Batch
Q















Version 1.0 September, 1991

Batch - Q


Introduction

This set of routines will provide a Batch processing Queue for the PC environment.
There are two main purposes for this system. Primarily, to free up PCs on the Users
desk by running less important jobs on a seperate machine. Secondly, to permit
scheduling of recurring Jobs to be run hourly, daily, Monthly even every minute. Jobs
that run every minute are usually set up to first check if something has happened, (a
routine has completed, a file is created etc. ) then run their process. The routines can
be run on a dedicated machine on a LAN or in a multitasking type environment such
as Desqview.

The recommended implementation is to bring up a dedicated machine on the LAN to
run this software. This will provide a more efficient processing environment. The
Batch Machine does not need to be a particularly fast machine. The machines
generally used are in the 286 (AT) family. However, an 8088 or 8086 will work with
BatchQ. Keep in mind that the machine used for the Batch Machine will run any jobs
submitted as long as it is capable of running them in stand-alone mode.

The program allows for scheduling routines as well as recurring routines to be run
every so many months, days, hours, minutes or combination thereof.

The product is in release 1.0. Future modifications have already been planned, these
are discussed in the last section of this document.

Table of Contents



The Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


The BATCH Q. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2



SUBMIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5



The Files

If BATCHQ.ZIP was downloaded from a BBS it should contain 7 files:

BATCH.EXE The Batch Processing Routine
BATCHT.BAT The DOS batch routine to constantly run the Processing Routine.
BATCH.FIL A Sample Data file.
SUBMIT.EXE Routine used to submit jobs to the Batch Queue.

BATCH.DOC This documentation file ASCII.
BATCH.WP5 This documentation in Word Perfect Format.

INSTALL.BAT The routine to install the software on your machine.



Installation

To run the Install program, put all of these files on a diskette or a separate directory. Then type Install
Drive1Drive2Drive3.

The format for Install is :
INSTALL d1 d2 d3
Where d1 is the drive to install from.
d2 is the drive to install on.
d3 is the boot drive.

Example : INSTALL A C C

NOTE : Do not include the ":".


The drive to be installed on may be any drive that the user has directory creation privileges on.

The routine will create a directory on that drive called BatchQ. Then all of the files will be copied to that
directory and the batch file will be updated to run from that drive. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file for this machine
will also be modified to automatically run the batch routines on bootup. If you do not want the jobs
automatically run then simply delete the line from your autoexec.bat, it will be the last line.

Reboot this machine and the Batch Queue will start running. Since nothing has been submitted to the Queue
only the routines in the sample file will be run.



The BATCH Q


The batch machine will display a list of the next 17 procedures in the Queue. The first column contains the
job's position in the Queue. If the Job is past due then an '*' will appear in the first column. The second and
third columns contain the next Date and Time that the Job will run. The next column is a 4 digit Batch
Routine Number followed by the routine to be run. The last column contains the directory that the job will
be run from. There is other information associated with the job that is not displayed on this screen.

This information determines what order the routines will be run in. Normally the primary key in determining
order of processing is the Date and Time. However, when two or more jobs are overdue the job with the
higher priority will run first regardless of which one was scheduled to run first.

If two overdue jobs have the same priority then the Date and time are used to determine order of execution.
If the priority, date and Time are the same then order of execution is considered unimportant and the job with
the batch routine number will be run first.

Once a job is running no other job can interrupt it. This is how several jobs may become overdue in the
queue.

As the Batch Q runs it creates a file called TASKS.RPT containing the list of all pending jobs. This can be
viewed at any terminal on the lan with read access to that directory. It also creates a file called BATCH.LOG
which contains a log of the Routines that are run and the Time and Date that they are run. These two files
are both text files and can be read using the DOS TYPE command.




SUBMIT



The Submit routine is used to enter jobs into the Queue. It has several optional parameters. All of the
parameters may be entered in full or abbreviated with the first Character and the equal sign. There should
never be any spaces on either side of the equal sign.

Batchname=
B=yyx xx yyy ] This is the routine to be run. The ] must always appear to the right of the routine and it must
be by itself with spaces on both sides. An Example of this Parameter would be "B=CALL
YOURBATCH param param ]" If this parameter is omitted then an error message will be
displayed when the routine is run.

Directory=
D=xxxxxxxxx ] This is the Directory to run the Routine from. The ] must always appear to the right of the
routine and it must be by itself with spaces on both sides. An Example of this Parameter
would be "Directory=\dBASE\programs\ ]" This parameter is optional, the routines will run
from the default directory if it is omitted.

Rundate=
R=yymmdd This is the next run date for the routine. The format is 2 digit year 2 digit month and 2 digit
day. For example to run a routine on March 15th, 1992 the format would be R=920315. If
this parameter is omitted the current date is used.

Time=
T=hhmm The next run time for the routine. The format is hhmm in military time. 1:27 pm would be
entered as 1327. If this parameter is omitted then the current time is used.

YMD=
Y=yymmdd This is the number of years months and days between runs. For example to run the routine
every day enter 000001. If this is omitted it normally defaults to 0 days. However, if the HM
and the YMD are both not entered this will default to 999999 which will cause the routine to
be run once and then deleted from the Queue.

HM=
H=hhmm This is the number of Hours and Minutes between runs. For example to run the routine
every hour and a half enter 0130. If this is omitted it normally defaults to 0 hours and
minutes. However, if the HM and the YMD are both not entered this will default to 999999
which will cause the routine to be run once and then deleted from the Queue.


Number=
N=x This is the routine number that should be changed. If the number is omitted the next unused
sequential number is assigned to the routine. A message will appear on the screen
indicating the number.

Priority=
P=x This is the priority of the job. It will be used to determine which job will run first if two jobs
are overdue. A priority of 1 is the highest, 999 is the lowest priority. If the parameter is
omitted then the default of 5 is used.

Vdisk=
V=x This is the disk that the routine should be run from. If the parameter is omitted then the
default drive is used.

Special=
S= This is a 2 character code for special processing. This parameter is not implemented in
release 1.0 but is scheduled for release 2.0.



Upgrades

The following changes are scheduled for Version 2.0 to be released in April of 1992. Comments or
suggestions are welcome and may effect the changes in this release.


1. Add special processing functionality. To allow the routine to print out the date time month etc as a
parameter to the routine that is being run.

2. The program is already configured to permit multiple batch machines to be set up against the same
file. Make changes to allow the user to specify a particular machine to run the routine on.





If you find BatchQ to be a useful tool, a registration of $20 would be appreciated. If you send $30 or
more you will receive, when available, the next version of the BatchQ programs along with
documentation. Please state the version of the software that you currently have.
Send check or money order to:

TREC Corp.
1709 Woodbridge Commons
Iselin, NJ 08830