Defining Balancing Mission Parameters

Detection of data-related processing errors and inconsistencies by Control-M/Analyzer is achieved by specifying rules. The rule is the primary element in determining balancing procedures because it specifies:

• the location and type of input data that need to be balanced
• standards that determine if the input data are balanced

To arrive at a balancing decision, rules also provide extensive data manipulation techniques:

• the use of various functions that aid in data checking procedures
• the ability to store and access data items (variables) in the Control-M/Analyzer Database

Rules also specify different post-processing actions, such as the following:

• Add or remove conditions based on results of the balancing analysis.
• Send a message to the operator upon termination.

Rules can be scheduled by balancing missions, which determine scheduling based on calendar-related processing cycles (daily, monthly, quarterly), and runtime prerequisite conditions (for example, invoke the rule only if prerequisite condition OUTPUT_IS_READY exists).

A major advantage provided by missions is the ability to automatically invoke different rules (meaning, different balancing checks and procedures) based on scheduling criteria. There is no need to manually update job steps if, for example, a rule other than the daily rule should be run at end of month. This is accomplished by creating different mission categories for each scheduling criteria.

Control-M/Analyzer Online Balancing Mission and Rule Definition screens allow specification of mission and rule parameters. The rule name specified in the Mission Definition screen forms the link between the mission and the rule. Balancing missions schedule one initial rule for execution, but the initial rule can invoke an unlimited number of subsequent rules. As diagrammed in Figure 7, a balancing rule can be scheduled by different missions (A).

Figure 7 Online Balancing Mission and Rule Definition

Note: A rule can be invoked without being scheduled by a balancing mission. This is achieved by specifying a rule name, instead of a mission name, as a parameter to the Control-M/Analyzer job step (B). Also, one mission (see "Balancing Mission C" in diagram above) can schedule different rules at different times (for example, daily processing versus month-end processing) using categories.

Basic summary and online screen information regarding both Mission Definition parameters and Rule Definition parameters is provided in Online Facilities. More information about Balancing Mission Definition parameters is provided in Mission Definition Parameters. More information about Rule Definition parameters is provided in Rule Definition.