Task Scheduling

In BBj 12.0 and higher, this scheduler causes a variety of tasks to execute automatically at a given time and with a given frequency. Access the scheduling feature using the BBj Enterprise Manager or the Admin API. Two components make up the scheduling feature: Task Groups and Tasks.

Scheduling Panel

The Scheduling panel displays a list of all currently configured scheduling jobs or “Task Groups” and provides an interface for creating, modifying and removing task groups. Each Task Group contains one or more tasks to be executed. The panel gives the administrator the ability to see the tasks within each group, when they will run next, and when last run.

Access the Scheduling panel by selecting the “Scheduling” item from the Enterprise Manager navigation area.

Task Group	Name of the Task Group.
Scheduling / Task Type	For Task Groups, displays a short description of the scheduling for the group including the start date and how it will repeat. For Tasks, shows the type of Task.
Next Run	The next time the Task Group is scheduled to run.
Last Run	The last time the Task Group executed.
Associated File	The script or program file that will be executed (for BBj and SCALL Tasks) or the replication job name (for Pause/Resume Replication Job Tasks).

Task Groups

A Task Group contains the following basic information:

• List of one or more Tasks to be executed synchronously in sequential order
• When the Task Group should first execute
• How often the Task Group should repeat execution

Tasks

A Task is a single item to be managed and executed by a Task Group. There are several types of Tasks available to the scheduler: BBj Program, Execute System Call, Pause Replication Job, and Resume Replication Job.

Task Type - BBj Program

A BBj Program task defines a BBj program file to be executed as well as execution parameters, classpath, config file, etc. The task returns when the program exits. Programs can be as complex as necessary and CALL other programs or execute SCALL commands. The only limitation is that GUI operations should not be used since the program will be run server side with no user interaction.

The Task Editor provides a way to configure the various program options and settings.

Task Type	Type of task to use:  BBj Program, Execute System Call, Pause Replication Job, or Resume Replication Job.
Program	Path to the BBj program file to execute.
Config File	Optional config.bbx file to use for this program.
Working Dir	Optional alternate working directory to use for this program.
Run As User	Optional alternate user to use for executing the program.
Arguments	Optional list of program arguments.
Quiet	Runs the BBj interpreter quietly.
Terminal	The terminal specification.
Classpath	Session-Specific classpath (SSCP) to use for executing the program.
Run Now Button	Execute the program immediately for testing purposes.

Task Type - Execute System Call

Specifies a script or executable to run on the server by the operating system. The Command should specify the full path to the script or executable unless that item is located in the operating system’s executable “PATH”. The task completes when the executable or script completes successfully or returns an error.

Task Type - Pause/Resume A Replication Job

The pause task pauses the specified replication job to allow for a backup or similar script or program to perform some kind of operation on the affected files. A resume task resumes a paused replication job. Use the “Replication Job” drop down list to specify the replication job to pause or resume.