Writing Rules › Writing Time Rules › Evaluating Time Rules

Evaluating Time Rules

Use the Evaluation Frequency field in the Rules Settings dialog in Configuration Manager to determine how frequently CA Automation Point evaluates time rules. You can use these environmental variables in time rules: &DATE, &DAY, &JULDATE, and &TIME.

To execute a rule multiple times during the day, add a clause containing the EVERY keyword to that rule. If a time rule does not contain an EVERY clause, it executes only at the time specified on the TIME keyword.

Example:

Suppose that a time rule begins with the clause TIME(08:00). Because CA Automation Point uses a 24-hour clock to process time rules, this rule executes only once a day, at 8:00 a.m.

If you want the rule to execute at both 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., rewrite it as follows:

TIME(08:00), EVERY(12 HOURS) ruletext

If you want the rule to execute every four hours, rewrite it as follows:

TIME(08:00), EVERY(4 HOURS) ruletext

The revised rule executes for the first time at 8:00 a.m., then at 12 noon, 4:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and midnight. After midnight, the rule does not execute again until 8:00 a.m. (the time specified with the TIME keyword).

If CA Automation Point starts operating before the time when a rule is scheduled to execute, the rule executes at the specified time or time interval. If CA Automation Point starts up after the time when a rule is scheduled to execute, that rule does not execute unless it contains an EVERY clause. In such a case, CA Automation Point processes the rule as follows:

• CA Automation Point determines when the rule would have executed last, then continues executing the rule at the interval specified on the EVERY clause.
• After midnight, CA Automation Point stops executing the rule until the time specified on the TIME clause.