Automate Desktop

JAMS can be integrated with Automate Desktop to run Jobs that require interactive desktop access. The Integration with Automate Desktop is included with the JAMS installer. If the tasks from Automate require interactive desktop access, you need to install and configure the JAMS Agent Interactive, which is an option in the JAMS installer. If the Task requiring interactive access runs on a local/remote Agent that is not JAMS Agent Interactive, the Job may stay in the "executing" state.  

Before You Begin

  • Ensure you have access to the AML files.    
  • If the Task requires interactive desktop access, install and configure the JAMS Agent Interactive on the same machine as Automate Desktop. See JAMS Agent Interactive for Windows for more information.
  • Ensure the JAMS Scheduler, JAMS Agent, and JAMS Client are running JAMS V7.2.X or higher.
  • Ensure Automate Desktop 11.6 is used. JAMS V7.4 and higher supports only Automate 11.6.
NOTE: If you are using a version earlier than JAMS V7.4 or Automate 11.6, contact JAMS Support for assistance configuring the integration.

Creating a Sequence Job to use the Automate Sequence Task

To run an Automate Task using JAMS, you can import an existing AML file into the Automate Task within a JAMS Sequence.

  1. From the JAMS Home screen, click Create a Job.
  2. Select Create a Sequence (multi-step) Job.
  3. In the Add a New JAMS Job Definition dialog, do the following:
    1. Select the Folder where the Job should be created.
    2. In the Name field, define a name for the new Job.
    3. In the Description field, enter a description for the Job, if necessary.
    4. In the Execution Method field, ensure Sequence is selected. 
    5. Click OK. The Source tab for the Job is displayed. 
  4. Drag and drop the Automate Task onto the Design area (middle panel) on the screen.
  5. In the Properties Panel, do the following:
    1. In the Display Title field, enter a name for the Automate Task, if necessary. (This field is updated after the AML file is selected for the Automate Task field.) By default, it is the name of the Automate Task from within the AML file or it is the name of the AML file, without the file extension.
    2. In the Automate Task field, click in the field to browse to the location of the AML file and then click Open. After the AML file is selected and imported into the Automate Sequence Task, its contents are saved within JAMS and the AML file is no longer needed.
    3. In the Automate Variables field, verify the variables were correctly imported from the AML file. The variable names are read-only. You can edit the value for a variable only if the ISPARAMETER attribute in the AML file is set. This is displayed as the Is Parameter checkbox under the variable value.
      NOTE: Ensure the variables in AML files are not named "path", which is a reserved term. Using this term may cause issues when running the Automate Task in JAMS. If a variable is named "path", update the variable name within Automate before creating the AML file.
    4. In the Output Names field, enter a list of comma-separated names that will be used as variables to receive values from Automate Desktop, if the variable names match the names sent from Automate. Successor Tasks can use these values by using the specified name surrounded by brackets. For example, if you enter “output1” in the Output Names field, enter “{output1}” in a field in a successor Task to use that value. 
      NOTE: If a variable has the ISPARAMETER attribute set in the AML file, the variable cannot be used in the Output Names field. When this attribute is set, the variable value is not accessible to other Sequence Tasks in JAMS.
  6. If the Task requires interactive desktop access, click the Properties tab to set the Agent to the JAMS Interactive Agent.
  7. In the Agent field, select the name of the JAMS Interactive Agent.
  8. Click Save and Close.

After the Sequence is set up and saved, you can run the Job and view it in the JAMS Monitor.

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