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Manual Task

Manual Task

Sept 22, 2022

Overview

Manual tasks are used to create a pause in a Workflow during which the user must take some action.

The processing of a Manual task within a Workflow is described here:
 

Step 1

While its upstream tasks are running, a Manual task instance remains in WAITING status. When the Manual task instance launches, it goes immediately into ACTION REQUIRED status, meaning you must perform some manual activity. Universal Controller also sets the Started Time in the Manual task instance to the time that the task instance went into the ACTION REQUIRED status.

Step 2

Optionally, you can re-set the Started Time of the Manual task by issuing the Set Started command. Either:

  1. On the Activity Monitor, right-click the Manual task and select Set Started.

  2. On the Workflow Monitor, right-click the Manual task and select Commands > Set Started.

Step 3

When you have completed the activities called for in the Manual task, you must indicate that the task is completed and that the Workflow can continue. Either:

  1. On the Activity Monitor, right-click the Manual task and select Set Completed.

  2. On the Workflow Monitor, right-click the Manual task and select Commands > Set Completed.

Step 4

The Manual task goes into SUCCESS status, the End Time is set, and the Workflow continues.
 
If the Manual task is not completed but you still want the Workflow to continue, select Force Finish.

Note

You also can set a Manual task to STARTED or COMPLETED status from the Command Line Interface (CLI).

Built-In Variables

The following built-in variables can be used in a Manual task to pass data where appropriate:

Creating a Manual Task

Step 1

From the Automation Center navigation pane, select Tasks > Manual Tasks. The Manual Tasks list displays a list of all currently defined Manual tasks.
 
Below the list, Manual Task Details for a new Manual task displays.
 



Step 2

Enter/select Details for a new Manual task, using the field descriptions below as a guide.

  • Required fields display an asterisk ( * ) after the field name.

  • Default values for fields, if available, display automatically.

To display more of the Details fields on the screen, you can either:

  • Use the scroll bar.

  • Temporarily hide the list above the Details.

  • Click the 

     button above the list to display a pop-up version of the Details.

Step 3

Click a 

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

Note

To open an existing record on the list, either:

  • Click a record in the list to display its record Details below the list. (To clear record Details below the list, click the New button that displays above and below the Details.)

  • Clicking the Details icon next to a record name in the list, or right-click a record in the list and then click Open in the Action menu that displays, to display a pop-up version of the record Details.

  • Right-click a record in the a list, or open a record and right-click in the record Details, and then click Open In Tab in the Action menu that displays, to display the record Details under a new tab on the record list page (see Record Details as Tabs).

Manual Task Details

The following Manual Task Details is for an existing Manual task.

Depending on the values that you enter / select for these fields, and whether or not the Manual task has ever been launched, more (or less) fields may display. See the field descriptions, below, for a description of all fields that may display in the Manual Task Details.
 

Manual Task Field Descriptions

The following table describes the fields, buttons, and tabs that display in the Manual Task Details.
 

Field Name

Description

Field Name

Description

General

This section contains general information about the task.

Name

Version

Description

Member of Business Services

Resolve Name Immediately

Time Zone Preference

Hold on Start

Hold Reason

Virtual Resource Priority

Hold Resources on Failure

Mutually Exclusive With Self

Wait / Delay Options

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

Wait To Start

Wait Time

Wait Day Constraint

Wait Duration

Wait Duration In Seconds

Delay On Start

Delay Duration

Delay Duration In Seconds

Workflow Only

Time Options

This section contains time-related specifications for the task.

Late Start

Late Start Type

Late Start Time

Late Start Day Constraint

Late Start Nth Amount

Late Start Duration

Late Finish

Late Finish Type

Late Finish Offset Type

Late Finish Percentage Offset ( + )

Late Finish Duration Offset ( + )

Late Finish Duration Offset Unit

Late Finish Time

Late Finish Day Constraint

Late Finish Nth Amount

Late Finish Duration

Early Finish

Early Finish Type

Early Finish Offset Type

Early Finish Percentage Offset ( - )

Early Finish Duration Offset ( - )

Early Finish Duration Offset Unit

Early Finish Time

Early Finish Day Constraint

Early Finish Nth Amount

Early Finish Duration

User Estimated Duration

Critical Path Options

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

CP Duration

CP Duration (Resolved)

CP Duration Unit

Workflow Execution Options

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

Execution Restriction

Restriction Period

Before Date

Before Time

After Date

After Time

Date List

Statistics

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

First Execution

Last Execution

Last Instance Duration

Lowest Instance Time

Average Instance Time

Highest Instance Time

Number of Instances

Metadata

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.

Buttons

This section identifies the buttons displayed above and below the 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

Launch Task

View Parents

Copy

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

Delete

Note

You cannot delete a task if it is either:

  • Specified in an enabled Trigger.

  • The only task specified in a disabled Trigger.

Refresh

Refreshes any dynamic data displayed in the Details.

Close

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

Tabs

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

Variables

Actions

Virtual Resources

Mutually Exclusive

Instances

Lists all instances of the task.

Triggers

Notes

Versions

Viewing a Manual Task Instance

When a Manual task is launched, the Controller creates a task instance record of that task.

A task instance contains detailed information about a single execution of that task.

You can access a task instance from:

Manual Task Instance Details

The following Manual Task Instance Details contains information on the execution of the task shown in the Manual Task Details.
 

Manual Task Instance Details Field Descriptions

The following table describes the fields, buttons, and tabs that display in Manual Task Instance Details.
 

Field Name

Description

Field Name

Description

General

This section contains general information about the task instance.

Instance Name

Name of this task instance.

Instance Number

Description

Member of Business Services

Task

Source Version

Launch Source

Source Instance

Invoked by

Execution User