LibraryTech NotesMapForce as batch

You can create a scheduled task to execute a MapForce mapping to automatically convert data from one format to another at a specified time(s). The scheduled task you create will run MapForce from the command line, allowing the mapping to run without any human intervention.

This procedure is useful when, for instance, you need to update a database with XML data that changes regularly. The steps below illustrate the process.

1. Open the Control Panel from the Windows Start menu. Double-click Scheduled Tasks; then double-click Add Scheduled Task. (If your Control panel view uses the category mode, Scheduled tasks is found under Performance and Maintenance.)

2. Click Next to start the Wizard.

3. Select MapForce from the list of applications. (If MapForce is not listed, browse to select C:\Program Files\Altova\MapForce2007\MapForce.exe.)

4. Enter a name for the task and select the frequency for which it should occur. Click Next.

5. Specify a time when the batch process should execute, what day it should start, and when it should be repeated. Click Next.

6. Set the permissions for the task by entering the username and password of the Windows account the task will run under. (This way, the batch process can run even when the user is not currently logged into the machine.) Click Next.

7. Check the box next to “Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish;” then click Finish.

8. To enable the command line execution, enter following parameters in the Run field (parameter values shown below are just examples; your values may vary):

- Path to MapForce application: "C:\Program Files\Altova\MapForce2007\MapForce.exe"
- The mapping file to execute: F:\scheduled.mfd
- Use of the built-in MapForce engine to execute the mapping: /BUILTIN

Separate each parameter with a space. For instance, in this example we would enter "C:\Program Files\Altova\MapForce2007\MapForce.exe" F:\scheduled.mfd /BUILTIN in the Run field.

(Remember, if any paths contain spaces, surround the entire space with quotes, as seen in the MapForce path above.)

For more information on these parameters, see the MapForce command line documentation: http://www.altova.com/manual2007/MapForce/mapforce-enterprise/mffcommandlinepar.htm

9. Enter “C:\Program Files\Altova\MapForce2007\MapForce.exe” in the Start in field.

10. Enter a comment to describe the scheduled task in the comments field (optional).

11. Click OK to save your changes. The batch process will now execute as scheduled.

If you are not already a MapForce user, you can download a free, 30-day trial to check out this feature.