topic Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish in Alteryx Server Discussions

Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 04:47:25 GMT

Hi everyone,

I have a workflow will be run in server after ALL others workflows finish.

-----workflow_1-----

-----workflow_2-----

-----workflow_3-----

--------------------workflow_4------->

for example, workflow 4 will run after all 1,2,3 finish. And workflow_1,2,3 can be run in parallel in server to optimize time. I have searched to find solution but there is only run sequel wf_1 --> wf_2 --> wf_3 --> wf_4 by using CReW.

Do you have advice for me. Thanks

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

afv2688 — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 16:03:19 GMT

Hello @huynv96,

The only solution I can think of is to run your workflows as chained apps.

In my example, you could create a file that is generated after each workflow runs. For example:

W1 -> W1_Finished.txt

The second app would then be then always the W4. This would first check if all the files are created. Since all the files would only be available once the three other worklflows have finished, W4 would only run once.

After running W4 you could delete the files "W1_Finished.txt" to be ready for the next run.

It's a little bit unorthodox but it's the only solution I could think of.

Regards

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 18:16:28 GMT

Thanks your response @afv2688 . Can you explain more and give me an example about chained app?

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

afv2688 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 08:11:00 GMT

Hello @huynv96,

to create chained app you need to transform your workflows into applications. Once you have them as apps you can open the interface designer (cntrl + alt + d) and select the option to 'on success run another app' and select the application you would want to run, which in this case would be W4:

The way they work is that once the first app is finished, the second app will inmediately pop up without the need to do anything.

If you need any further explanation or help don't hesitate contacting me

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

Regards

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

hroderick-thr — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:07:51 GMT

If you have scheduling software like Control-M available, you can use it to run workflows from command line and a bat file.

A different hack option would use a messaging table and a controller workflow.

Using your example, let's call the controller workflow C

Start workflows 1,2,3, and C

Workflows 1,2,3 will post to a messaging table as last step.

Workflow C will read the table and have a detour

If 1,2,3 have all posted, start 4 and empty message table

Else wait some time and re-run itself using a run command tool and bat file

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 14:29:18 GMT

Good option @afv2688 , But how if i need to optimize time by using optimize server resource to run 1,2,3 in parallel,your solution seems the workflow will run 1 --> 2 --> 3 --> 4.

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 14:31:01 GMT

Thanks. @hroderick-thr For your solution. How do we know which exactly time we check file and run workflow 4. A loop check in period time?

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

afv2688 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:08:30 GMT

Hello @huynv96,

My idea was to concatenate each worfklow with W4. After each one is finished the first thing they would do is create a text file

W1 -> create W1finish text file -> [[Condition: Are there W1finish text file, W2finish text file and W3finish text file]]?? -> Run W4 -> delete finish text files

W2 -> create W2finish text file -> [[Condition: Are there W1finish text file, W2finish text file and W3finish text file]]?? -> Run W4 -> delete finish text files

W3 -> create W3finish text file -> [[Condition: Are there W1finish text file, W2finish text file and W3finish text file]]?? -> Run W4 -> delete finish text files

The idea is, that W4 would only run once, since the three files would only be present once all workflows have ended. For the other two, since the other files would still not be generated then W4 would not run

Regards

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

hroderick-thr — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:12:11 GMT

The only loop would be C rerunning itself

When C finds 1, 2, and 3 had not finished, it would run C

When C finds 1, 2, and 3 had finished, it would run 4

There is no time check.

You could delay C running C a minute or more

You could start the scheduled run of C a little later than 1, 2, 3 to give them time to finish before it begins checking

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:34:56 GMT

Thank you so much @afv2688 @hroderick-thr , I will try

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 08:23:59 GMT

Hi @afv2688 ,

One more question to solve this, please help me!

How should I set if conditional to run or not run a container/app in this case?

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

afv2688 — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:02:42 GMT

Hello huynv96,

Depending on what is going to be the trigger for that activation. If you are talking about the existing files you could use the command to trigger the action tool which is FileExist(). This is a boolean and check on an existing path is the file is there or not.

Test it on a workflow and check if it helps you.

Regards

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:15:50 GMT

Yes, I mean about build tool in alteryx designer. Can I active/deactive a container to do this?

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

afv2688 — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 09:22:11 GMT

Hello huynv96,

Yes for sure! Here is a simple example where I pass the condition:

Take into account, that the activation and deactivation of tools- containers can only be achieved within macros, meaning that an incoming condition from an upper leverl workflow-macro is the only way (that I am aware of) to do this. You cannot deactivate on a condition a container within the same workflow.

Hope I have explained myself correctly.

Regards

Re: Set schedule run workflow after ALL other workflows finish

huynv96 — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 02:20:05 GMT

Hi @afv2688 ,

Yesterday, I build a chained app follow your guide however it did not work well.

app 1 -> app 2, in app 2, i set an event to sent me an email after run.

I uploaded app 1 to Alteryx server (manager asset: app 2 was checked) and I set schedule to run. My output data would be stored in database. But I did not have data and receive email yet. It seems like only app 1 was be run.

Are there any difference or notes between schedule app and workflow in server? How can I check my app is running or not? Because I saw that when run workflow, the progress will be appear in workflow result tab, But I run app, it show a message "If you close this tab, you need to start over". And sometime app have input before run.

I just run manually, error:

My workflow requires hours