1. Introduction
Taskflows in Informatica Cloud define the execution sequence of the tasks. They allow you to run tasks in parallel, use advanced decision making criteria, and perform other advanced orchestrations and recovery options.
There are several ways in which a taskflow can be triggered in Informatica Cloud Data Integration. In this article, let us explore how to trigger a taskflow using taskflow inputs with the Run Using option.
2. What are Taskflow Inputs?
In the Start step of a taskflow, you can create Input Fields that you want to pass values to when you run the taskflow. The values passed to these Input Fields can be subsequently used in other steps of the taskflow during execution.
The Run Using option allows users to create and save one or more pre-defined sets of values that can be passed to Input Fields known as Taskflow Inputs. This feature helps in testing a published Taskflow with different sets of values for input fields.
3. Setting up Scenario for Demonstrating Taskflow Inputs
Consider a scenario where we are working with EMPLOYEES data which we need to test with different filter conditions.
The Source Filter condition is parameterized using SQL Override in the Advanced section of the Source transformation. An In-Out parameter is used to parameterize the filter condition as shown below.
In the Start step of a taskflow create an Input Field as shown below. The Initial (default) value is configured as 1=1 which allows all the records to be processed.
The Mapping task is added to the taskflow using a Data Task step.
- In the Input Fields sections, click on + > InOut Parameters > select the parameter P_FILTER created in the mapping.
- Assign the Input Field Src_Filter created in the Start step as value to P_FILTER.
Save, Publish, and Run the taskflow. The mapping is executed with source query as shown below.
SELECT * FROM EMPLOYEES WHERE 1=1
Now, if we need to test the mapping multiple times with different filter conditions, both modifying the default value in the Taskflow or editing the condition in the mapping manually can be a tedious process. Instead, we can create and save the filter values to be passed to input fields of a taskflow using Taskflow Inputs, streamlining the testing process.
4. Creating a Taskflow Input
Follow the below steps to create taskflow Inputs in a published taskflow.
1. Navigate to the taskflow for which you want to create a taskflow input.
2. From the Actions menu, select Run Using. The Test Taskflow Input Collection page opens.
3. Click on New Input. Enter a name for taskflow input and click Save.
4. The Taskflow Input section displays all the Input Fields that are configured in the taskflow. Enter the values for each Input Field.
The following image shows the Taskflow Input section with value configured for the input field Src_Filter.
The Taskflow input can be configured in JSON or XML format by changing the Encoding.
5. Click the Validate icon to validate the syntax of the taskflow input.
6. Click Save to save the taskflow input.
Additionally, you can click Save As to save the taskflow input with a different name. Click the Reset icon to reset a taskflow input to the last saved taskflow input. Click the Delete icon to delete a taskflow input.
5. Running a Taskflow using Taskflow Inputs with the Run Using option
After you publish a taskflow and create taskflow inputs, follow the below steps to run the taskflow with taskflow inputs to test it.
Note that if you do not configure any of the the “Allowed Groups” or the “Allowed Users” fields, Data Integration does not allow you to run the taskflow using the Run Using option.
1. Navigate to the taskflow that you want to run with one or more taskflow inputs.
2. Verify if the Allowed Groups or the Allowed Users are configured in the taskflow properties. If not, configure the user or group details accordingly.
3. From the Actions menu, select Run Using. The Test Taskflow Input Collection page opens.
4. From the taskflow input drop-down menu, select the specific taskflow input to run the taskflow.
5. Click on Run to run the taskflow with the selected taskflow input.
Click Run All to run the taskflow using all the taskflow inputs. Multiple instances of taskflow will be triggered with values configured in the taskflow inputs.
6. Closing Points
Taskflow inputs are useful when testing a Taskflow with a different set of input values. Instead of manually changing values for each run, they allow you to save input values and use them as needed, streamlining the testing process.
- You can create multiple taskflow inputs and run a taskflow with all the inputs.
- When you export, copy, or move a taskflow that contains taskflow inputs, the taskflow inputs are retained.
- A taskflow cannot be scheduled to run using a taskflow input. They need to be selected using the Run Using option manually.
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