Task Scheduler:

The Task Scheduler is a new product from Allonis that allows customers to define a whole range of automations that can be executed on demand or on a scheduled basis.

You access the Task Scheduler application by clicking the Task Scheduler button on the System Management page of the main application. As shown previously on the prior pages.

The main page of the Task Scheduler looks like Figure 1

 

Figure 1

We see that two tasks have already been created. Each task has options to Edit, Run on Demand and Delete. As more tasks are added into the system this list will grow to show each new task.

When you have a lot of tasks defined you have the ability to filter to see just those tasks that are enabled, or just the ones that have been disable. By default, all tasks are shown.

To exit the Task scheduler and return to the main control application just click on the Return button on the right side of the bottom navigation bar.

 

Creating New Tasks:

We’ll start off by showing an example of how to create a new scheduled task. This example will create a Task that will restore the “Beginning of Day” presets for the entire establishment every day of the week at 7am. Let’s get started.

Step #1: Defining the Task:

From the Scheduler start page click on the “Create New Task” button. This will bring you to the start of the task editor, Figure 2.

 

Figure 2

First, give the task a new meaningful name. Here we will replace “New Task (rename me)” to “Beginning of Day” so that it reflects what we are trying to do.

Right below that we have a drop down “Available Scheduler Commands”. This is where we pick the server commands to be executed. There is a long list of items shown but for this example we select “Restore Presets By Name”.

Every time you select an option from the dropdown additional dropdowns may appear below it that allows you to further refine the command.

In this example we are shown “Select One of The Available Preset Types” Since we want to restore all the beginning of day system presets, we will select “All” here.

Once we select the category of preset will get one final dropdown that will display all the unique preset names in the system. Again, we will choose “Beginning of Day” as this is the preset, we want to restore.

Once the Task Scheduler has enough information on what command you are trying to execute it will display that command at the bottom of the form. The words in yellow will show you the exact server command that is to be executed while the words in white above it will document in plain language what the command is going to do.

Now that we have created a server command to execute click on the “Add Command” button to place this task into the list of commands to be executed. See figure 3.

 

Figure 3

You can repeat these first steps adding in as many server commands as necessary for the task you are building. For this example, we need only one command so we are ready to move on to Step #2.

Step #2: Set Month & Days:

Click on the Blue NEXT => button or the Set Month and & Days button to advance to the next stage of task editing.

On this page you define the frequency of when this task should be run. You can specify the task to run Hourly, Daily or Monthly. Then in which months the task should be run and then the days of the week that the task is can be run. You have a great deal of flexibility here.

For this example, we want to run our “Beginning of Day” task every day of the year. So, we’ll check off Daily and then click Select All for both Months and Days. It should look like Figure 4.

 

Figure 4

Now onto step #3, setting the run times. Click next to advance to Step #3.

 

Step #3: Set Run Times:

There are many options for times on this page but for this task we want it to run at 7:00 am every day. So, we check off “At A Specific Time” and set that time for 7am, Figure 5.

 

Figure 5

Next, we move onto step #4, setting modes.

 

Step #4: Set Modes.

This step is primarily for residential customers who like to set their homes in one of several different modes. Here is where you can define the System modes that this task is safe to run in. It is suggested to just make sure the “All Modes” item is checked as the other modes are seldom used.

House mode is nothing more than a server variable {{housemode}}. To set a house mode just do SetVariable|housemode~<<your mode>>
Scheduler specifically looks for house mode values of Home, Away, Vacation, Daytime, Nighttime.
You are free to define your own house modes but if you are using them with Scheduler then stick to the ones mentioned here.

You also have the option of Enabling and Disabling the task on this step. Disabling a task is a way to prevent this task from ever running while not having to totally remove it from the system. For this example, make sure you have enabled checked, Figure 6.

 

Figure 6

At this point you have completed building your task. Click on the Save Task button to save all your edits and register this as a new system task. You will be returned to the main Task Scheduler page.

 

Now you have built your first task and it will appear in the list as a new task.

 

Figure 7

Feel free to try the additional options of Editing, Running and Deleting.

When you are all done with the Task Scheduler make sure to click on the bottom navigator Return button so that you can resume operations on the main application.

 

Learn about myDigitalSignage

and myServer 6 System Management Options

and Advanced Presets