Processes - Start

Declaration

<AMPROCESSES ACTIVITY="create" DOMAINNAME="text" REMOTEMACHINE="text" USERNAME="text" PASSWORD="encrypted text" PRIORITY="text (options)" EXECUTABLE="text" WORKINGDIR="text" ARGUMENTS="text" RESULTPID="Text" />

Related Topics   

Description

Starts an instance of the specified process and optionally, populates a variable with the process identifier. This activity supports starting local or remote processes.

Practical usage

Used to start a process on the local machine or on a remote computer.

Parameters

Process

Property Type Required Default Markup Description
Executable Text Yes (Empty) EXECUTABLE="c:\folder\theprocess.exe" The path and file name to the executable (.EXE) file linked to the process in which to start. Press the folder icon to open an Explorer dialog in order to navigate to the specified executable file or enter the path and file name manually in the provided text-box.
Working folder Text No (Empty) WORKINGDIR="c:\foldername\" The initial directory for the process to be started. This value is normally populated upon entry of a value under the Executable parameter. This option is provided primarily for shells that must start an application and specify the application's initial drive and working directory. In most cases, no modifications are needed for this parameter.
Arguments Text No (Empty) ARGUMENTS="text" Specifies command-line options that are passed to the process to start.
Set process priority to Text (options) No Normal PRIORITY="High" The priority level to set for the process to start. The available options are:
  • Normal (default) - Specified for a process with no special scheduling needs.
  • Below normal - Indicates a process that has priority above Idle but below Normal priority.
  • Above normal - Indicates a process that has priority above Normal but below High priority.
  • Idle - Specified for a process with threads that run only when the system is idle. The threads of the process are preempted by the threads of a process that run in a higher priority class, for example, a screen saver. The idle-priority class is inherited by child processes.
  • High - Specified for a process that performs time-critical tasks that must be executed immediately. The threads of the process preempt the threads of normal or idle priority class processes.
  • Realtime - The highest possible priority. The threads of the process preempt the threads of all of the other processes, including operating system processes that perform important tasks. Note that the user must have proper security permissions to set priority to this level.
Store process identifier in variable Text No (Empty) RESULTPID="Text" The name of the variable in which to populate with the unique process identifier. Note that the process identifier is valid from the time the process is created until the time the process is terminated.

Computer

Property Type Required Default Markup Description
Local computer --- --- --- --- If enabled, specifies that the process to end resides on the local machine. This parameter is enabled by default. If this parameter is selected, the Another Computer parameter becomes inactive.
NOTE: This parameter does not contain markup and is only displayed in visual mode for task construction and configuration purposes.
Another computer --- --- --- --- If enabled, specifies that the process to end resides on a remote machine. The parameters below become active if this parameter is enabled.
NOTE: This parameter does not contain markup and is only displayed in visual mode for task construction and configuration purposes.
Computer Text Yes (Empty)
  • REMOTEMACHINE="machine.domain.com"
  • REMOTEMACHINE="xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"
The hostname or IP address of the remote machine that contains the process to end. This parameter is available only if the Another computer parameter is enabled.
Domain Text Yes (Empty) DOMAINNAME="netauto" The domain name of the remote machine that contains the process to end. This parameter is available only if the Another computer parameter is enabled.
Username Text Yes (Empty) USERNAME="Bruce.Wayne" A valid username used to log onto the remote machine that contains the process to end. This parameter is available only if the Another computer  parameter is enabled.
Password Text Yes (Empty) PASSWORD="batman" The password corresponding to the username entered in the Username field. This parameter is available only if the Another computer parameter is enabled.

Description

Error Causes

On Error

Example

NOTE:
  • Copy and paste the sample AML code below directly into the Task Builder Steps Panel.
  • To successfully run the sample code, update parameters containing user credentials, files, file paths, or other information specific to the task to match your environment.

Description

This sample task starts the Photoshop.exe process locally.

Copy
<AMPROCESSES ACTIVITY="create" EXECUTABLE="C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Photoshop.exe" WORKINGDIR="C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3 " RESULTPID="TheProcess" PRIORITY="abovenormal" />