SIMS versions previous to 6.0 had a capability in SIMS Tools called "Overnight", which allowed users to run scripts on schedules.
Among the drawbacks were that the capability required a SIMS client to be running and it could only store one script. SIMS 6.0 and later releases take this utility to a new level, with multiple scripts that can be run on the server machine in multi-user situations.
This capability allows a wide range of possibilities for SIMS. For example, some SIMS users have personnel data that is tracked in another system that they want to use to update SIMS data on a nightly basis. With Automated Batch Processing (ABP), they can have a script that runs in the early morning hours (say 3 A.M.) and it will look for an update file with a specific name that has been placed in a specific location by another system. It will then import the data and run an update to the Personnel file using that data.
To use the ABP capability, click its icon button in Utilities. You should see a list output screen like in the other SIMS modules. Click the Add button to display the entry screen, as shown below:
The Entered by field is filled in automatically. You must specify a procedure name.
If the Active checkbox is on, then the process will run automatically .
If Recur is not checked, it will run only once at the scheduled Run Time.
If Recur is checked, it will run every day or month at the scheduled Run Time.
The Last Run fields is not enterable, since this is filled in by the SIMS jobs process after running the process. Also, you can create a procedure and choose to Run Once Now by clicking that button. The History... button will let you view the history of each occasion on which the process ran.
User Startup and Shutdown scripts can also be created using the Automated Batch Processing feature. For example, to create a script dialog that says "Hello" when SIMS is first started:
Go to Utilities -> Automated batch Processing
Click on the Linked Procs button
Click on the Add New button
Give the procedure either the name UserStartup or UserShutdown
Enter a procedure into the script area of: alert("Hello")
Save the record
Writing scripts for this capability is serious stuff and should not be attempted without consulting first with SIMS Software. The SIMS System Administrator’s Guide gives more information on this capability.