Scheduling Background Tasks

Many utilities, reports, and some activities can be scheduled to run daily, weekly, or monthly. Once scheduled, the process runs automatically in the background at a set time, using your selection criteria and option settings.

NOTE: Forms that can be scheduled to run in the background have the command Background in the Actions menu.

Scheduling a Process to Run in the Background

1. In a utility or activity form, set your selection criteria and task options.
2. If your selection criteria include dates and you are scheduling the process to run periodically, see Increment Date.
3. On the Actions menu, select Background. This displays the Background Queue form.
4. In the Frequency field, select an interval to use as a time unit in scheduling. If you select Weekly, for example, you can subsequently specify that the process runs every third week. To run a process once, select Daily.
5. Set times and dates based on the frequency.
   • Daily - To run the process once, select Occurs once at and enter a time and date.

     To run the process periodically, select Occurs every and specify an interval (for example, specify 24 Hours to run a process once a day) and a starting time.

   • Weekly - Specify the number of weeks in the interval, the day of the week on which to start the process, and the time of day.
   • Monthly - To run the process on a specified date of the month, select Occurs on day. To run the process on a specified day of the week, select Occurs on. Enter the number of months in the interval, the date or the day of the week on which to start the process, and the time of day.
6. Click OK.

One Time Only Tasks

To run a task one time only:

1. On the left side of the form, select Daily.
2. On the right side of the form, select Occurs once at.
3. Specify the time and date.

Recurring Tasks

To schedule a task to run on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, select that option from the left side. Then specify the occurrence information on the right side.

Checking whether the Task is Running

You can see which tasks are currently running by opening the Active Background Tasks form.

The task name should be the same as the report or utility's form name. If the task's status is WAITING, it is waiting for its scheduling requirements to occur. You can delete a WAITING task from the list.

Viewing Details about the Completed Task

Once the task has run, even if it fails, you can view details about its execution on the Background Task History form. Details include:

• Task description
• Return status
• User who submitted the task
• Messages triggered by the task

Related Topics

Scheduling Background Tasks (Developer or Administrator)

Setting Up Incremental Date Ranges for Reports That Run in the Background

Scheduling Background Tasks

Using Utilities and Activities

Active Background Tasks Form

Background Task Definitions Form

Background Task History Form

Excluded Tasks Form

Get Options Form

Options Defaults Form

Store Options Form