topic Re: Running EG Process flows in specified order in SAS Enterprise Guide

Running EG Process flows in specified order

elwayfan446 — Mon, 23 May 2016 15:29:26 GMT

Hello everyone,

I am revisiting and old question that was posted a few years ago here:

https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Enterprise-Guide/Order-of-Process-flow/td-p/106930

I really need a way to run process flows in my project in a certain order. Creating an ordered list will not work because I have too many tasks in each flow to schedule. I simply want to be able to run flow 1, then flow 2, then flow 3. I also have a couple of other process flows built to use as a "sandbox" for testing or a grave yard for old tasks that I don't necessarly want to delete yet. Those process flows dont need to be run at all.

I am using EG 6.1 and can't seem to find a way that is built in. I am hoping there is something new that has come along in the last 4 years to make this easier. I don't quite get the use of scripting in the prior post I linked either. Maybe someone has something that can make it quicker/easier for me and dumb it down.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Re: Running EG Process flows in specified order

Kayleah — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 19:23:17 GMT

I have been searching for a way to handle this exact issue for over a year now. Hoping to hear of something soon!

Re: Running EG Process flows in specified order

CaseySmith — Fri, 04 May 2018 20:05:21 GMT

Sorry for the late reply.

Using EG's automation interface (scripting with VBScript or Windows Powershell) is going to be your best bet. I posted some example VBScript code in this post, that will allow you to execute whichever process flows in whichever order you would like:

https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Enterprise-Guide/execution-Order-of-process-flow-in-a-project-using-Windows/m-p/460147#M29672

Note: The easiest way to create a stock EGScript1.vbs file is to schedule your project (File->Schedule Project in EG). That will create the EGScript1.vbs file for you in the same directory as your project. (You can immediately delete the scheduled task EG creates in Windows Task Scheduler, unless you actually want it run on a schedule.) Then you can open and edit the EGScript1.vbs file as desired and run it from command line. (Make sure your EG project is not open when you run the VBScript file.)

Casey

Re: Running EG Process flows in specified order

TomKari — Sat, 05 May 2018 22:09:17 GMT

Just to endorse @CaseySmith's comment. I've done something similar, and if you follow the process he suggests, scheduling the project and then using the .vbs file, it's really straightforward. I don't hesitate to recommend doing that.

Tom

Re: Running EG Process flows in specified order

elwayfan446 — Tue, 08 May 2018 14:04:34 GMT

Thanks Tom & Casey. This was the solution I went with as well not too long after posting this question. I agree, this was a great solution. I appreciate all of the help.