Overview

A Universal Controller task executes a process on a machine, either local or remote. The process might be resident on the machine (agent-based process), or the task itself (such as a File Monitor task) might embed the process.

You can launch tasks within Workflows, by way of triggers, or manually.

Creating a Task

There are multiple ways to create a task:

1. On the All Tasks list, click the New drop-down list and select a task type. A Task Details pop-up displays that lets you enter / select information for a new task.

2. On the Tasks list for a specific task type, click the New icon. A Task Details pop-up displays that lets you enter / select information for a new task.

3. In the empty (except for default values) Task Details that displays below the task list for a specific task type, enter / select information for a new task. If the Task Details displays information for an existing task, click the New button to clear the Task Details and enter / select information for a new task.

4. Create a copy of a task by clicking the Copy button in the Task Details and renaming the task.

For detailed information on creating a task for a specific task type, click that task type in the Task Types table, above.

All Tasks List

To display a list of all currently defined tasks for all task types, from the Automation Center navigation pane select Tasks > All Tasks. The All Tasks list displays.
 

All Tasks List Information

The following table provides a description of the default columns that display on the All Tasks list.

For information about customizing this list, including filtering, sorting, searching, and other list features, see Record Lists.

<Task Type> Tasks List

If you select Tasks > <Task Type> from the Automation Center navigation pane, a tasks list for that selected task type displays.

For example:
 

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<Task Type> Tasks List Information

The default columns that display on a <Task Type> Tasks list are specific to that type of task.

Task Details

When you click a task in a Tasks List, Task Details to the right of the list displays all currently defined information for that task.
 

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Use the scroll bar on the right to view more of the Details, or click the Details icon next to the Name of the task to display a pop-up version of the task Details.
 
For more information on viewing Details of any record type, including tasks, see Records.

For information on Details for a specific task type, click the appropriate link in Task Types, above.

Task Instance Details

When you run a task, the Controller create a task instance of that task.

You can view task instance details either by:

• From the Task Details, click the Instances tab and select a task instance of that task.

• Select a task instance from the Activity Monitor.

• Select a task instance from the Task Instances list.
   

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Additional Task and Task Instance Details

For information on how to access additional details - such as Metadata and complete database Details - for Tasks and Task Instances (or any type of record), see Records.

Task Instance Status History

The Status History of every task instance is contained in the Metadata and database Details. You also can select to display Status History for every task instance on the Activity Monitor, Task Instances list, and the History list.

User-Defined Fields

You can define two fields that will display in the General Information section of the task Details for every existing and new task and task instance.

To define a user-defined field:

1. Enter a value in either (or both) of the following Universal Controller system properties:
   User Defined Task Field 1 Label
   User Defined Task Field 2 Label

2. To specify whether or not a user-defined field is required, enter a value in the appropriate Universal Controller system property:
   User Defined Task Field 1 Required
   User Defined Task Field 2 Required

3. Re-login or click your browser refresh button to see the field(s) in every task Details. In either case, all unsaved changes will be lost, including any open application tabs.