Executing Objects Recursively

Schedule objects start tasks at predefined intervals in which the minimum period is one day. To process objects at intervals shorter than one day you can use the Execute Recurring option.

There are various possibilities to schedule the execution of tasks. Depending on the nature and properties of the recurrence, you may choose between the following:

Objects that are executed using the Execute Recurring option are so called Runtime Objects, that is, they are only visible on the Task list of the Process Monitoring perspective as long as they are active. As soon as their executions have finished, they are no longer visible unless you use the Include deactivated tasks option when filtering. See Including or Excluding Deactivated Tasks.

To Execute Tasks Recursively

  1. Switch to the Process Assembly perspective if you are not already there and do one of the following:

  2. Select the object for which you want to schedule recurring executions and do one of the following.

    • Right-click an select Execute Recurring.
    • Expand the Execute button on the toolbar and select Execute Recurring.

  3. The Execution of <object type> dialog is displayed:

    Execute manually

    Specify the settings:

    Field

    Description
    Period Settings
    Load Period Object

    Period objects define when and how often recurring executions should run.

    You can assign an existing period object to this recurring execution. If you do so, the settings defined in the period object are loaded into the fields on this dialog. You can leave them as is or modify them as needed for this specific recurring execution.

    Type the name of the period or select it from the dropdown list.
    Period Description Text as defined in the assigned Period object. You can modify it for this definition, if necessary.
    Execution Settings
    Alias

    If you specify an alias here, this is displayed on the Tasks window in the Process Monitoring perspective to identify this execution.

    You can use the same characters as for names, that is, it can contain up to 200 characters.

    It is not possible to use variables here.
    Queue

    You can assign a particular queue for this execution, which can be different to the one in the object's definition.

    If you leave this field empty, the object queue is used.
    Time Zone If you have defined Time Zone objects and you want this execution to consider one of them, select it here.
    Period
    Start Date

    A period always begins on a specific calendar day. Select it here.

    Periods can end in different ways:
    End: never The recursive execution has no end date. You must stop it manually.
    End: on

    Select the calendar date on which the recurring execution should end.
    End: after Select the number of executions after which the recurring execution should end.
    Frequency
    Execute: at Specify the time of day at which the execution will take place.
    Execute: in intervals
    of every    		 Specify fixed time intervals (up to 504 hours= 21 days)
    Execute: after the previous
    run ends plus    		 Specify a buffer time after the end of the previous run (up to 504 hours= 21 days)
    Allow one overlap Select this option when you want the next scheduled execution to start even when the previous one is still running. Without this option, the execution would be skipped until the next scheduled time according to the other settings.
    Between When you choose intervals or consecutive runs, rather than one time of day, you can also define a time window during the day that the object is started. By default, this is set to all day between 00:00 and 23:59.
    Initial Start Time

    Initial Start Time

    This option controls when the first execution starts. It is available when the frequency is defined for fixed time intervals or when it is based on a buffer time after the end of the previous execution.

    Usually, when you start a recurring execution with one of these frequency types, the first execution starts immediately. However, when you select the Initial Start Time option, the first execution waits for the next regular segment of an hour, based on the interval or buffer value.

    For example, if the interval or buffer is set to 15 minutes, then the execution starts on the next quarter of an hour (that is, hh:15, hh:30, hh:45, or hh:00). All executions after this start according to the rest of the frequency settings.

    With Execute in intervals of every:

    This is a nice option when you want to execute at intervals, because then the intervals will also start at normal clock-time segments. For example, suppose your period is defined to execute the job in 30-minute intervals, and you start the recurring execution at 9:07.

    Without Option:

    • 9:07 (immediate start)
    • 9:37 (9:07 (start) + 00:30)
    • 10:07 (9:37 (start) + 00:30), and so on

    With Option:

    • 9:30 (start at the next half hour)
    • 10:00 (9:30 (start) + 00:30)
    • 10:30 (10:00 (start) + 00:30), and so on

    With Execute after the previous run ends plus

    This option has little effect when your executions start after a time buffer following the end of the previous run. The first execution will start at a normal clock-time segment, for example not at 9:07 when you started the recurring execution, but at 9:15. However, the rest of the executions will start based on the actual runtime of each run plus the fixed buffer time. This will naturally result in irregular clock-time starts.
    Days
    Execute: daily By default this option is activated, that is, the executions are started every day.
    Execute: weekly You can set the executions to be started only on certain days of the week, such as only on weekdays and not on weekends.
    Execute: based on calendar conditions

    You can select calendars and specify whether all, one or no conditions should match for the executions to be started. This allows you to define more complex and precise days for the executions, such as all days except bank holidays. The logical date is applied here.

    For detailed information on calendars please click here.

    For details on how to work with tables please click here.

  4. 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

Modifying the 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: