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Using the Processes Branch
DATA PROCESSING ACTIONS
The DATA PROCESSING ACTIONS are the PROCESSES equivalent of similar ACTIONS on under an EVENT PROCESSING elsewhere on the Tree. They can be used to:
- Set explicit SCALAR's to control logic of other PROCESSES Branch objects
- Conditionally extract information from a file
- Generate timestamps during the submission process
DATABASE objects
One type of application that can be accessed from the PROCESSES Branch are databases external to EASA. Databases are accessed by using DATABASE ACTION, which is a Sibling to a PROCESS in the PROCESSES branch. DATABASE ACTION is a Parent to DATABASE, which in turn is a Parent to WRITE. The main function of DATABASE ACTION is to to write data to a database.
Excel Objects
As introduced in Interacting With Excel Spreadsheets, an EASAP can interact with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets within the USER INTERFACE branch via a Cell Reference in data entry objects or via an ACTION within an EVENT PROCESSING. In the PROCESSES branch, only the ACTION approach is available. In this case interaction happens on the EASA Server during a batch EASAP submission rather than the user’s client computer during an interactive user interface session.
Note: Changes made to an Excel spreadsheet using interactions located in the USER INTERFACE branch will not be available to the ACTIONS located in the PROCESSES branch at the time of submission. The ACTION's in the PROCESSESS branch are always applied to the original uploaded version of the spreadsheet file. Therefore, the two approaches are NOT currently designed to be used in combination.
The process of making EASAP's interact with Excel spreadsheets in the PROCESSES branch involves two basic steps:
- Defining connections to the spreadsheets from the workbook files on down to the various worksheets
- Performing Excel specific actions using EXCEL ACTION's found on the PROCESSES branch
PROCESSES Branch objects
| Object | Description |
|---|---|
 CLEAR EXCEL RANGE | Used to clear values in cells or named ranges. |
 CUSTOM PROCESS ACTION | Designed to execute custom written Java code. |
 DATA PROCESSING | The Parent under which all the available data processing tools reside. |
| DATA PROCESSING ACTIONS | A Parent for other ACTION's. |
 DATABASE | Defines the database on which to perform the action. |
 EMAIL | Creates and sends e-mail messages to users. |
 FILE MANAGEMENT | Minimizes disk usage in EASA. |
 IMAGE EXCEL ACTION | Extracts a screen capture of cell range or chart in an Excel spreadsheet for display by an IMAGE in a DIAGRAM. |
 PROCESS | Issues the commands used to run the underlying software applications. |
 READ EXCEL ACTION | Reads values from specified cell ranges in Excel spreadsheets into specified LIST's. |
 RUN MACRO ACTION | Executes a macro in an Excel spreadsheet. |
 STOP | Defines a complete mechanism for stopping the EASAP. |
 WRITE EXCEL ACTION | Writes values from specified LIST's into specified cell ranges in Excel spreadsheets. |
Order of Operation within the PROCESSES Branch
In the PROCESSES branch, Any Sibling PROCESS's, FILE MANAGEMENT,DATABASE ACTION and EMAIL objects are run in a sequential manner as they appear on the Tree from top to bottom. None of these objects will run until the one before it has finished.
Note: Input data for the software applications being run in one PROCESS can be extracted from the output files of software applications run in a previous PROCESS using an EXTRACT.
Process View
At the bottom left of EASAP Builder are icons that allow you to toggle between Tree view and Process view.
The Process view provides a flow diagram of the objects within the processes branch and you can right click on images in the diagram to insert new objects. Parameter values of objects can be set in the lower left part of the window.
The diagram can be adjusted by dragging and clicking boxes. Please note however that their location is not saved when EASAP Builder is closed. The diagram can also be manipulated through its toolbar, which contains operations including zooming and a variety of automatic layouts.
The toolbar also allows the diagram to be annotated with any “do if” expressions The overview panel allows you to select a subset of the diagram for viewing by dragging around the shaded rectangle.
