How to schedule Dynamics GP to automatically log in and run an Integration Manager integration - revisited

With my newly found stride, thanks mostly to Microsoft Dynamics Convergence Atlanta 2011 and the number of interesting questions I fielded during the event, I thought it was time to revisit the issue of scheduling Integration Manager integrations as part of our deep dive session, DDGP03 Microsoft Dynamics GP Customization & Integration Tools Review - see Microsoft Convergence Atlanta 2011: Day 3 for more on what transpired that day.

If you have been a follower of my blog for sometime now, you will recall that back in January of 2009 (ok, I don't expect you to remember this) I posted an article on the subject - see How to schedule Dynamics GP to automatically log in and run an Integration Manager integration. In short, the article looked at using the Windows Task Scheduler to launch a batch file, which in turn would launch Microsoft Dynamics GP, which in turn would use a macro to log into the system, then run a previously created shortcut to run the integration...in summary, a very complicated set of steps if you ask me. This method also presented a problem for users running Windows Server 2008 and above, since the Windows Task Scheduler no longer supports desktop interaction, which is required by the macro system to execute a macro.

Fast forwarding one year and almost half later, and I still get this question regularly: How can I schedule an Integration Manager integration?

Here is my new secret...

I use a (non-Microsoft) product called System Scheduler Professional by Splinterware. It turns out that System Scheduler has no ties to the Microsoft Windows Task Scheduler - none whatsoever! In turn, it allows the product to do some really cool things like running as a service application which is just exactly what's needed if you are going to schedule stuff when locking down your computer before leaving for the day is a must.

System Scheduler - Event Setup

System Scheduler allows you to setup an event or a list of events to be executed and even more cool, it allows you to send key sequences to an application with a complete help file that illustrates what's possible. In older systems (like Windows XP) you can even set it up to unlock the computer and lock it as part of the list of events. Due to restrictions in the way Windows 7 is built this is not possible, but still, not needed if you consider that System Scheduler can run as a service under the LocalSystem account or a named account.

System Scheduler - Advanced Options

You can download the product with the link below:

System Scheduler Professional by Splinterware.

The Professional version allows you to try it out for 30 days before you need to register it. It is really very simple to use and if you had had any exposure to Windows Task Scheduler then this should be a breeze. Now, instead of the complex steps mentioned in the previous article, you can schedule Microsoft Dynamics GP to launch with the typical parameters and use a macro to log you in (if not using Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 to remember the user and company for you). Once GP is up and running, you can use a the SendKeys function to lunch IM (or IMRun) and execute the integration of your choice.

As it turns out, you can also have a multi-event schedule that first launches GP then launches IM with the integration as a parameter. Please try the tool out and let me know what you think.

Until next post!

MG.-
Mariano Gomez, MVP
IntellPartners, LLC
http://www.IntellPartners.com/