Command Tasks and File Detection

[glenpark]

I can't seem to find a similar situation on here so here I go. I'm running INFA 7.x on Linux and need to use a command task to detect a flat file before running a workflow. I can't use an event wait because the workflow needs to run whether the flat file is there or not. So basically when the workflow starts, the command task needs to look for the flat file, if it's there then do nothing. But if it's not there, I have to email someone.

I'm not sure if it works but if I run a command like "ls thisfile.txt" does it return any usable error code that can be utilized in the link logic (i.e. STATUS=0 or STATUS=1) or to that effect? That way I can put an email task object into the workflow and it can run only when needed...

Thanks for the help!
Glen

 

[blom0344]

This should be fairly simple by using a decision task. Look in the Powercenter help on the Workflow manager and you'll get the idea.

The trick is to start with a workflow as a wrapper, stuff the real workflow into a worklet and fire the worklet from the decision if conditions meet.

Ties Blom

 

[glenpark]

Do I really need to use a decision task for this? What about putting the command into the command task "ls $sourcefiledir/filename.txt" Then in the following link, set "STATUS != 0" and an email task connected to it?

So it would look like this:

Command Task(command1='ls $sourcefiledir/filename.txt) ---STATUS!=0--->Email

That way an email would only be sent if the search for the file is unsuccessful and the logic all stays at the workflow level.

 

[blom0344]

I am not suggesting that there is just one solution, but I prefer solutions that are transparent.
A decision task is a direct indication that you are applying logic within the workflow.

Ties Blom