Creating a background task definition

To create a background task definition, use this procedure:

  1. Open the Background Task Definitions form and execute Filter-In-Place.
  2. Initiate a new task record.
  3. Provide this information:
    Task Name
    Specify a name for the task.
    Task Description
    Optionally, provide a helpful description of the task.
    Executable Name
    Specify the object to be executed as a background task:
    • For a stored procedure, specify the name of the stored procedure.
    • For a report, specify the name of the DataView to be used to generate the report.
    • For an IDO method, specify the name of the IDO method.
    Executable Type
    Select the type of object to be executed as a background task:
    • For a stored procedure, select SP.
    • For a report, select RPT.
    • For an IDO method, select IDOMTH.
    Exclusive
    To prevent more than one instance of the task from running simultaneously, select this option.
    Report Type
    Select which type of report generator is to be used to generate the report:
    Note: This field is enabled only if you select RPT as the Executable Type.
    • DATAVIEW: Reports based on DataViews and their layouts.

      When this report type is specified, the Executable Name field must contain the name of the predefined DataView, followed by a dash and the name of the DataView layout to be used for the report.

      For example, you might have a predefined DataView named "Customer Orders" and a layout named "Print" that you use to send the report output to a printer. In this case, you would specify the Executable Name as Customer Orders-Print.

      This report type supports output only to PDF or Excel formats.

    • FORM: Reports created using the Report form type.

      When using this report type, use the form name (not caption) in the Executable Name field.

      This report type supports output only to the PDF format.

    • SSRS: (Deprecated) Reports created using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).

      The report output file must be placed in TaskMan's reports subdirectory on the server. Although the report uses a stored procedure, its Executable Type must be set to RDL, since it requires special handling through SSRS.

    Report Options
    To launch the Report Options form, in which you can make various settings for the output of a report, click this button.
    Note: This button is enabled only if you select RPT as the Executable Type.
    Paper Size
    Select the size of paper to be used for the report output.

    For descriptions of the various paper sizes available, see List of report paper size options.

    Note: This field is enabled only if you select RPT as the Executable Type.
    Maximum Concurrent
    Specify the maximum number of concurrent instances of this task you want TaskMan to allow.

    The default value is 20.

    Valid values are positive integers. A value of -1 means any number of concurrent instances of this task are allowed to run, up to other limits imposed on all tasks.

    Caution: 
    Do not attempt to use a value of zero (0), as it disables the task completely.
    Isolation Level
    Select the transaction isolation level to use when running stored procedure tasks (Executable Type is set to SP) or report stored procedures (Executable Type is set to RPT):
    • COMMITTED: All queries run from this stored procedure see only data for which the query can get a shared lock. No reads of uncommitted data are performed.
    • UNCOMMITTED: All queries run from this stored procedure can read uncommitted data. Use this option carefully, since it can display data that has not yet been committed in the database.

    If no isolation level is set in this form, the stored procedure uses the global Collection Read Mode value from the Process Defaults form. If that value does not exist, the stored procedure uses COMMITTED as the transaction isolation level.

  4. Save.