Introduction to Operators › Common Properties of Operators in Processes › Simulation Properties

Simulation Properties

The Simulation properties let you configure how to simulate execution of an operator in a process. Simulation can be used for testing branches of a process or to allow normal processing to skip an operator without having to reroute the process.

You configure Simulation properties for a new process. For each operator in a process, you can specify to inherit the Mode setting configured at the process level or specify a different Mode setting. Double-click an operator to display the operator properties pane. Then expand the Simulation tab to display the settings to configure.

Mode

Simulation modes are available when you select the Override simulation option in Process check box.

Inherit from Process

Specifies to use the setting (Off, Local, or Distant) configured for the parent process of the operator.

Off

Turns off simulation and enables normal processing of the operator. The End Condition is set to Completed, Delay is set to 0, and Evaluate Pre-execution and Post-execution Code is cleared.

Local

Disables the operator so that it is not processed. CA Process Automation does not call the associated operator or monitor the operator parameters. Parameter checks include looking for an application program or validating the execution touchpoint for an operator.

Distant

Causes the engine to call the associated operator. The operator examines the parameters before returning the result but does not actually run the operator. If the parameters are incorrect, the simulated operator fails regardless of the specified outcome. If the parameters are correct, the operator returns the specified result.

Delay

Specifies the number of seconds to delay a process to simulate the time that the operator uses during normal processing.

End Condition

Specifies the exit condition for the simulated operator. You can use this option to test or troubleshoot different branches in a process. The actual conditions depend on the operator.

• The following end conditions apply when Mode is Off: Completed.
• The following end conditions apply when Mode is Local: Completed, Failed, Timeout.
• The following conditions apply when Mode is Distant: Completed, Failed, Timeout, Custom Result.

Completed

Causes the standard successful outcome exit link from the operator to process. The Result variable in the operator dataset is set to 1. Any positive integer value activates a standard successful exit link.

Failed

Causes the standard failed outcome exit link from the operator to process. The Result variable in the operator dataset is set to 0. Zero or any negative integer value activates the standard failed link.

Timeout

Causes the operator to take the timeout path when the given time is elapsed. The Result variable in the operator dataset displays as timeout.

Custom Result

Specifies the integer value that the Result variable in the operator dataset returns. You can set this parameter to any value (positive or negative) to activate a custom port that tests for a particular value.

This option is available only when Custom Result is selected for End condition.

Evaluate Pre-execution and Post-execution Code

Indicates whether to evaluate the pre-execution and post-execution code during operator simulation.

Selected

Specifies to evaluate the code and prevent side effects of ignoring the code.

Cleared

Specifies to not evaluate the code.