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Introduction

Consider the situation where files with different categories (i.e. files with similar characteristics such as type, source, or similar) can be processed in parallel but all the files of any one category have to be processed sequentially.

For example, the centralised data processing of a company receives stock movement reports from subsidiaries at regular intervals. Whilst the reports from different subsidiaries can be processed simultaneously, the reports from each subsidiary have to be processed sequentially.

The 'Best Practice' Solution

Our recommended approach for this situation would be:

Graphviz


digraph \{

graph [rankdir=TB]
node [shape=Mrecord,style="filled",fillcolor=lightblue]
node [fontsize=10]
ranksep=0.3
	subgraph cluster_0 \{

		style=filled;
		color=lightgrey;
		node [style=filled,color=white];
		label = "JobScheduler";
		labeljust = "l";
		pad = 0.1;

FileOrderSource[label= "\{<f0> FileOrder&#92;nSource|<f1>Identify&#92; Category|<f2>Is&#92; Lock&#92; Set|\{<f3>Yes|<f4>No\}\}"];
Setback[label= "\{<f0>Setback&#92;nWait\}"];
StartProcessing[label= "\{<f0>Set&#92; Lock|Start&#92; Processing&#92; File\}"];
EndProcessing[label= "\{<f0>End&#92; Processing&#92; File|<f1>Release&#92; Lock\}"];

FileOrderSource:f3 -> Setback ->  FileOrderSource:f2;
FileOrderSource:f4 -> StartProcessing -> EndProcessing [weight=4];
	\}

File_Transfer ->  FileOrderSource;
\}

The most important feature of this solution is that it only requires one job chain and one set of jobs to seperate separate the processing of different categories of files, thereby sinplifying simplifying maintenance of the jobs and job chain.

Use a single 'load_file' File Order Source directory to which all files are delivered.
JobScheduler would use regular expressions to identify the files arriving in this directory on the basis of their names, timestamps or file extensions and forward them for processing accordingly.
JobScheduler would then set a
'
lock
'
for the subsidiary whose file is being processed to prevent further files from this subsidiary being processed as long as processing continues.
No Format
Should

a

'new'

file

from

this

subsidiary

arrive

whilst

its

predecessor

is

being

processed,

the

job

'receiving'

the

new

file

will

be
'
set

back
'
by

JobScheduler

as

long

as

the

lock

for

the

subsidiary

is

set.
This lock would be released by JobScheduler once processing of the 'first' file has been completed.
The job 'receiving' the new file will now be able to forward the new file for processing.

The Solution in Detail

JS
JobScheduler starts as soon as a file matching
with Regular Expression
a regular expression is found in the directory.
noformat

This

directory

is

set

in

the

"File

Order

Sources"

area

in

the

"Steps/Nodes"

view

of

the

"load_files"

job
chain.
chain as shown in the screenshot below:

Image Modified

JobScheduler's aquire_lock job matches files using regular expressions and determines the file's category - for example, Berlin or Munich.
No Format
The

regular

expressions

are

also

defined

in

the

"File

Order

Sources"

area

shown

in

the

screenshot.

Note

that

for

simplicity

the

regular

expressions

match

the

prefixes

"a"

and

"b"

in

the

file

names

and

not

directly

"Berlin"

or

"Munich".

The
{{
aquire_lock
}}
job

uses

a

Rhino

JavaScript

to

try

to

aquire

the

lock

and

either wait

if

the

lock

is

not
available. This script is listed below.
available or proceed to the next node if it is.
This script is listed below:
Code Block
language javascript

...

function spooler_process()

...

{ try

...

{

...


     var parameters = spooler_task.order().params();
     var filePath = "" + String(parameters.value("scheduler_file_path"));
     spooler_log.info( " scheduler_file_path : " + filePath );

...



     var param1 = "" + String(parameters.value("param1"));
     spooler_log.info( " param1 : " + param1 );

...



     var fileParts = filePath.split("\\");
     var fileName  = fileParts[fileParts.length-1];
     spooler_log.info( "fileName : " + fileName );

     if(fileName.match("^a[A-Za-z0-9_]*\.csv$"))

...

{
        var lockName = "BERLIN_PROC";
        var lock_name = "BERLIN_PROC";
        spooler_log.info( "File matched with berlin lock_name : "+ lockName  );

...

}
    
     if(fileName.match("^b[A-Za-z0-9_]*\.csv$"))

...

{
        var lockName = "MUNICH_PROC";
        spooler_log.info( "File matched with berlin lock_name : "+ lockName  );

...

}

     spooler_task.order().params().set_value("file_spec",fileName);
     spooler_task.order().params().set_value("lock_name",lockName);      
         
     if (!spooler.locks().lock_or_null( lockName ))

...

{
         var lock = spooler.locks().create_lock();
         lock.set_name( lockName );     
         spooler.locks().add_lock( lock );     
         if (spooler_task.try_hold_lock( lockName ))

...

{          
             return true;

...

} else

...

{
           spooler_task.call_me_again_when_locks_available();

...

}

...

} else

...

{      
      spooler_task.order().setback();
      spooler_log.info( " lock is already aquired , lock_name : "+ lockName +" , setback , will retry after some time");

...

} return true;

...

} catch (e)

...

{
   
    spooler_log.warn("error occurred    : " + String(e));
    return false;

...

}

...

}

Once aquire_lock finds the matching category it will try to set a semaphore (flag) using JobScheduler's inbuilt LOCK mechanism
Only one instance of each LOCK is allowed as can be seen in Max Non Exclusive parameter shown in the screenshot of JobScheduler's JOE interface below:Image Added

below. Once a LOCK has been assigned to a file from a category (either Berlin or Munich), all subsequent files for this category haves have to wait with a setback until the LOCK has been freedreleased.
The same mechanism will be repeated for files from other categories. As long as a file of any given category is not being processed and therefore the corresponding LOCK not been set, the way will be free for the file from the other category to be allowed to be processed.
No Format
```
 This can be seen in the following screenshot of JobScheduler's JOE interface showing the progression of file orders along the {{load_files}} job chain.
```
This can be seen in the following screenshot of the JOC interface showing the progression of file orders along the load_files job chain:
Image Added

Image Removed

Once process is finished depending upon success or error, JobScheduler will move the file from the in folder to either the done (on success) or failed (on error) folders.
After moving the input file to the correct target directory by JobScheduler, the release_lock job will be called, which will remove the lock/semaphore from JobScheduler and allow the next file from the same category to be processed.

The following screenshot from the JobScheduler's JOE interface showshows the nodes in the load_files job chain and their related states:

The release_lock job uses a similar Rhino JavaScript to the aquire_lock as can be seen in the following listing:

Code Block

language	javascript


function spooler_process() \{

  try \{

     var parameters = spooler_task.order().params();
    
     var filePath = "" + String(parameters.value("scheduler_file_path"));
     spooler_log.info( " scheduler_file_path : " + filePath );
     var lockName = "" + String(parameters.value( "lock_name" ));
     spooler_log.info( "  lock_name : " +  lockName );

/*
     var fileParts = filePath.split("\\");if (spooler.locks().lock_or_null( lockName )) {
     var fileName  = fileParts[fileParts.length-1]spooler.locks().lock( lockName ).remove();
     spooler_log.info( "fileName : " + fileName )}
     return true;

  } catch (e)  if(fileName.match("^a[A-Za-z0-9_]*\.csv$")) \{{

    spooler_log.warn("error occurred: " + String(e));
        var lockName = "BERLIN_PROC";
        var lock_name = "BERLIN_PROC";
        spooler_log.info( "File matched with berlin lock_name : "+ lockName  );
     \}
    
     if(fileName.match("^b[A-Za-z0-9_]*\.csv$")) \{
        var lockName = "MUNICH_PROC";
        spooler_log.info( "File matched with berlin lock_name : "+ lockName  );
     \}
*/
     if (spooler.locks().lock_or_null( lockName )) \{
        spooler.locks().lock( lockName ).remove();
     \}
     return true;

  \} catch (e) \{

    spooler_log.warn("error occurred: " + String(e));
    return false;

  \}

\}

A job to force release_lock is also required for the situation that the processing of a job fails without the corresponding lock being released.
No Format
The script for this job to release the 'Berlin' lock would look something like:

Code Block

language	javascript


function spooler_process() \{

  try \{

    var lock_name = "BERLIN_PROC";
   
      spooler.locks().lock(lock_name).remove();
   
    return true;

  \} catch (e) \{

    spooler_log.warn("error occurred: " + String(e));
    return false;

  \}

\}

Limitations of this solution

The limitation of this approach will become apparent if more than one file should arrive from a subsidary at once.

No Format


 This is because there is no guarantee that files arriving together will be processed in any given order.
 This situation typically occurs after an unplanned loss of a file transfer connection. After the connection has been restored, there is a) no guarantee that the files arriving as a batch will be written to the file systen in a particular order b) no way for JobScheduler to know how many files will arrive as a batch.

One solution here would be to wait until a steady state in the incoming directory has been reached (i.e. no new file has been added and the size of all files remains constant over a suitable period of time) before starting to identify files. JobScheduler could then order files according to their names before forwarding them for processing.

No Format


 The downside of this second approach is that it brings a delay in starting processing with it, due to the need wait to check whether all members of a batch of files has arrived by checking for a steady state.

Solution Demo

A demonstration of this solution is available for download from:

sequential_execution_of_jobs.zip

Demo Installation

Unpack the zip file to a local directory

return false;

  }
}

A job to force release_lock is also required for the situation that the processing of a job fails without the corresponding lock being released.
The script for this job to release the 'Berlin' lock would look something like:

Code Block

language	javascript

function spooler_process() {

  try {
    var lock_name = "BERLIN_PROC";
    spooler.locks().lock(lock_name).remove();
    return true;
  } catch (e) {

    spooler_log.warn("error occurred: " + String(e));
    return false;

  }
}

Limitations of this solution

The limitation of this approach will become apparent if more than one file should arrive from a subsidary at once.
This is because there is no guarantee that files arriving together will be processed in any given order. This situation typically occurs after an unplanned loss of a file transfer connection. After the connection has been restored, there is a) no guarantee that the files arriving as a batch will be written to the file systen in a particular order b) no way for JobScheduler to know how many files will arrive as a batch.
One solution here would be to wait until a steady state in the incoming directory has been reached (i.e. no new file has been added and the size of all files remains constant over a suitable period of time) before starting to identify files. JobScheduler could then order files according to their names before forwarding them for processing.
The downside of this second approach is that it brings a delay in starting processing with it, due to the need wait to check whether all members of a batch of files has arrived by checking for a steady state.

Solution Demo

A demonstration of this solution is available for download from:

sequential_execution_of_jobs.zip

Demo Installation

Unpack the zip file to a local directory

Copy the 'SQLLoaderProc' folder to your JobScheduler 'live' folder.
No Format
TODO - ADD LINK TO DOKU
Copy the 'Data' folder to the a suitable local location.
Copy the 'SQLLoaderProc' folder to your JobScheduler 'live' folder.
No Format
TODO - ADD LINK TO DOKU
Copy the 'Data' folder to the a suitable local location. No Format The default location for this folder, which is specified in the configurations in the demo jobs, is: {{C:\sandbox}} Note that the following paths have to be modified if the location of the 'Data' folder is changed:
The default location for this folder, which is specified in the configurations in the demo jobs, is:
C:\sandbox
- The 'load_files' File Order Source directories in the load_files.job_chain.xml job chain object
- the 'source_file' and 'target_file' paths specified as parameters in the move_file_suc.job.xml and move_file_
error.job.xml objects
- error.job.xml objects
Note that the following paths have to be modified if the location of the 'Data' folder is changed:

Running the demo

Just copy files from the 'Data/__test-files' folder to the 'in' folder:
- JobScheduler will automatically start processing within a few seconds
- Once processing has been completed the file(s) added to the 'in' folder will be moved to the 'done' or 'failed' folders, depending on whether processing was successful or not.
DO NOT attempt to start an order for the job chain. This will only cause an error in the aquire_lock job.

How does the Demo Work?

{{DiagramBoxRight

BoxTitlh1. BoxTitle=The demo 'load_files' job chain

BoxContent

Graphviz


digraph "Example: File Transfer using JadeJob"{

graph [rankdir=TB]
node [shape=box,style="rounded,filled",fillcolor=aquamarine]
node [fontsize=10]
ranksep=0.3

FolderIn_a ->  start
FolderIn_b ->  start

start  -> aquire_lock  -> load_file_process  -> move_file_suc  -> suc_release_lock  -> end_suc  -> success
move_file_err -> error_release_lock -> end_err -> error

}

}}

The demo job chain ('load_files') is shown in the diagram to the right.

...

'load_files') is shown in the diagram to the right.

Show If

group	sos-members

Info

title	rework content

Could someone provide a Unix example?
The following section of text is somewhat orphaned: should it be removed?

TODO - ADD SCREENSHOT OF JOB CHAIN IN JOE

The

...

'Folderin_a'

...

and

...

'Folderin_b'

...

symbols

...

represent

...

the

...

'File

...

Order

...

Source'

...

Our Using locks FAQ.
The Locks section in the JobScheduler reference documentation.Our Best Practice FAQ.
Example for YADE to check files for completeness by steady state

Space shortcuts

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Versions Compared

Old Version 10

New Version Current

Key

Introduction

The 'Best Practice' Solution

The Solution in Detail

Limitations of this solution

Solution Demo

Demo Installation

Limitations of this solution

Solution Demo

Demo Installation

Running the demo

How does the Demo Work?

See also

Our Using locks FAQ.
The Locks section in the JobScheduler reference documentation.Our Best Practice FAQ.
Example for YADE to check files for completeness by steady state

Space shortcuts

Page tree

Page History

Versions Compared

Old Version 10

New Version Current

Key

Introduction

The 'Best Practice' Solution

The Solution in Detail

Limitations of this solution

Solution Demo

Demo Installation

Limitations of this solution

Solution Demo

Demo Installation

Running the demo

How does the Demo Work?

See also

Our Using locks FAQ.The Locks section in the JobScheduler reference documentation.Our Best Practice FAQ.Example for YADE to check files for completeness by steady state

Our Using locks FAQ.
The Locks section in the JobScheduler reference documentation.Our Best Practice FAQ.
Example for YADE to check files for completeness by steady state