The simplest way to automate jobs in NAV 3.70

Mauritsio

Hi,

The customer is using NAV 3.70 with NAV native database (not sql db)...and not having license for job scheduler.
Now, there would be a need to run automatically some reports and dataports periodically.

So, what could be the best/easiest solution in this case to get the automation working with Native db in NAV 3.70?
- Buying license for a job scheduler? If this...is NAS needed also?
- Some other tool e.g. ExpandIT Launch Utilility http://www.expandit.com/633/ExpandIT+Launch+Utility ?
- Windows own scheduler?
- Something else?

Any idea by anyone?

ppavuk

I guess form with timer will do a job... Or just by a job scheduler and NAS licence...

bbrown

You can't run dataports under NAS. Anyways "Job Scheduler" did not use NAS. But, since you say they are not licensed for "Job Scheduler", that option would also be out.

Are they current on maintenance, so they could add stuff to their license?

davmac1

You could look at an ISV solution like ExpandIT.
They have an add-on that handles scheduled functions.
You could check them out on their web site, and if you like it, contact them through your Partner.

ppavuk

bbrown wrote:

You can't run dataports under NAS. Anyways "Job Scheduler" did not use NAS. But, since you say they are not licensed for "Job Scheduler", that option would also be out.

Are they current on maintenance, so they could add stuff to their license?

I am sure Job Scheduler is useless without NAS (at least before 2013:) ) I am quite sure it is possible to run dataports under NAS as well.

bbrown

ppavuk wrote:

...I am sure Job Scheduler is useless without NAS (at least before 2013:)...

You are confusing Job Scheduler with Job Queue. Two similar but different functions. Job Queue runs with NAS. Job Scheduler is the older granule and ran as a visible client process.

ppavuk wrote:

...I am quite sure it is possible to run dataports under NAS as well....

They don't.

bbrown

From MSDN:

The following functions are not available in Microsoft Dynamics NAV Application Server:

• Form Data Type functions

• Dataport Data Type functions

If you want to read the whole article, here's the link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd355014.aspx

ppavuk

I am a bit confused. I am 100% able to run reports on job queue, which is run on NAS. I never tried to run dataports on NAS in last 10 years, as I hate dataports

The MSDN article looks a bit confusing to me.
But the article say: NoteImportant
REPORT and DATAPORT functions are not available. OCX and AUTOMATION functions are available. However, if they invoke GUI functions, they may cause Microsoft Dynamics NAV Application Server to stop running. The only way to restart the Application server is to reboot.


This is a code of standard Job Queue Start Codeunit

OnRun(VAR Rec : Record "Job Queue Entry")
HasPermission := MemberOf.ISEMPTY AND WinAccControl.ISEMPTY;
IF NOT HasPermission AND NOT MemberOf.ISEMPTY THEN
  HasPermission := HasDBPermission("User ID","Object Type to Run","Object ID to Run");
IF NOT HasPermission THEN
  HasPermission := HasWinPermission("User ID","Object Type to Run","Object ID to Run");
IF NOT HasPermission THEN BEGIN
  IF AllObjWithCaption.GET("Object Type to Run","Object ID to Run") THEN;
  ERROR(Text001,"User ID","Object Type to Run","Object ID to Run",AllObjWithCaption."Object Caption");
END;

CASE "Object Type to Run" OF
  "Object Type to Run"::Codeunit:
    CODEUNIT.RUN("Object ID to Run",Rec);
  "Object Type to Run"::Report:
  [color=#FF0000]  REPORT.RUN("Object ID to Run",FALSE);[/color]
END;

As we can see - reports can be run under NAS.

bbrown

Correct, reports can run on Job Queue. Dataports cannot.

But we are talking about "Job Scheduler", not "Job Queue".

ppavuk

Yep, you are right: dataports can't be run on NAS. Nice to learn something new

What about scheduler? Is is something very old?

bbrown

ppavuk wrote:

Yep, you are right: dataports can't be run on NAS. Nice to learn something new

What about scheduler? Is is something very old?

Yes, Job Scheduler is an old feature. It was replaced by Job Queue (which uses NAS) in version 5.

BTW - I agree with you on the use of dataports. I feel they are not the right solution for production use. Especially for unattended process. But just my opinion.

ppavuk

Since we got XML the dataports looks a bit outdated technology. There is so many possible issues with plain text file. Most common one - users do copy data from excel to nav fields. In standard it creates CR/LF at end of filed value. Well, we all know how to fix this, but... imagine what happens with your data if you got cr/lf let's say in description field...

I think structured data (as XML) is always better than not well structured (as plain text).

ppavuk

Btw, got 4.03 db to have a look on scheduler. Hhm, not bad, but it just a form with timer This stuff will run dataports, i presume, but it looks a bit too old

bbrown

ppavuk wrote:

Btw, got 4.03 db to have a look on scheduler. Hhm, not bad, but it just a form with timer This stuff will run dataports, i presume, but it looks a bit too old

Yes, it will. Since it has a visible display. As it is nothing more than an automated client process. The downside is it is a visible display that needs a workstation.

Mauritsio

Hi guys,

Thank you for your comments!

So in summary about Navision 3.70(if I got it right):
- Reports and dataports can be run with job scheduler.
- Reports can be run with job queue but this needs a NAS also.

Mauritsio

If using a job scheduler as an automated process for running reports/dataports in 3.70 NAV ...
--> So does it mean that you have to first enable the job scheduler via one one visible client..
then to define the specific objects to be run automatically for job scheduler and..
finally to keep that client open all the time in order to keep automation process alive?

bbrown

Mauritsio wrote:

...
- Reports can be run with job queue but this needs a NAS also.

Job Queue is not available in 3.70.