Click a Save button. The Workflow task is added to the database, and all buttons and tabs in Workflow Task Details are enabled.

Click the Edit Workflow button to display a blank Workflow Editor canvas.

Follow the instructions provided below for designing the Workflow in the Workflow Editor.

This section contains general information about the Workflow task.

Name

Version

Description

Member of Business Services

Resolve Name Immediately

Time Zone Preference

Hold on Start

Hold Reason

Virtual Resource Priority

This section contains assorted detailed information about the Workflow task.

Auto Layout

If Show/Hide Skipped Tasks = Hide Skipped; specification for the layout of the Workflow Monitor.
 
Options:

• - - None - -
• Horizontal Layout
• Vertical Layout

Default calendar used by the Workflow. If the Workflow is launched by a trigger, the trigger calendar overrides this default calendar.

If enabled, uses the selected Default Calendar for this Workflow instead of the calendar used in the trigger or parent Workflow.

This section contains specifications for waiting to start and/or delaying on start the task.

This section contains time-related specifications for the task.

This section contains Critical Path-related specifications for the task.

This section contains Execution Restriction specifications for the task if it is within a Workflow.

This section contains time-related statistics for task instances of the task.

Last Execution

Last Instance Duration

Lowest Instance Time

Average Instance Time

Highest Instance Time

Number of Instances

This section contains Metadata information about this record.

UUID

Universally Unique Identifier of this record.

Updated By

Name of the user that last updated this record.

Updated

Date and time that this record was last updated.

Created By

Name of the user that created this record.

Created

Date and time that this record was created.

This section identifies the buttons displayed above and below the Workflow Task Details that let you perform various actions.

Save

Saves a new task record in the Controller database.

Save & New

Saves a new record in the Controller database and redisplays empty Details so that you can create another new record.

Save & View

Saves a new record in the Controller database and continues to display that record.

New

Displays empty (except for default values) Details for creating a new task.

Update

View Parents

Launch Task

Edit Workflow

Displays the Workflow Editor for this task.

Copy

Creates a copy of this task, which you are prompted to rename.

Delete

Refresh

Refreshes any dynamic data displayed in the Details.

Close

For pop-up view only; closes the pop-up view of this task.

This section identifies the tabs across the top of the Workflow Task Details that provide access to additional information about the task.

Workflow Task

Displays details about this Workflow task.

Task Run Criteria

Step Conditions

Variables

Actions

Virtual Resources

Mutually Exclusive

Step Actions

Lists all step actions created for this task.

Lists all instances of this Workflow.

Triggers

Notes

Go to Parent

Open Workflow

Save

Saves the current Workflow.

Print

Prints the current Workflow.

Add Task

Displays the Task Find dialog, which allows you to search for and select tasks for the Workflow from a searchable list of defined tasks. (The Workflow Search Result Limit Universal Controller system property defines how many tasks display on the list.)
 
To search for and select tasks:

1. Click the Add Task icon.
2. Optionally, enter a task name, a partial string, optionally using * or ? as wildcards, or select the type of task you are searching for.
3. Click Search. Universal Controller displays the tasks that meet your selection criteria.
4. To bring a task onto the Workflow Editor canvas, click and drag the task's icon out of the window and onto the canvas.
5. To close the Task Find window, click the X in the upper right corner.

Select

Places the Workflow Editor in Select mode.

Pan

Places the Workflow Editor in Pan mode.
 
To pan around the Workflow, click any white space in the Workflow Editor canvas and drag your cursor to display any section of the Workflow.
 
To return to your original location, click the Actual Size icon.

Connect (bent)
Connect (straight)

Places the Workflow Editor in Connect mode.
 
To create a connection:

1. Click either icon.
2. Click a predecessor task. If you are using Firefox, click the center of the task icon.
3. Drag the cursor to the successor task. You will see a colored line as you drag.
4. When you reach the successor task, release the cursor. The connector appears as a straight or bent line, depending on which icon you selected.

Undo

Click to undo the most recent change.

Redo

Click to redo the most recent change that you undid by clicking Undo.

Cut

Copy

Copies the selected element(s): tasks, connectors, or both. Use Ctrl+Click to select and copy multiple elements. You can paste copied tasks into the same Workflow Editor or into the Workflow Editor of any other Workflow. If you copy a connector, and include its source and target tasks in the copy, you can paste the copied connector (and the tasks) into the same Workflow Editor or into the Workflow Editor of any other Workflow.

Paste

Pastes the copied or cut element(s) into the currently open Workflow Editor or into the Workflow Editor of any other Workflow. If you want to paste a cut or copied connector, you must include the source and target tasks of the connector in the cut or copy.

Delete

Permanently deletes the selected elements. Delete does not keep a copy of the deleted elements in memory.

Fit

Fits the Workflow into the display. If necessary, this shrinks the icons and size of the Workflow in order to make it fit. You can undo a Fit by clicking the Actual Size icon.

Zoom In

Zooms in (enlarges) the Workflow. To return the Workflow to its default size, click the Actual Size icon.

Zoom Out

Zooms out (diminishes) the Workflow. To return the Workflow to its default size, click the Actual Size icon.

Actual Size

Returns the Workflow to its default size after a Fit or Zoom.

Zoom

Opens a window that allows you to specify a zoom ratio. For example, to double the size of the Workflow, enter 200 and click OK. To return the Workflow to its default size, click the Actual Size icon.

Horizontal Layout

Reformats the Workflow into a horizontal layout.

Vertical Layout

Reformats the Workflow into a vertical layout.

Toggle Vertex Style

For running Workflows, switches the icon display between status-related icons and task-related icons (see Monitoring Workflows). This icon only appears on the icon bar when you are monitoring a running Workflow.

Outline

For large Workflows, the outline provides a way of positioning a specific area of the Workflow in the display, without using the Pan mode.

1. Click the Outline icon. The Outline window opens.
2. In the Outline window, move and/or resize the blue box to identify the area of the Workflow you want to work on. The display repositions to show only the area within the blue box.

Help

Displays help documentation for Workflows.

Console

While a Workflow is running, you can click the Console icon to display processing messages.

Workflow

Linux/Unix

Windows

z/OS

Universal Command

SAP

File Transfer

Manual

Timer

SQL

Stored Procedure

Email

Web Service

Task Monitor

Agent File Monitor

Remote File Monitor

System Monitor

Variable Monitor

Application Control

Email Monitor

Universal

Type

User-defined; indicates whether this is providing instructions on when to run or not run the task.
 
Options:

• Run Criteria - Provides instructions on when to run the task.
• Skip Criteria - Provides instructions on when to skip the task.

Description

Task

User-defined; task for which you are specifying run or skip criteria. Select a task from the drop-down list of all tasks in this Workflow.

Vertex ID

Vertex ID of the task selected in the Task field. Each task within a Workflow has a unique Vertex ID, which distinguishes it from other tasks of the same name, if any.

Business Day

If enabled, the task runs or skips on all business days.

If enabled, the task runs or skips on holidays.

If Holiday is enabled; Specification for adjusting a Holiday by a less or plus number of days or business days.

Options:

• -- None --
• Less
• Plus

Default is – None --

If Adjustment is Less or Plus; Number of days or business days to adjust a Holiday.

Default is 1.

If Adjustment is Less or Plus; Type of day by which to adjust a Holiday.

Options:

• Day
• Business Day

Default is Day.

Specific Day(s) – Sunday through Saturday

If enabled, the task runs or skips on the day(s) you select in the right-hand column.

If enabled, the task runs or skips on the day(s) indicated in the Adjective, Noun, and Qualifier fields.

If Complex is enabled, you can use this field to specify which in a series of days you want to select. Used in conjunction with the Noun, Qualifier, and Nth Amount (if Adjective = Nth) fields. For example, to specify "the 15th business day of the month," select Adjective: Nth, Noun: Business Day, Qualifier: Month, Nth Amount: 15.
 
Options:

• Every
• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd
• 4th
• Nth
• Last

If Complex is enabled, you can use this field to specify the type of day(s) you want to select.

Used in conjunction with the Adjective, Qualifier, and Nth Amount (if Adjective = Nth) fields. For example, to specify "the 1st business day of the month," select Adjective: 1st, Noun: Business Day, Qualifier: Month.
 
Options:

• Sunday through Saturday
• Day = any day
• Business Day = The business days specified in the calendar selected in the Workflow definition Default Calendar field.
• Custom Days specified in the calendar selected in the Workflow definition Default Calendar field.
  • If the Custom Day Strict Mode Universal Controller system property is set to true, the calendar used for the Workflow must contain the custom day that you specify in the Custom Day Choice field; otherwise, the task will not run or skip as expected on the custom day:
    • If you launch a Workflow manually, the Workflow Default Calendar is used. If a Default Calendar is not specified, the System Default calendar is used.
    • If you launch a Workflow using a trigger, the calendar specified in the trigger is used unless Override Inherited Calendar is enabled.

If Complex is enabled, you can use this field to specify the period(s) for your selection formula.

Used in conjunction with the Adjective, Noun, and Nth Amount (if Adjective = Nth) fields. For example, to specify "the 1st business day of the month," select Adjective: 1st, Noun: Business Day, Qualifier: Month.
 
Options:

• Month
• Year
• Week
• January through December
• Custom Period (see Creating Custom Days)

If Adjective = Nth; Sequential occurrence of the day selected in Noun within the selected Qualifier.

If Complex is enabled; Specification for adjusting a complex day by a less or plus number of days or business days.

Options:

• -- None --
• Less
• Plus

Default is – None --

If Adjustment is Less or Plus; Number of days or business days to adjusting a complex day.

Default is 1.

If Adjustment is Less or Plus; Type of day by which to adjust a complex day.

Options:

• Day
• Business Day

Default is Day.

If enabled, instructs the Controller to run or not run the task, depending on the value of a specific variable. Used in conjunction with fields: Evaluate At, Name, Operator, and Value.

If Variable = enabled; Specifies the name of the variable being evaluated. The variable does not need to exist when this record is created.

If Variable = enabled; Allows you to select the operator to be used in the evaluation. Options: =, !=, >, >=, <, <=, regex (regular expression).

If Variable = enabled; Allows you to specify the value or regular expression (up to 255 alphanumeric characters) that the Controller should look for when evaluating the variable.

This section identifies the buttons displayed above and below the Task Run Criteria that let you perform various actions.

Save

Saves a new record in the Controller database.

Update

New

Displays empty (except for default values) Details for creating a new Database Connection.

Delete

Refresh

Refreshes any dynamic data displayed in the Details.

Close

For pop-up view only; closes the pop-up view of this Database Connection.

In the Workflow Monitor, right-click a task instance.

Click Insert Task As Predecessor.... The Task Insert > Task Selection dialog displays.

Find the task you want to insert (see Searching For and Adding Tasks) and drag the task's icon onto the Workflow Editor canvas where you would like it to be inserted.
 
The Controller inserts the task as a predecessor to the task instance that you right-clicked, and the inserted task will start to run when all of its dependencies (for example, virtual resources) have been met. If the selected task instance had not already started, it will wait until the inserted task completes and all of its other dependencies have been satisfied.
 
For inheritance of actions on Defined status, refer to Universal Controller property Inherit Actions On Defined For Insert Task.

By default, the inserted task will inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow. If the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow is undefined, the Launch Time will be inherited as the Trigger Time instead.
 
If you do not want the task to inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, use the Insert Task command to insert the task and de-select the Inherit Trigger Time field.

In the Workflow Monitor, right-click a task instance.

Click Insert Task As Predecessor.... The Task Insert > Task Selection dialog displays.

Optionally, you can modify the selection of Predecessors and Successors before proceeding.

By default, the inserted Workflow will inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow. If the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow is undefined, the Launch Time will be inherited as the Trigger Time instead. Therefore, by default, for task instances within an inserted Workflow, Run Criteria will be evaluated using the inherited Trigger Time.
 
If you do not want the inserted Workflow to inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, de-select the Inherit Trigger Time field (by default, it is pre-selected).
 
For task instances within an inserted Workflow that did not inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, Run Criteria will be evaluated using the Created Time.

Click OK. The Controller inserts the Workflow task as a predecessor to the selected task instance.
 
For inheritance of actions on Defined status, refer to Universal Controller property Inherit Actions On Defined For Insert Task.

In the Workflow Monitor, right-click a task instance.

Click Insert Task As Successor.... The Task Insert > Task Selection dialog displays.

Find the task you want to insert (see Searching For and Adding Tasks) and drag the task's icon onto the Workflow Editor canvas where you would like it to be inserted.
 
The Controller inserts the task as a successor to the task instance that you right-clicked. When that task instance completes, the inserted task will start to run, assuming that all of its dependencies (for example virtual resources) have been met.
 
For inheritance of actions on Defined status, refer to Universal Controller property Inherit Actions On Defined For Insert Task.

By default, the inserted task will inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow. If the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow is undefined, the Launch Time will be inherited as the Trigger Time instead.
 
If you do not want the task to inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, use the Insert Task command to insert the task and de-select the Inherit Trigger Time field.

In the Workflow Monitor, right-click a task instance.

Click Insert Task As Successor.... The Task Insert > Task Selection dialog displays.

Optionally, you can modify the selection of Predecessors and Successors before proceeding.

By default, the inserted Workflow will inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow. If the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow is undefined, the Launch Time will be inherited as the Trigger Time instead. Therefore, by default, for task instances within an inserted Workflow, Run Criteria will be evaluated using the inherited Trigger Time.
 
If you do not want the inserted Workflow to inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, de-select the Inherit Trigger Time field (by default, it is pre-selected).
 
For task instances within an inserted Workflow that did not inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, Run Criteria will be evaluated using the Created Time.

Click OK. The Controller inserts the Workflow task as a successor to the selected task instance.
 
For inheritance of actions on Defined status, refer to Universal Controller property Inherit Actions On Defined For Insert Task.

In the Workflow Monitor, right-click any white space in the Workflow Editor canvas.

Click Insert Task.... The Task Insert > Task Selection dialog displays.

Find the task you want to insert (see Searching For and Adding Tasks) and drag the task's icon onto the Workflow Editor canvas where you would like it to be inserted.

Select zero or more predecessors and zero or more Successors for the inserted task.

By default, the inserted task will inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow. If the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow is undefined, the Launch Time will be inherited as the Trigger Time instead. For task instances within an inserted Workflow, Run Criteria will be evaluated using the inherited Trigger Time.
 
If you do not want the inserted task to inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, de-select the Inherit Trigger Time field (by default, it is pre-selected).
 
For task instances within an inserted Workflow that did not inherit the Trigger Time of the parent Workflow, Run Criteria will be evaluated using the Created Time.

From the Automation Center navigation pane, select Tasks > All Tasks or Tasks > Workflow Tasks.

Display an Action menu either of three ways:

• Right-click the Workflow in the All Tasks or Workflow Tasks list.
• Open the Workflow and right-click in the Details.
• Open the Workflow, click the Triggers tab, and right-click a Trigger on the list.

Select a View in which you want to display the Forecast: Workflow or List.

If you selected Workflow View, a Calculate Critical Path field displays. Enable/disable this field depending on whether or not you want to calculate the Critical Path of the Workflow.