Prompts pass user input to parameters in a program or script run by a job. They can be defined for jobs or process flows. Values for job prompts can be overridden at the process flow component level. You can pass prompt values from a process flow to its components. When you create a prompt, you assign it a data type. Data types define the format of the data that will be used in the prompt.
The program or script you create a job for may accept parameters. You pass parameters to a program or script in Applications Manager using prompts. Before creating prompts for your jobs, it's a good idea to think about how best to take advantage of all the features they provide.
To best determine the prompts you will create for your Applications Manager jobs, you should start by thinking about the parameters that each program or script requires and where they come from. Parameters that a program or script may require include:
Planning Your Prompts
Before creating prompts for your jobs, it's a good idea to think about how best to take advantage of all the features they provide. Topic Deciding which Prompts to Use includes some of the key concepts you should take into consideration to take full advantage of the powerful features Applications Manager prompts provide you.
Prompts Defined by Data Types
When you create a prompt, you assign it a data type. The data type defines the format of the data that will be used in the prompt. There are several basic data types: Character, Date, Number, Multi (for combining two data types), List (for selecting options from a list without using a SQL statement), and File (for selecting a file from a directory). Character data type can incorporate a SQL statement that searches the database and returns a set of values that can be selected for a prompt. For information on defining data types, see Defining Data Types.
Working Smarter by Copying Prompts
If you have defined prompts for a job or process flow, you can use them in another job or process flow using the Copy button.
Passing Values Through a Process Flow
You also can create prompts for process flows to define values that will be used by the components added to the process flows. You can pass prompts from a process flow to one or more component in the process flow using numeric substitution variables. The values can be used in prompts, conditions, and aliases. The user can enter values in one place and have them automatically used in one, several, or all of the components in a process flow. This technique is described in Passing Values Through a Process Flow with Numeric Subvars.