Batch Task Definitions

The Batch task type is different from all the other task types in that it is used to run other tasks in sequence, such as when you may need to regularly run several tasks, one after the other and in a specific order.

An example could be to run a nightly set of tasks:

• Update Master Data from Maconomy
• Import and update Projects
• Import Absences
• Import Actuals

You can achieve this by specifying four task specifications, and then four scheduled tasks to run them. Often you do not know how long a task will take to complete, and therefore you will need to time your scheduled tasks conservatively to ensure that the previous task has completed well before the next is due to start. The problem with this is that there would then be a long time span between the tasks where the server is idling.

The use of batch task specifications enables you to group task specifications and run them in order. If any one of the component task specifications in a batch task specification fails, the execution of the batch task specification stops.

You create a batch task in the same way as other task specifications and by setting the task type to Batch Task Definition.

Give the task a descriptive name, then navigate to the Batch tab to configure which tasks the batch will run.

The Batch tab has four buttons at the top. The following table describes them.

Button	Description
Add Task	Click this button to add a new task to the end of the list of tasks currently in the batch.
Remove Task	Select the item that you want to remove and click this button to remove it from the list. The original Task Specification is not deleted; you can add it again if you wish.
Move Up Move Down	The tasks on the list are run from the top to the bottom. To reorder the list, select the item that you want to move up or down, and then click these buttons.

When you click the Add Task button, a list of the existing task specifications is displayed. Select one or more tasks that you want to add, and then click the Select button.

Note: You cannot nest a batch task specification within another batch task specification. The same task specification can only appear once in a particular batch task specification.

Continue this way until you have added all required task specifications. You can use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to adjust the order in which the tasks are executed.