Scheduling Recurring Tasks

The term "recurring tasks" refers to tasks which are processed in recurring periods but are not scheduled in a Schedule object.

As opposed to Schedule Objects (JSCH), recurring tasks can be processed in intervals of less than a day. Vice versa, a Schedule object integrates several tasks of the same period in a clear, structured way.

Task periods are best used for defining the appropriate method. Recurring tasks are preferably used for intervals of less than a day. If longer, Schedule objects should be used.

You can schedule recurring tasks by right-clicking the object or task and selecting Execute Recurring . Three types are available:

To Schedule a Recurring Task

  1. Switch to the Process Assembly perspective if you are not already there and select the object for which you want to schedule recurring executions.
  2. Right-click it to select Execute Recurring .
  3. Specify the settings for the periodic execution (see Executing Objects Recursively and click Execute.

    As soon as the object starts being executed, it is available on the Process Monitoring perspective.

    The task has the same name as the object you have just executed and it displays a container symbol (a blue circle with a white curved arrow) next to its name. This identifies it as a scheduled task. For example:

    Click to Expand

  4. Switch to the Process Monitoring perspective and search for the task. You have various possibilities:

    The task has the same name as the object you have just executed and displays the container symbol next to its name.

  5. Right-click the task and select Modify Execution.

    Make your changes and click Execute.

Important Considerations

The period container starts tasks on the basis of the specified settings. If it has ended, it waits until all tasks have finished and removes itself from the Tasks window. You can access the details on how the tasks have ended via the Executions lists (see Execution Data Overview). "0" signals that all tasks have ended successfully, "1" indicates some of them aborted and "2" signals that no tasks have ended successfully. This error indicator is reset when the log-file is changed.

The period container's log file changes every day when the time frame starts and when the settings are changed.

Scheduling Recurring Tasks for Groups

If a group has been specified as start type in the object itself, the execution ignores this setting. Thus, the user who schedules a recurring task must have the right to change the object.

Changing Recurring Settings

You can change the Period-container settings at any time. This is done via the Activity Window using the pop-up menu command "Properties".

Modifying the settings of a period-container is like giving the period-container a new start. Numbers of runs and number of erroneous runs are reset to 0.

The following table shows the earliest start time of a task when the settings have been changed. Calendar definitions, whether overlaps are allowed, possible adjustments to the time frame etc, also play a role.

Changing the Frequency to "In intervals of every..."

Changing the Frequency to "after the previous run ends plus"

Changing the Frequency to "at"

  • If the last start plus the new interval lie in the future, the task starts at the determined point in time.
  • If the last start plus the new interval lie in the past, the task starts immediately.
  • If the task is being processed, the specified time is added to the end of the task which results in a new start.
  • If the task is not being processed, the specified time is added to its last end. If the calculated point in time is in the future, the task is scheduled. If the calculated point in time lies in the past, the task starts immediately.
  • If the time lies in the future, the task starts at this point in time.
  • If the specified time lies in the past, the task is processed on the next day.

To Change the Recurring Settings

  1. Switch to the Process Monitoring perspective if you are not already there and search for the task. You have various possibilities:

    The task has the same name as the object you have just executed and displays the container symbol next to its name.

  2. Right-click the task and select Modify Execution. The Execution of <name of task> dialog is displayed.

    Make your changes and click Execute.

See also: