2.90:Activity Processing (Service) - Revision history

Dgreenwood at 15:54, 5 August 2025

2025-08-05T15:54:48Z

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Randallkinard at 18:02, 29 April 2024

2024-04-29T18:02:16Z

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	<blockquote ~~style="font-size~~:~~125%">~~
	~~'''~~Activity Processing~~''' is a Grooper~~ Service that executes '''[[Activity\|Unattended Activities]]''' assigned to '''Batch Steps''' in a '''[[Batch Process]]'''. This allows Grooper to automate '''Batch Steps''' that do not require a human operator.		<blockquote>{{#lst:Glossary\|Activity Processing Service}}</blockquote>
	</blockquote>

	When configuring an '''Activity Processing''' service, a '''[[Thread Pool]]''' must be specified. This will determine the '''Batch Steps''' (or "pool of work") for which this service is allowed to process pending tasks. An '''Activity Processing''' service can only be configured to point to a single '''Thread Pool'''. However, multiple '''Activity Processing''' services may be added to the Grooper service list.		When configuring an '''Activity Processing''' service, a '''[[Thread Pool]]''' must be specified. This will determine the '''Batch Steps''' (or "pool of work") for which this service is allowed to process pending tasks. An '''Activity Processing''' service can only be configured to point to a single '''Thread Pool'''. However, multiple '''Activity Processing''' services may be added to the Grooper service list.

Dgreenwood at 22:56, 28 December 2023

2023-12-28T22:56:12Z

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	'''Activity Processing''' is a Grooper Service that executes '''[[Activity\|Unattended Activities]]''' assigned to '''Batch Steps''' in a '''[[Batch Process]]'''. This allows Grooper to automate '''Batch Steps''' that do not require a human operator.		'''Activity Processing''' is a Grooper Service that executes '''[[Activity\|Unattended Activities]]''' assigned to '''Batch Steps''' in a '''[[Batch Process]]'''. This allows Grooper to automate '''Batch Steps''' that do not require a human operator.
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	~~[[Category:Articles]]~~
	~~[[Category:Version 2.90]]~~

Dgreenwood: Dgreenwood moved page 2.90:Activity Processing to 2.90:Activity Processing (Service) without leaving a redirect

2023-12-28T22:55:52Z

Dgreenwood moved page 2.90:Activity Processing to 2.90:Activity Processing (Service) without leaving a redirect

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Dgreenwood moved page Activity Processing - 2.90 to 2.90:Activity Processing without leaving a redirect

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Dgreenwood at 15:12, 9 December 2022

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			[[Category:Articles]]
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Dgreenwood at 13:51, 26 May 2022

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	When configuring an '''Activity Processing''' service, a '''Thread Pool''' must be specified. This will determine the '''Batch Steps''' (or "pool of work") for which this service is allowed to process pending tasks. An '''Activity Processing''' service can only be configured to point to a single [[Thread Pool]]. However, multiple '''Activity Processing''' services may be added to the Grooper service list.		When configuring an '''Activity Processing''' service, a '''[[Thread Pool]]''' must be specified. This will determine the '''Batch Steps''' (or "pool of work") for which this service is allowed to process pending tasks. An '''Activity Processing''' service can only be configured to point to a single '''Thread Pool'''. However, multiple '''Activity Processing''' services may be added to the Grooper service list.

	== About ==		== About ==

Dgreenwood: Created page with "
'''Activity Processing''' is a Grooper Service that executes '''Unattended Activities''' assigned to '''Batch Steps''' in a '..."

2022-05-26T13:37:59Z

Created page with "<blockquote style="font-size:125%"> '''Activity Processing''' is a Grooper Service that executes '''Unattended Activities''' assigned to '''Batch Steps''' in a '..."

New page

<blockquote style="font-size:125%">
'''Activity Processing''' is a Grooper Service that executes '''[[Activity|Unattended Activities]]''' assigned to '''Batch Steps''' in a '''[[Batch Process]]'''. This allows Grooper to automate '''Batch Steps''' that do not require a human operator.
</blockquote>

When configuring an '''Activity Processing''' service, a '''Thread Pool''' must be specified. This will determine the '''Batch Steps''' (or "pool of work") for which this service is allowed to process pending tasks. An '''Activity Processing''' service can only be configured to point to a single [[Thread Pool]]. However, multiple '''Activity Processing''' services may be added to the Grooper service list.

== About ==

'''Unattended Activities''' in a '''Batch Process''' can be automated using an '''Activity Processing''' Grooper service. The '''Activity Processing''' service will act like a Windows service and automatically start tasks in a '''Batch''', as processing threads in your system's resources become available. This is one of the ways Grooper leverages your system resources for parallel processing.

Imagine you're running Grooper on a machine with eight (8) processing threads. If you have a '''Batch''' with five (5) '''Batch Folders''', and each one is on the '''Recognize''' step of the '''Batch Process''', there's no need for your system to process each '''Batch Folder''' sequentially (with each '''Batch Folder''' waiting to be processed until the one before it is finished).
* You have 8 threads and 5 '''Batch Folders''' in this scenario.
* Each one of those threads can process one '''Batch Folder''' as a single task.
* With 8 available threads, all 5 '''Batch Folders''' could be processed concurrently by 5 individual threads.
* This is ''multi-threaded'' '''Activity''' processing.

You could then set up an '''Activity Processing''' service to process all '''Unattended Activity''' steps in a '''Batch Process''' with the maximum allowable processing threads available.

=== Scenario: Single-Threaded Processing Requirement For Export ===

However, there may be reasons why you want to limit the number of threads available to particular '''Activities'''. For example, when automating '''Export''' steps in a '''Batch Process''', you may need to execute the activity ''single threaded''.

Depending on which external storage system you're exporting to, you may run into errors if you attempt to run the '''Export''' activity multi-threaded. Particularly when it comes to cloud-based systems, like SharePoint online or Box.com, their file transfer protocol may expects users to upload files ''one at a time''. If you have 5 threads all attempting to upload 5 different '''Batch Folders''' from the same machine, 4 of those '''Batch Folders''' are going to kick back to Grooper in an error state.

Instead, you must run the activity single-threaded, ensuring only one '''Batch Folder''' is processed at a time. As well as automating '''Batch Processing''' activities, '''Activity Processing''' services allow you to control thread resources by assigning activities a '''Thread Pool''' and limiting the number of maximum threads available for that '''Thread Pool'''.

Next, we will show you how to create a single threaded '''Thread Pool''' for an '''Export''' activity, and set up an '''Activity Processing''' service that utilizes it. This will effectively throttle your export, so '''Batch Folders''' are indeed only exported one at a time, avoiding any issues with external platforms that cannot handle multi-threaded exports.

=== How To: Assign a Thread Pool to an Activity Processing Service to Run Export Single-Threaded ===

<tabs style="margin:20px">
<tab name="Add a Thread Pool" style="margin:20px">
=== Add a Thread Pool ===

The first thing you'll need to do is add a '''Thread Pool''' object. A '''Thread Pool''' defines the "bucket" of threads available to one step or another in a '''Batch Process'''. In our case, this will allow us to limit the number of threads the '''Export''' step uses to a single thread.

{|cellpadding=10 cellspacing=5
|valign=top style="width:40%"|
To add a '''Thread Pool''':

# Expand the '''Infrastructure''' folder in the Node Tree.
# Right-click the '''Thread Pools''' folder.
# Select "Add" then "Thread Pool..."
# This will bring up a new window to name the '''Thread Pool'''. Enter a name and press "OK".
#* We named ours "Export Throttle"
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-01.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
# This will add a new '''Thread Pool''' object to the Node Tree.
# FYI: No further object configuration is technically required at this point.
#* However, if you want the safest implementation of a single-threaded '''Thread Pool''', totally ensuring only a single '''Export''' task is processed per repository environment, you can change the '''''Concurrency Mode''''' property from ''Multiple'' to ''Single''. With the ''Single'' mode, only a single task will run per Grooper repository.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-02.png]]
|}
</tab>
<tab name="Assign the Thread Pool" style="margin:20px">
=== Assign the Thread Pool ===

{|cellpadding=10 cellspacing=5
|valign=top style="width:40%"|
Next, we need to tell our '''Batch Process''' which step should use our new '''Thread Pool'''.

# By default, all '''Batch Process''' steps use the "Default" '''Thread Pool'''.
# In the '''Batch Step''' property grid, '''Thread Pools''' are assigned with the '''''Thread Pool''''' property.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-03.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
We want to tell the '''Export''' step of this '''Batch Process''' to use a different '''Thread Pool''', the new one we just created.

# Select the '''Export''' step in the '''Batch Process'''.
# Select the '''''Thread Pool''''' property.
# Using the dropdown menu, select the '''Thread Pool''' you wish to use.
#* In our case, the "Export Throttle" '''Thread Pool'''.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-04.png]]
|}
</tab>
<tab name="Configure an Activity Processing Service" style="margin:20px">

=== Configure an Activity Processing Service ===

On to Grooper Config! Grooper services are installed and edited using Grooper Config. Open Grooper Config to install a new '''Activity Processing''' service.

{|cellpadding="10" cellspacing="5"
|-style="background-color:#f89420; color:white"
|style="font-size:22pt"|'''⚠'''||Grooper Config must be run as an administrator to install and edit services.
|}

{|cellpadding=10 cellspacing=5
|valign=top style="width:40%"|
# To install a new service, press the "Edit Services..." button in Grooper Config.

{|cellpadding="10" cellspacing="5"
|-style="background-color:#36b0a7; color:white"
|style="font-size:14pt"|'''FYI'''||If you have multiple Grooper Repository connections, as is the case for this environment, you will need to ensure one thing first.

Make sure the '''''Default Repository''''' selected is the Grooper Repository with the newly added '''''Thread Pool'''''.
|}
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-05.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
# This will bring up the "Service Manager" window.
# Press the "Install..." button.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-06.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
# In the "Install New Service" window, select ''Activity Processing''.
# Press the "OK" button.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-07.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
# This will bring up a window to edit the service.
# Select the '''''Thread Pool''''' property.
# Using the dropdown menu, select the '''Thread Pool''' you wish to use for the '''Activity Processing''' service.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-08.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
# The '''''Number Of Threads''''' property allows you to define how many of your system's processing threads should be utilized by the '''Activity Processing''' service.
#* In our case, we're using this '''Activity Processing Service''' to throttle our '''Export''' activity, forcing it to run single-threaded. So, we will keep this set to ''1''.
# You must also provide user credentials to run the service. This must be a user who has the following access rights:
#* Have the "Logon as Service" permission on the machine which the Grooper service is running.
#* Have access to the Grooper Repository's database.
#* Have access to the Grooper Repository's file store location.
# Press the "Execute" button when done.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-09.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
# This will add a Grooper Activity Processing service instance to the services list.
# Newly installed services, must be started. Notice its '''''Status''''' is listed as ''Stopped''.
# Select the service, and press the "Start" button to start it.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-10.png]]
|-
|valign=top|
# The '''''Status''''' will change to ''Running''
# The icon next to the service name will also change from red to green.
# Your service is now installed and running. Press the "Close" button to exit the Service Manager window.
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-11.png]]
|
|-
|valign=top|
# Upon processing a '''Batch''' the '''Export''' step in our '''Batch Process''' will be executed by the '''Activity Processing Service'''.
#* This automates the step's execution using the "Export Throttle" '''Thread Pool''' and limits the number of threads processing '''Batch''' objects ('''Batch Folders''' in this case) to a single thread, preventing export errors to systems that cannot handle multi-threaded exports.

{|cellpadding="10" cellspacing="5"
|-style="background-color:#36b0a7; color:white"
|style="font-size:14pt"|'''FYI'''||You can have multiple '''Activity Processing''' services running, each with their own '''Thread Pool'''.

You can automate the rest of the '''Unattended Activities''' in a '''Batch Process''' by added a second '''Activity Processing''' service, assigning it the "Default" '''Thread Pool''', and assign the number of threads you want to utilize with the '''''Number of Threads''''' property.
|}
|
[[File:Export-thread-pools-12.png]]
|}
</tab>
</tabs>