Execute Unattended Bot
Running an unattended bot in AutomatR involves several key steps or sections. Here's an overview of the main steps involved in executing an unattended bot:
Bot Development: Before running an unattended bot, you need to develop the automation process using AutomatR Studio. This involves creating, testing, and debugging the workflow to ensure it performs the desired tasks accurately.
Publishing the Workflow:
- Publish the workflow to a NUPKG package: This creates a package that contains your automation project.
- Ensure the published package is stored in a location accessible to your unattended bot, such as a shared folder or Orchestrator's package feed.
Orchestrator Configuration:
- Configure your AutomatR Orchestrator environment, where you will manage the unattended bot and automation processes.
- Set up the machine and bot.
Process Definition:
- Define the process in AutomatR Orchestrator by specifying the published package to be executed.
- Configure input parameters or variables as needed.
Scheduling and Queue Management:
- Create a schedule for when you want the unattended bot to run the automation process. This involves defining the trigger or job that specifies when and how often the process should be executed.
- Optionally, set up input data in Orchestrator queues if your process requires dynamic input.
Assigning the Process:
- Assign the process to the unattended bot in Orchestrator, specifying the machine and environment.
- Ensure the unattended bot has the necessary permissions to execute the process.
Monitoring and Logging:
- AutomatR Orchestrator provides monitoring and logging capabilities, allowing you to track the execution of the unattended bot. You can view logs, reports, and the status of executed jobs.
Execution:
- Once the process is scheduled, the unattended bot will automatically execute the automation at the specified times or trigger events.
- The bot will retrieve and process any relevant input data and perform the automation tasks as designed in the workflow.
Exception Handling:
- Implement exception handling mechanisms in your workflow to handle any errors or exceptions that may occur during execution.
Logging and Reporting:
- The unattended bot should log its activities and results, providing a record of what it has done.
- You can configure AutomatR Orchestrator to generate reports and notifications based on the execution results.
Maintenance and Updates:
- Regularly monitor and maintain your unattended bot to ensure it continues to run effectively.
- Make updates to the automation process and workflows as needed to adapt to changes in the environment or business requirements.
These are the main steps involved in executing an unattended bot in AutomatR. Orchestrator plays a central role in managing and orchestrating the automation processes, making it easier to schedule, monitor, and maintain unattended bots in production environments.
Bot Development
Starting a new project in AutomatR Studio is the first step in building automation solutions. Here's a brief overview of how to start a new project in AutomatR Studio:
Launch AutomatR Studio on your computer. You should have the application installed and set up.
After launching the application, you'll be presented with the AutomatR Studio interface.
To create a new project, go to the File menu located in the top-left corner of the UI.
From the File menu, click on New Project. This action will open the Create Project wizard.
In the Create Project wizard, you'll need to specify a name for your project. Choose a descriptive name that reflects the purpose of your automation project.
Additionally, select a location where the project files will be saved. This location could be a folder on your local machine or a network drive.
Click the Create button to generate your new project.
After creating the project, you'll see a project structure in the Solution Explorer panel on the right side of the UI. This structure typically includes folders for workflows, libraries, assets, and configuration files.
To start building your automation, you can add workflows to the project by right-clicking the Project folder in the Solution Explorer and selecting New Sequence or New Flow Chart.
Begin designing and developing your automation workflows using the canvas in the center of the UI. Drag and drop activities from the Toolbox - Activities Pane, configure them in the Properties panel, and connect them to create the desired automation logic.
Periodically save your project and workflows using the Save or Save All options in the File menu to ensure your progress is preserved.
Utilize the debugging capabilities of AutomatR Studio to test and troubleshoot your automation workflows. You can set breakpoints, run in debug mode, and inspect variables during execution.
When your automation is ready, you can publish the project to AutomatR Orchestrator instance or Export it as a package for deployment to your automation environment.
Starting a new project in AutomatR Studio provides a structured and organized workspace for building, testing, and managing your automation solutions. It's the foundational step in creating efficient and effective automation workflows.
Publishing the Workflow
- Publish the workflow to a NUPKG package: This creates a package that contains your automation project.
- Ensure the published package is stored in a location accessible to your unattended bot, such as a shared folder or Orchestrator's package feed.
Orchestrator Configuration
Set up the machine - Administrator access
Here's the step-by-step procedure based on Windows 10:
Open the Control Panel:
- Click on the "Start" button (Windows icon) in the taskbar.
Access User Accounts:
- In the search bar, type "Control Panel" and press Enter.
- In the Control Panel window, click on "User Accounts."
Manage Another Account:
- In the User Accounts window, you will see an option that says "Manage another account." Click on it.
Add a User:
- Under the "Make changes to your user account" section, click on "Add a user account."
Add Someone Else to This PC:
- You will see a link that says "I don't have this person's sign-in information." Click on it.
Create a New Account:
- In the next window, click on "Add a user without a Microsoft account."
Choose a User Name:
- Enter the desired username for the new user and click "Next."
Set a Password (Optional):
- You can set a password for the new user account. It's highly recommended to set a password for security reasons. Click "Next."
Completing the Process:
- The new user account is now created. You can choose to set security questions or simply click "Finish."
Change Account Type to Administrator:
- Back in the "User Accounts" section of the Control Panel, find the newly created user account and click on it.
Change the account type:
- Click on "Change the account type."
Choose an Account Type:
- Select "Administrator" to give the user full administrative privileges over the PC.
Confirm the Change:
- Click "Change Account Type."
Now, the new user account has been created and has been granted administrator access to the PC. You can log in with this account and perform administrative tasks. Remember to keep the new user account's password secure, and only grant administrator access to trusted individuals.
Set up a Bot
Add an Unattended Bot
Adding a new unattended bot to the AutomatR Orchestrator application enables you to expand your automation capabilities and include different types of bots for diverse tasks. Follow these simple steps to add a new bot:
Log in to your AutomatR Orchestrator application using your credentials.
Navigate to the Bots tab, typically from the main menu.
On the Bots tab, locate the Add button towards the top-right corner. Click on it to start the process of adding a new bot.
A form will appear, prompting you to enter the necessary details for the new bot:
Name: Provide a unique name or identifier for the new bot. Choose a name that helps you easily identify and differentiate this bot from others in your automation workforce.
Automation Type: From the drop-down menu, select the Unattended automation type for the bot.
Instance (Only for Unattended): Select the instance (the physical machine) where the bot will run the workflow.
Credentials (Only for Unattended): Select the user credentials to be used for logging into the Instance (the physical machine) for executing the workflow.
Double-check the information you entered for accuracy, ensuring that the bot's name and automation type are correct.
If necessary, make any corrections or adjustments to the details you provided.
Once you are satisfied with the bot's details, click on the Add button to finalize the addition of the new unattended bot.
Upon successful addition, you will receive a confirmation message or notification stating that the new unattended bot has been added to the AutomaytR Orchestrator.
Navigate back to the Bots tab and review the table to ensure that the new bot appears with the name and automation type you provided.
You have successfully added a new unattended bot to your AutomatR Orchestrator application and is ready for execution of automation tasks. You can now proceed to configure and assign tasks to the unattended bot to enhance your organization's efficiency and productivity. Remember to update any additional configurations or settings as needed to fully integrate the new unattended bot into your automation ecosystem.
Add a Flow
Here's a brief procedure to add a Flow in an Orchestrator application:
Log in to the AutomatR Orchestrator application with appropriate credentials.
Once logged in, navigate to the Flows section or tab where you can manage and view automation flows.
Look for an Add button or to initiate the process of adding a new flow. Click on the button to proceed with creating a new automation flow.
A form appears where you need to enter the details for the new flow. The required information includes:
- Name: Enter a descriptive name for the automation flow. Choose a name that reflects the purpose or functionality of the flow.
- Package Name: Provide the name of the package to which you want to associate this flow. If you have multiple packages, ensure to select the appropriate one from the available options.
- Flow Type: Click on the drop-down menu next to the Flow Type field and choose Desktop from the available options.
- Automation Type: Click on the drop-down menu next to the Automation Type field and choose Unattended from the available options.
Once you have entered all the required information, review the details to ensure accuracy. After verifying, click on the Add button to create the new flow.
After clicking the Add button, a confirmation message may appear to inform you that the flow has been successfully added to the AutomatR Orchestrator.
The new flow will now appear in the list of available automation flows on the Flows tab, along with its assigned package, automation type, and other relevant details.
You have now successfully added a new flow to the Orchestrator application. Depending on the configuration and permissions, you may be able to further edit, schedule, or manage the flow as needed. Remember that the details you provided during the addition process will be crucial for locating and organizing the flow in the future, so ensure accuracy while entering the information.
Upload Version (Configuring Automation Workflow)
AutomatR Orchestrator's Flows Tab allows users to upload a version of a specific flow. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to upload a version:
Log in to AutomatR Orchestrator and navigate to the Flows tab, which displays a list of available flows and related information.
In the Flows Tab, choose the specific flow for which you want to upload a version.
Find the flow's entry in the table and click on the Version option associated with the desired flow. This opens a form displaying the selected flow's version details.
In the version details form, look for the Upload section and click on the Choose File option.
A file upload dialog appears, allowing you to select the NUPKG file from your local repository.
Browse and select the NUPKG file that represents the version of the flow.
Once you've selected the NUPKG file, click on the Open button to proceed with the upload. The system will validate and process the file.
Click on the Upload button within this section to initiate the upload process.
After successfully uploading the version, it will appear in the list below, within the table of the selected flow.
The table typically displays the following details for the uploaded version:
- Version Number: The unique identifier for the uploaded version.
- Uploaded On: The date and time when the version was uploaded.
- Delete: An option to delete the uploaded version if not required.
Uploading a version of a flow in the AutomatR Orchestrator Flows Tab is a straightforward process that allows users to keep their automation workflows up-to-date. By following the above steps, users can efficiently upload, manage, and view different versions of flows, ensuring that the most recent and optimized automation processes are readily available for execution.