Sharing Links.

You can also export the data as a .CSV file, see Exporting Tables to CSV.

Use the Details panel to learn more about each forecasted task. The details inform you, for example, about the estimated start and end times or about its status. The information displayed varies depending on type and status of the task.

Notes:

  • You have to stay logged in during the calculation to receive all notifications or error messages.
  • Objects that are executed recursively are cyclical tasks (see Executing Objects - Recurring). The forecast and autoforecast calculation only considers the days in which these tasks are planned. For example, if a cyclical tasks t is scheduled to be executed every Monday, only the Mondays within the calculation period you have defined are considered. The other days are not relevant in this scenario.

This page includes the following:

(Re)Calculating the Autoforecast Cache

Before working with the autoforecast, it is important to check the status of the cache. The status is displayed below the page caption. There are two options:

  • No forecast data available

    In this case, you have to recalculate the forecast cache before using the feature.

  • Forecast data calculated from xx to yy

    In this case, the forecast cache was calculated on xx and is ready to use. Nevertheless, you should verify that no important schedule changes happened since then, as they would not be reflected in the autoforecast.

By (re)calculating the forecast cache you can update or create the prediction data used by the autoforecast. Use this feature if the data is either outdated or non-existent.

  1. In the Process Monitoring perspective, open the Forecasts tab and select Autoforecast.

  2. Select the Recalculate button on the toolbar.

    This creates forecast records for the number of days that are defined in the AUTO_FORECAST_DAYS key in the UC_CLIENT_SETTINGS variable, see AUTO_FORECAST_DAYS.

  3. When you are prompted to confirm your actions, select Recalculate to continue.

    The system notifies you when your forecast cache calculation has started. Refresh the Autoforecast list to see the scheduled tasks or check the message console for errors in the forecast calculation. If the status of the autoforecast item is not Preparing anymore, the autoforecast calculation has ended.

Tip: If you have many scheduled objects, recalculate the forecast cache during off-peak times using a scheduled script which invokes the AUTOFORECAST function, see AUTOFORECAST. Reducing the value of the AUTO_FORECAST_DAYS key can also speed up the creation of your autoforecast cache.

Filtering Autoforecasts

Use the Filter function to restrict the number of autoforecasts displayed in the list.

Tips:

  • When you set a filter, the URL contains those filter settings too. This is why you can share filtered lists with other users. You can also bookmark them to be able to access them quickly next time. See Bookmarking and Sharing Links.

  • The Automic Web Interface stores your filter settings in your user settings. If you set a filter or if you select a custom filter and then leave this view, if you log out and back in, or if you share the list with other users, the filter layout is kept as you defined it.

  • Read Using AWI Combo Boxes first to learn how to use the combo boxes that allow you to apply filters to the list of Tasks

Displaying or Hiding the Filter Pane

Click the Filter button on the toolbar to open the Filter pane. Click it again to close it.

The first time you open the filter, it displays the three default filter criteria only (Task Name, Task Type and Agent Name). These options are always visible and you cannot remove them from the pane.

Adding Filter Criteria

Do the following:

  1. Click the Add Filter Criteria button.

  2. Select a criterion from the list.

  3. The new filter section is added.

    • If it is an input field, the focus is on it so that you start typing immediately.

    • If it is a combo box that allows bulk selection and it displays All, this means that selecting nothing is the same as selecting all entries in the list.

  4. After configuring the filter criteria, click the Filter button at the bottom of the pane to apply them.

Filtering for Task Name

Enter the name or part of the name of the forecast you are searching for. You can use wildcard characters (* and ?) within the search string.

Important! Unlike other text fields in the AWI, this field DOES NOT use implicit wildcards at the beginning and at the end of your search string.

Filtering for Task Type

Select one or more type of object and click Filter.

Filtering for Agent Name

Use this option if you know the name or part of the name of the Agent on which the tasks have been processed. You can use wildcard characters (* and ?) within the search string.

Filtering for Agent (S)

This option is relevant for File Transfers. S stands for Source and it indicates the Agent where the file to be transferred is located. Enter the name or part of the name of the forecast you are searching for. You can use wildcard characters (* and ?) within the search string.

Filtering for Agent Type

This list lets you select the type of target system where the executions take place.

Filtering for Logical Start

Enter the time or time frame in which the autoforecasted execution actually takes place.

Filtering for Login

Specify the name of the Login object used to access the system where the execution takes place.

Filtering for Login (S)

This option is relevant for File Transfers. S stands for Source and it indicates the Login object used to access the system where the file to be transferred is located.

 

See also: