Reading and Writing Parameter Names and Values

You can configure the text parser to read parameter values from an XML file or from a name-value text file. Similarly, you can configure the text parser to write parameter names and values to an XML file and/or to a name-value text file.

This task shows you how to:

See Also
About Parameters
About the Parameters File
Importing and Exporting Parameters

Read Parameter Names and Values from an XML File

You can use the text parser to read parameter names and values from an XML file in the working directory.

  1. From the Utilities section of the action bar, click Text Parser and drop it on the process diagram.
  2. Double-click Text Parser .
    The Text Parser Editor appears.
  3. Click .
    The Create New Text Parse dialog box appears.
  4. From the Text format list, select Parameter Values, and click OK.
  5. From the editor that appears, select Read text.
  6. Select XML.
  7. Enter the name of the XML file from which to read. The file must exist in the working directory when the adapter runs.
  8. Click Ok to save your changes and to close the Text Parser Editor.
    When the activity runs, Automation Process Composer reads the value of the parameters from the XML file in the working directory. The text parser adapter ignores any parameters in the XML file that do not exist; the text parser adapter will not create a parameter.

Read Parameter Names and Values from a Name-Value Pairs File

You can use the text parser to read parameter names and values from a text file containing name-value pairs in the working directory.

  1. From the Utilities section of the action bar, click Text Parser and drop it on the process diagram.
  2. Double-click Text Parser .
    The Text Parser Editor appears.
  3. Click .
    The Create New Text Parse dialog box appears.
  4. From the Text format list, select Parameter Values, and click OK.
  5. From the editor that appears, select Read text.
  6. Select Name-value pairs.
  7. Enter the name of the name-value pairs file from which to read. The file must exist in the working directory when the adapter runs.
  8. Select the delimiter that separates the parameter name from its value.

    Automation Process Composer ignores any lines in the name-value pairs file that do not contain the delimiter.

  9. Select how Automation Process Composer responds if a parameter name appears more than once in the name-value pairs file.
    OptionDescription
    Use First Ignore subsequent occurrences of the parameter name.
    Use Last Overwrite the previous occurrence of the parameter name.
    Error End execution; the text parser fails.
  10. Click Ok to save your changes and to close the Text Parser Editor.
    When the activity runs, Automation Process Composer reads the value of the parameters from the name-value pairs file in the working directory. The text parser adapter ignores any parameters in the name-value pairs file that do not exist; the text parser adapter will not create a parameter.

Write Parameter Names and Values to an XML File

You can use the text parser to write parameter names and values to an XML file in the working directory.

  1. From the Utilities section of the action bar, click Text Parser and drop it on the process diagram.
  2. Double-click Text Parser .
    The Text Parser Editor appears.
  3. Click .
    The Create New Text Parse dialog box appears.
  4. From the Text format list, select Parameter Values, and click OK.
  5. From the editor that appears, select Write text.
  6. Select XML.
  7. Enter the name of the XML file to which to write.
  8. Click Ok to save your changes and to close the Text Parser Editor.
    When the activity runs, Automation Process Composer writes the parameter definitions to the XML file in the working directory. If the file already exists, its contents will be overwritten.

Write Parameter Names and Values to a Name-Value Pairs File

You can use the text parser to write parameter names and values to a name-value pairs file in the working directory.

  1. From the Utilities section of the action bar, click Text Parser and drop it on the process diagram.
  2. Double-click Text Parser .
    The Text Parser Editor appears.
  3. Click .
    The Create New Text Parse dialog box appears.
  4. From the Text format list, select Parameter Values, and click OK.
  5. From the editor that appears, select Write text.
  6. Select Name-value pairs.
  7. Enter the name of the XML file to which to write.
  8. Select the delimiter that separates the parameter name from its value.
  9. Click Ok to save your changes and to close the Text Parser Editor.
    When the activity runs, Automation Process Composer writes the parameter names and values to the name-values pair file in the working directory. If the file already exists, its contents will be overwritten.