Passing Command Parameters

The command parameters feature allows you to pass information to a command when it is launched by Tidal Automation. You can alter parameters such as dates or other data at runtime, rather than hard-coding the command file itself. You can also use parameters to add flexibility to the same command.

Example: You may have a batch file that can process several files. By specifying its file name as a command parameter, the batch file knows which file to process at any given time.

Tidal Automation uses the standard MS-DOS or command prompt syntax for command parameters. The command parameters are substituted into a command file containing the variable names %1, %2, etc. Through the DOS prompt, parameters are passed as a list of values separated by spaces after the command. In Tidal Automation, the command parameters are displayed in a list below the command. The first value replaces %1, the second value replaces %2, and so on, when the batch file is executed.

Specifying Command Parameters and Viewing the Batch File (Windows)

After specifying command parameters in the Job Definition dialog, sometimes it is useful to view or edit the batch file to which the command parameters apply.

To view or edit the batch file to which the command parameters apply:

Click Definitions > Jobs on the Navigation pane to display the Jobs pane.
Right-click and click Add Job from the context menu to display the Job Definition dialog. You specify command parameters from the Command Parameters section in the Program tab.
Right-click the Argdemo batch file on the Tutorial directory and click Edit from the context menu.

The Microsoft Notepad text editor opens the batch file and you see the batch file text. The command parameters specified in the Job Definition dialog will be entered into the batch file in the locations %1, %2, etc.

Exit Notepad and click Cancel twice to return to the Jobs pane.

Note: For more information on batch processing, please refer to your Windows or DOS documentation.