Home > DemandTools Advanced Functions > Designing and Executing Scheduled Processes for DemandTools
Designing and Executing Scheduled Processes for DemandTools
Scheduled jobs should only be run by advanced DemandTools users, and only once the job has been thoroughly tested manually. Auto Login and Save Password must be checked on the DemandTools login page for a scheduled process to launch. The Windows user MUST be a System administrator on the designated PC to run the scheduler.
Overview
Utilization of Windows Scheduler allows saved scenarios from DemandTools to run on a scheduled basis. Scheduled jobs execute the changes to all records found, no manual/user interaction will take place. When scheduling deduplication scenarios, all groups will be merged, so only rigid scenarios should be scheduled.
Open Tasks will be created for all batch jobs assigned to the user id of the person who ran the scheduled job. When the user logs into DemandTools after the completion of a scheduled job, an open task with completion information will be shown in their list of open Tasks. There is an option in The DemandTools Options menu to turn off the creation of these tasks if desired.
Schedulable Modules:
- MassEffect: Insert, Update, Delete and Export
- MassImpact
- Reassign Ownership (new in DemandTools 2.2)
- MassBackup
- Only when the "Export All Tables" checkbox is selected
- Single Table Dedupe
- A master rule must be set-up to determine which record will be the master record. All groups will be merged where a master can be determined based on the rule.
- Lead to Contact Deduplication
- Lead to Account Deduplication
Step 1. Access the Windows Scheduled Task Option
- Access the Control Panel
- Double click on "Scheduled Task" icon
- Double click on "Add Scheduled Task"
- The scheduled task wizard will launch
Step 2. Set up the scheduled task
- Screen One - Describes the wizard, click "Next"
- Screen Two - Select DemandTools as the program to run, click "Browse"
- Locate the DemandTools.exe in the C:\Program Files\DemandTools folder
- Screen Three - Name the task and choose the frequency for running the scheduled task, click "Next"
- The frequency selection will determine the options given on the next screen
- Screen Four - This example is for a frequency of weekly, which also requires the day, time of day , and if the job should run every week, every other week, etc. to be specified.

Step 3. Completing the wizard
- Screen Five -
- Enter the Windows username (if applicable)
- Enter the Windows password (if applicable)
- Confirm the Windows password
- Screen Six - review the settings and if correct, click "Finish"
Step 4. Modifying the task, schedule and settings
There are two ways to access the scheduled task for editing:
- Check the "Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish" box on the final Scheduled Task Wizard Screen.
- Access the Control Panel then double click the Scheduled Task icon
- Select the correct scheduled task and either double click the name of the task or right click it and go to Properties.
Update the run statement to include the full pathname of the scenario to be scheduled after the DemandTools.exe. When complete, click Apply and then click OK.


Parameter Syntax for the type of job you are scheduling
NOTE: The commands must always be listed one a time, and start and end with a double quote. The first set of commands in the "Run" statement for all scheduled jobs will start DemandTools: "C:\Program Files\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe". Next provide the fullpathname of the scenario you wish to run (except for MassBackup) followed by additional parameters based on what operation you are scheduling (i.e. input or output filename, if applicable).
MassEffect - Export:
- The full path name of the output file in double quotes.
- "C:\Program Files\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe" "C:\ME_Scheduled_jobs\ME_sched_export.DExml" "C:\ME_scheduled_jobs\ME_export.xls"
MassEffect - Insert, Update or Delete:
- The full path name of the input file in double quotes followed by the worksheet (for xls input files) or tablename (for mdb, udl input files). Note: this is NOT in double quotes, and not needed for csv files.
- "C:\Program Files\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe" "C:\ME_Scheduled_jobs\ME_sched_insert.MExml" "C:\ME_scheduled_jobs\ME_insert.xls" Account$
- The example above is for the setup of a specific worksheet in an .xls. To specify a table in an Access/,mdb file simply remove the "$" after the table name.
MassImpact:
- "C:\Program Files\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe" "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\DemandToolsData\MassImpact Scenarios\ContactMailing(blank)_eq_AccountBilling.MIxml"
Reassign Ownership:
- "C:\Program Files\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe" "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\DemandToolsData\Reassign Ownership Scenarios\NorthEast_Territory.ROxml"
MassBackup:
- No scenario name specified, just put the fullpathname of the output file. When scheduling MassBackup all tables will be included on the backup file.
- "C:\Program Files\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe" "C:\backupdir\backup.mdb"
Single Table Deduplication:
- "C:\ProgramFiles\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe" "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\DemandToolsData\Scenarios\Account\Friday_Night_Dedupe.ddXML"
Lead to Contact and Lead to Account Deduplication:
- "C:\ProgramFiles\DemandTools\DemandTools.exe" "C:\DemandTools\L2CScenarios\Friday_ScheduledL2CDedupe.L2Cxml"
See also