Automic Workload Automation Release Notes

As of version 12 Automic product Release Notes can be found online as part of the online Release Notes.

Release Highlights

Enhancements in CA Automic Workload Automation 12.0:

• New Automic Web Interface

  The Automic Web Interface has been revamped to provide an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface that boosts user experience. It includes virtually all functions available in previous versions plus a number of new features and enhancements.

  Its highly improved performance allows many thousands of agents to connect simultaneously. Intuitive dashboards and windows with in-line help guide users in their daily work. Flexible, role-based perspectives free users' workspaces from unnecessary content.

• Service Level Management functionality

  The new SLM functionality makes it possible to depict all the parties involved in a Service Level Agreement via Service Level Objective (SLO) objects. SLM monitors whether the criteria stipulated in the agreement are met or not, allows to define which actions should be taken in either case and provides timely information on the outcomes.

  Read all about it here:

  • Service Level Management in AWA - Use Case
  • Service Level Objective Object (SLO)
  • Monitoring Services

• Improved Zero Downtime Upgrades

  The wizard introduced with version 11.2 has been improved so that now Work Processes (WP) of different versions can work in parallel towards the same database. The old WPs continue completing old and currently running tasks until they are all worked off while the new WPs carry out all new tasks.

• Centralized Agent Upgrade Process

  As of this version agents can be upgraded smoothly in a controlled and automated process:

  • Central agent upgrade from the Automation Engine
  • Single or multiple agent upgrade at the same time
  • Selectable target version for the upgrade (newer or older version)
  • All upgrade steps available through the Automic Web Interface
  • No need to login to the agent server
  • Continuous operation is ensured by the Automation Engine

• New keys for the Java Work Process (JWP) in the UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS system variable

  • JWP_KEYSTORE_PATH

    The JWP uses the default path of the JRW keystore file. Now, this key can be used to set a path of your choice. Any network path defined by UNC or local paths are possible.

  • JWP_KEYSTORE_LOGIN

    An alternative password for accessing the keystore file can be used if you reference a Login object in this key and modify the object accordingly.

• With this version, Automic launches Analytics, a new solution for collecting and compiling large amounts of historical data about your Automation Engine (AE) system for analysis and reporting. Find details in About Analytics.

• Workflow Completion Acceleration

  Workflows in a system with the highest amount of already finished tasks are accelerated to ensure earliest possible completion.

  • New key in the UC_CLIENT_SETTINGS variable

    WF_COMPLETION_ACCELERATION ensures that active workflows are completed according to their amount of finished tasks.

  • Recursive passing on of priority from parent to children workflows either via script elements or using the new checkbox on the UI.

• New built-in Validation Checks for Z/OS Agents

  New integrated tests are carried out before submitting jobs to the JES in cases where they would not run anyway. Whether an agent performs these checks or not is defined in it INI file.

  • Duplicate job check
  • Scheduling environment check
  • Initiator check

  To know more see Special Options for Job Handling Improvement and OS390 JOBS.

• Automic.Web.Interface.SAP.Forms

  SAP Forms are available with the Automic.Web.Interface.SAP.Forms plug-in that you can download from Automic's Download Center (click here: Automic Download Center ).

  With SAP Job objects you can execute a number of SAP functions directly from within the Automation Engine. For this purpose, Automic delivers Forms, that is, predefined sets of commands that depict those functions. Via the user interface you build scripts for SAP jobs without having to worry about their exact format.

  Read all about it here:

  • SAP Jobs
  • SAP Forms
  • SAP Jobs - Child Processes

  Find an SAP use case here: Creating and Executing an SAP ABAP Job from within the Automation Engine

• Extended message range in the reports and activation logs of PeopleSoft agents

  So far, the message numbers in report and activation logs of PeopleSoft agents consisted of seven number digits, for example U1234567. As of version 12.0.1 they contain 8 digits, for example U12345678.

  Please, remember adapting the search patterns accordingly, in case you are scanning the message numbers.

• New PeopleSoft agent available as of SP1 (version 12.0.1).

  Built on a different technology as in previous versions, this Java-based agent provides more functionality than the old C-based one:

  • A new command (PS_MARK_DELETE) is available that marks jobs or processes in PeopleSoft as deleted. This allows you to clean up the PeopleSoft process list from within the Automation Engine.
  • Child processes of PeopleSoft jobs are now available as child tasks in the Process Monitoring perspective. Read more at PS Jobs and Child Task.

  • Remote start of PeopleSoft jobs.

    If a job fails in the PeopleSoft system, its status is indicated in the list of tasks in the Process Monitoring perspective. From this list you can now restart it without leaving the Automation Engine. To know more see Monitoring and Restarting External Tasks.

  • When defining a PeopleSoft job, you can enter a script to be processed for each of its child tasks. This script is then executed as soon as the child task ends. Find details in Child Post-Process Page.
  • The Remote Task Manager has been enhanced to allow you to keep track of processes that have not been started by the Automation Engine via a PeopleSoft job. Read about it here: Remote Task Manager Object (JOBQ).
  • Output files created by PeopleSoft processes can now be transferred to the Automation Engine database, via the Automic Web Interface you can then download them. For more information see Transferring PeopleSoft Output Files to the Automation Engine.

  • The Automic Web Interface provides now Forms, an additional, intuitive way to build scripts for PeopleSoft jobs using a graphical interface that provides ready-to-use commands. Learn more about it here: PeopleSoft Forms.

    To use the PeopleSoft Forms, the corresponding Automic Web Interface Plug in must be installed. For details see AWI Plugin Installation.

  Please take the following into account:

  • The installation procedure of the new PeopleSoft agent is slightly different. For details see Installing the Agent for PeopleSoft - Basics.
  • The existing, old PeopleSoft INI file can be reused with the new agent, see PeopleSoft Agent.

• Searching for tasks within large, complex workflows is easy with the Search field in the toolbar of both the Workflow Editor and the Workflow Monitor. Find details in Searching for Tasks in the Workflow Monitor.

• A new configuration parameter allows you to define that tasks in a workflow display their names before their titles, thus improving visibility.

When writing structured documentation for your objects, you can now use special characters and spaces.

• Likewise, using special characters and spaces is also possible in the key and scope of variables.

The Client column was missing from the list of Agents in client 0. This has been repaired now.

• Likewise, the Net Area column was missing from the list of Agents. It is available now.

The Move option was not available for SERV objects in the previous AWI version. As of now, you can also move these objects using this function.

• The function name Verify Connection to Service Manager used in the previous version was misleading, since it deletes the Service Manager entries if no connection could be made. It has been renamed now to Update Service Manager Link.

In the previous version, when logging into Client 0 editing users of other clients was not possible. This problem has been solved now.

• Last but not least, the performance of the Workflow Monitor has been greatly improved. With this version, the time it takes to open tasks has been drastically reduced.

Release Notes

Upgrade Information

Automic now offers all latest Release Notes online as part of the online Release Notes.

Calling this URL you will find all information in regard to new features, enhancements or improvements.
Information on bug fixes and known issues is part of the Release Notes as well.

Use the provided drop-down boxes to select product, component and version. The Release Notes then will display a list of the related features or changes.

Compatibility Information

Compatibility Information and system requirements can be found on our website Automic Compatibility Matrix.

You can easily use the drop-down boxes to check special incompatibilities between component versions. Choose component, sub-component and versions (installed and to be upgraded to).
A result list then will display all related features or special incompatibilities affecting a possible upgrade.

For offline use you can also print search results, clicking the print button on the top right-hand side of the list.

Keep Your Systems Up to Date

Automic recommends that you always install the latest Service Pack or Hotfix. Both contain valuable corrections and bug fixes between Major and Minor Releases, where new features and enhancements are introduced.

Automic Release Policy