Overview
Universal Tasks allow Universal Controller users to implement task types that are specific to their own in-house applications, utilities, or third-party vendor applications.
In cases where you are using a generic script with a Windows or Linux/Unix Universal Agent-based task, you now can create a customized Universal Task Details that encapsulates the specific input needed for that command or script.
Universal Tasks are created for specific Universal Task types, which are based on Universal Templates. When a Universal Template is created, Universal Controller creates a corresponding Universal Task type - <template name> Tasks - under the Universal Tasks folder in the Automation Center navigation pane.
Note
The Universal Tasks folder appears in the Automation Center navigation pane only when both of the following have occurred:
- A Universal Template has been created and one or more fields have been defined for the template.
- The Automation Center navigation pane has been refreshed.
Each Universal Template contains user-defined fields, to which the Controller assigns a variable to be used in the Universal Template script. The Controller also automatically adds these fields to the Details of all Universal Tasks created for the Universal Task type based on that Universal Template. When a Universal Task is run, it executes the script in the Universal Template and the variables in the script are resolved to the values of their matching fields in the Universal Task instance.
In this way, you can execute the same script from different tasks and have the script variables resolve to different values.
If you want to change the script, including the adding or removing variables, you only have to change it in the Universal Template.
Universal Task User-Defined Fields
Setting Up Universal Templates and Tasks
Step 1 | Create a Universal Template, which includes selecting the type of Agent(s) on which Universal Tasks based on this Universal Template can be run, and a variable prefix used for script variables that you want resolved when a Universal Task executes the script in this Universal Template. |
|---|---|
Step 2 | Enter a script in the Universal Template that all Universal Tasks based on this Universal Template will execute when they are run. |
Step 3 | After you have entered/selected any other desired values in the Universal Template Details, save the Universal Template. |
Step 4 | For each parameter in the script that you want to replace with a variable, create a Universal Template Field of an appropriate Field type. The Controller automatically assigns a variable (format: |
Step 5 | Replace the appropriate parameters in the script with the system-assigned variables. |
Step 6 | Update the Universal Template. Now that the Universal Template has one or more defined Fields, the Controller creates a Universal Task type for it and adds the Universal Task type to the Automation Center navigation pane. (You must refresh the Automation Center navigation pane in order to see the new Universal Task type.) |
Step 7 | Create a Universal Task for that Universal Task type. The Universal Task Details will contain fields that match the Fields you created in the Universal Template (Step 4) for that Universal Task type. |
Step 8 | Enter/change values in the Universal Task fields that match the Universal Template Fields, based on how you want their matching variables in the script to be resolved. |
Step 9 | Run the task, which executes the script. The variables in the script are resolved to the values of their matching fields in the Universal Task. |