Understanding Scheduled Jobs
  • 26 Dec 2023
  • 8 Minutes to read
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Understanding Scheduled Jobs

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Article Summary

Feature Details
Introduced in Version--
Modified in Version8.16
Modification DetailsAdded a new setting on Scheduled Flows: "Run Only on Job Server"

Overview

Scheduled Jobs is a feature where users can run a Flow, send emails, synchronize Active Directory, or perform other tasks on the scheduled date and time. Using advanced scheduling options, a job may be scheduled for almost any frequency. 

Scheduled Jobs in Clustering

In a clustered environment, all Scheduled Jobs run on a single server called a Primary Job Server. For more information, refer to Setting the Primary Job Server for a Cluster.


Accessing Scheduled Jobs

In the Designer Studio, navigate to the System > Jobs And Events > Scheduled Jobs. On the Scheduled Jobs Page, any options listed on the Global Action Bar can be used to create the specific Scheduled Job type. Each Scheduled Job has unique settings that help determine what the Job does.


Enable or Disable a Server's ability to run Jobs

Note:
Disabling the "Can be a Job Server" setting will effectively block all Scheduled Jobs, Startup Jobs, and Thread Jobs. 
By default, servers are configured to run all the Jobs. However, users can enable or disable a server's ability to run the Jobs. To do so, navigate to System (gear icon) > Administration > Servers. This will show all the servers. Right-click on the Server Name > Edit Server > Under Server Info > Enable or Disable 'Can be Job Server'.


Types of Scheduled Jobs

The next section describes all the configurations on all the types of Scheduled Jobs.


Feature Modifications
Modified in Version8.16
Modification DetailsAdded a new setting on Scheduled Flows: "Run Only on Job Server".

Scheduled Flows

The New Schedule Flow option will allow users to run a Flow per the required date, time, and span.

Configurations for Scheduling a Flow

ConfigurationDescription
Info
Scheduled Job Name
This will set the Name of the Scheduled Job
Scheduled Job DescriptionAllows to give a description to the scheduled Job
Flow Information
Pick Scheduled FlowThis will allow the user to pick an existing Flow.

Note: From v8.13 and above, users will not be allowed to create a Flow in this field. Users can only pick the already created Flow. 
Schedule Configuration
CalendarThis option allows users to configure the calendar type and its calendar information for precise job scheduling.

Daily ScheduleAllows to run the Job daily.
  • Set the Hour and Minute (24-hour format).
  • Select the days of the week you wish to run the Job.
  • Respect Business Days for Selected Days - When enabled, this will respect the Business days configured for the location. E.g., assuming all days of the week are selected, and as per the location, Sunday is the only non-functional day, the Job will not run on Sundays.

First Day of Month

Allows to run the Job on the first or last day of the month, respectively.

  • Set the Hour and Minute (24-hour format).
  • Run on Business days - run the Job on the month's first or last business day.

Monthly Schedule

Allows the Job to run once every month

  • Choose the day of the month to run the Job (cannot be more than 31)
  • Set the Hour and Minute (24-hour format).
  • Compute Mode
    • RunOnCalculatedDay - will run the Job on the configured day
    • FirstBuisnessDayBefore - will run the Job on the first business day before the defined day of the Month value. E.g., assuming the day of the month falls on Sunday and, as per the location, Sunday is the only non-functional day, the Job will run on Saturday.
    • FirstBuisnessDayAfter - will run the Job on the first business day after the defined day of the Month value. E.g., assuming the day of the month falls on Sunday and, as per the location, Sunday is the only non-functional day, the Job will run on Monday.
  • Select the month of the year to run the Job.



Specified Job Schedule

Allows running the Job at a specific time.

  • Choose the future date and time to run the Job at once.


Time Span Schedule

Allows running the Job at a fixed interval of time span

  • Run When
    • Immediately - when the configuration is saved, the Job will run immediately and follow the configured time span later.
    • AfterTimeSpan - when the configuration is saved, the Job will run after the configured time span and later follow the same time span.
    • SpecifiedTimePeriod - allows running the Job in a configured time span after a set specific time period.
  • Time Span - Use the sliders to set a specific interval of time 
  • Between Hours - will run the Job for a particular span of time between the configured time period.


Weekly Schedule

Allows the Job to run once every week.

  • Set the Hour and Minute (24-hour format).
  • Set the day of the week to run the Job once every week.
  • Compute mode - refer to the Monthly Schedule calendar type from the same table.


Yearly Schedule

Allows the Job to run once every year.

  • Set the Hour and Minute (24-hour format).
  • Set the month of the year (cannot be more than 12) and the day of the month (cannot be more than 31).
  • Compute mode - refer to the Monthly Schedule calendar type from the same table.
Job Settings
Requeue if the Job FailsIf the Job fails, this action will restart the Job after completing all the jobs from the same job queue.
Job Queue: A Job Queue will contain a set of jobs running one after the other. Consider this as a single basket of Jobs. If a Job gets held up, all scheduled jobs in the same queue will be put on hold until the initial job finishes. 
Create Task if Job FailsThis action will allow notifying, creating, and assigning a task for a user if the Job fails.
Run Job on StartupThis will start the Job whenever the Decisions Server is restarted.
Start DateThis will set the date and time to start the Job.
Run Only on Job ServerThis setting is clustering-specific.
Enabled by default, this setting ensures that the job runs only on the Primary Job Server.
When set to false, the Scheduled Job will run on any of the available servers where "Can be Job Server" is marked True. Thus, if the span of the job exceeds the time until the next scheduled run, this will execute the scheduled job on the next server before the current job is completed.
Specify ExpirationThis will expose a new field to set the date and time to expire the Job.
Override Job Queue NameThis will allow setting a new Queue Name.
Queue Name: If the Queue name is the same for multiple jobs, it will be considered a single Job Queue. So, to run the Jobs in parallel, users need to give a new Queue Name to create a new Job Queue.
Delayed Job
Notify on Job DelayWhen this option is enabled, users can set up notifications for delays in their Job by configuring the relevant details.

Delay Greater than (in seconds)This is a buffer period before notifications are sent to users regarding job delays.

Add to LogsThis feature allows for adding logs to the log folder and setting the level of logs included in the logs.

EmailsThis will trigger an email notification to the configured email addresses, informing them that the Job has been delayed.

Create AssignmentsThis will create user and group assignments regarding the delayed Job.

Refer to the following article to learn about Running a Flow as a Scheduled Job.


AD Sync Jobs

To learn all about the Active Directory (AD) and Active Directory (AD) sync Jobs, refer to the following Documentation:


Interval Jobs

The Add Interval Job option allows users to run a Flow, usually at specified intervals.

Difference between "Scheduled Jobs configured as Time Span" and "Interval Jobs"

The Scheduled job can also be configured as an interval job by setting it to a time-span scheduled job, but there is still a major difference in both types of jobs.

Scheduled Jobs configured as Time SpanInterval Jobs
The next scheduled run time for a "Time Span Scheduled Job" is calculated by adding the specified time interval to the start time of the job.In Interval Jobs, the next run date is determined by adding the configured interval to the ending time of the previous Job.
These jobs are suitable when you need a task to start at specific, predefined intervals.Interval Jobs are ideal when you want the next instance to start at a fixed time after the previous Job has ended.
If the duration of a job Flow is greater than the configured time span, the next Job won't start until the previous one is completed. Only one Job runs at a time, ensuring sequential execution.Multiple instances of the Job can run concurrently if configured to do so.
If you want a job to start every 10 minutes, a Time Span Scheduled Job is the appropriate choice.If you want the next Job to start 10 minutes after the previous run has ended, you should use an Interval Job.


Configurations for Interval Job

ConfigurationDescription
Job NameThis allows setting the Name of the Job
EnabledWhen selected, this will ensure that the Interval Job is active and running.
Pick FlowThis will allow the user to pick an existing Flow
Only Run on Job ServerWhen Enabled, this will run the Job only on one server from the clustered environment.
CountNumber of times the Job will run at once
IntervalAdjust the Sliders to set the interval time
Notify on Job Delay

When this option is enabled, users can set up notifications for delays in their Job by configuring the relevant details.

Delay Greater than (in seconds)

This is a buffer period before notifications are sent to users regarding the job delay.

Add to LogsThis feature allows for adding logs to the log folder and setting the level of logs included in the logs.
EmailsThis will trigger an email notification to the configured email addresses, informing them that the Job has been delayed.
Create AssignmentsThis will create the assignments to the users and groups regarding the delayed Job.

Once all the settings are configured, the Interval Job will start instantly. To learn more about Interval Jobs, refer to Interval Jobs.


Startup Jobs

The Add Startup Job option allows users to run a Flow when the Decisions Server is restarted.

  • Self-Hosted: Restarting the Decisions Server from Windows Services
  • IIS Hosted: Restarting the Decisions Server by entering 'iisreset' from the Command Prompt/PowerShell


Thread Jobs

Thread Jobs shows all the Decisions' internal Job Processes. 


Feature Changes

DescriptionVersionDateDeveloper Task
From v8.13 and above, users will not be allowed to create a Flow in this field. Users can only pick the already created Flow.8.1308/11/2023[DT-038418]
Added a new setting on Scheduled Flows: "Run Only on Job Server".8.1611/7/2023[DT-038427]

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