How to Use the Xpress Conversion Tool
Overview
The Xpress Conversion Toolkit (XCT) is a program that can help you migrate to the Universal Automation Controller (UAC).
It can produce different results depending on the chosen options. In general, it will produce all XML objects for the UAC environment.
The program uses different types of input files and commands to collect data from a system. Which input files are accepted can be found in the transitional listing of the corresponding scheduler product. For most input formats, a validity check will be performed.
During the conversion process, it is possible to enrich or change certain items like business servers, names, resources, and Email functionality.
The following output format is available:
- Export to XML files (All)
Basic Workflow
Step 1 | Set the Global options before reading the input file. |
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Step 2 | Open the input file. Additionally, scheduler-specific options can be set through a property file.
If you do not already have a property file, click the Example button to print one. Alternatively, scheduler-specific options can be set through a dialog
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Step 3 | When the conversion has finished, write the data to disk.
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| Step 4 | Load the data into Universal Controller.
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| Step 5 | Review the reports created by the conversion tool.
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User Interface
The user interface is divided into four main sections:
1 | Menu bar with progress indicator and message field. |
2 | Left pane displaying objects (Tasks, Triggers, Credentials, etc.) to be generated. |
3 | Right pane displaying the log, a search-field, and the filter buttons.
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4 | Right pane displaying the Global options.
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Global Options
Global options are valid no matter which input format is used.
Option | Selected | Not selected |
Language | The selected Locale | Default Local or English |
Font | The selected font family | Default font or Menlo |
File encoding |
| n/a |
Agent type used in tasks |
| n/a |
Output XML date-time format |
| n/a |
Allow duplicate task names | Creates for each definition a unique task | Re-using task names when identical |
Insert Timers in workflows | Uses Timers to handle time-dependent tasks | Uses Time-to-Wait to handle time-dependent tasks |
Use a Daily Load Time | Mimics a Daily Plan time. All triggers are created with this time.
| Uses the original trigger time in the definition |
Add workflow suffix | Add the suffix to each workflow name | No action |
Add Business Service to all objects | Create and assign a Business Service to all objects generated. | No action |
Prefix all names | Prefixes all object names with this prefix | No action |
Specific Options
Scheduler-specific options will be asked for when using certain data input formats.
.csv Options
.csv options allow the user to choose from a set of drop-down boxes (combo boxes), whose columns should be interpreted. Every row is basically interpreted as a task.
The .csv can be used for the following purposes:
- Generate large amounts of (test-)data objects
- Parse columns, relate objects and POST them in UAC
- Delete objects from UAC.
Since the .csv content is free-format, not all UAC types can be extracted. It is meant to function as an easy way to get set-up quickly. Special triggers and complex dependencies must be added by the user.
The first three options must be set before reading a .csv file.
All column drop-down boxes will be filled with headers once the file has been read.
Changing a column selection will cause the program to re-interpret the data.
Usage
Step 1 | Check the file for a header row, see which separation character is used (; or ,) and set the options. |
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Step 2 | Set the desired task type (Unix, Linux, Windows, or z/OS). Note Note! The column DropDown-boxes are not filled yet! |
Step 3 | Read the file. This will fill the column drop-down boxes with headers so the user can choose. |
The program tries to find the column with tasks by looking at the headers. Changing a column selection will cause the program to re-interpret the data.
The last entry in every column drop-down box represents the de-selecting of a column.
Variables
Variables exist in UAC as three different objects:
Global variables | Variables not connected to a specific task. |
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Local variables | Variables connected to a specific task. |
Environment variables | Variables connected to a specific task. |
Checking the box will cause the program to create task specific environment variables.
Unchecking the box will result in the task having a Local Variable defined. In addition, a Global Variable with the same name will be created.
Expected Input Template
The following worksheet is an example of how a .CSV could look like.
Note
The columns can be in any order. Use the combo-boxes to choose a column.
Create Workflows Manually
Most data types will generate workflows automatically, but when the input data does not contain workflow information (such as Cron or Windows), the following procedure could be used.
Create Workflows from Tasks
Step 1 | Right-click on the Tasks pane. |
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Step 2 | In the Create Workflow dialog that displays, enter a name for the new workflow. |
Sub-Selections
The program can export sub-selections of the parsed data. Selections can be made in the left pane in the tasks section.
Input fields can be found in:
- Name column
- sys_class_name column (task type)
Note
The tasks section will be visible only after a file has been processed.
Export (sub) Selection
Enter a sub-selection by typing characters in the input field and pressing [enter]. The corresponding Triggers, Business Services, etc. will automatically update. Basically, only what is displayed goes to the exporter.
Note
The program does not allow incomplete workflow exports, even when they are partially displayed.
Related tasks do not necessarily occur in sequence in input files. Therefore, an extra checkbox is provided to display all workflows and its children tasks in a structured way.
Note
This option is set to UNCHECKED when an export is started.
Delete (sub) Selection
Enter a sub-selection by typing characters in the input field and pressing [enter]. The corresponding Triggers, Business Services, etc. will be updated automatically.
Select Delete Selection from UAC in Database to end delete requests to UAC.
