About: This article describes the Job tab in Construct.
Purpose: Use the Job tab to build, edit, and view a job.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Job tab in Construct is where users can build, edit, and view a job. Jobs are projects created by users that gather data from one or more data sources. Jobs transform data using various tools (called nodes) and can format data into several reporting styles. A job may produce one or more outputs in the form of files or reports. Jobs can be stand alone pieces performing an entire data prep objective, or a process consisting of several jobs working in tandem, each doing their part to perform a large objective. Each job is represented in its own tab and each job tab shows the name of the job.
The Job tab consists of three main sections:
- The connections window
- The node panel (grouped by: Input, Compile, Process, Output, Special)
- The main workspace area (the large section of white space)
Connections
Connections are how Construct points to sources of data and allows the data to enter a job. Connections can be created from within the job tab in the upper left corner in the connections window. Multiple connections can be created and used within a single job. New jobs do not have any connections established by default, so the first thing users should do when creating a new job is establish a connection to their data. View more information on creating connections in this article.
Nodes
Nodes are visual representations of processing data. They perform functions of extracting, transforming, and outputting data - to name just the basics. Each node has specific features that perform key tasks, like tools in a toolbox. Collections of nodes can be strung together in the job workspace to accomplish your data requirements.
The node panel is grouped by six categories:
To learn more about any specific node, right-click on the node from the node panel in Construct, and select What is this node? to be linked to the corresponding help article.
Job Workspace
The job workspace is the data playground data sources and nodes can be connected to create a job. Nodes can be dragged and dropped into this space to build out a job process that accomplishes your data requirements.
Toolbar
The job workspace toolbar is located just above the workspace section. These controls provide a variety of tools and functions for use with the job tab.
Toolbar Options
- Validate Job: This tool checks the arrangement of the nodes in the job to confirm that they are correctly configured. When selected, any errors identified will be displayed with a caution symbol above the corresponding node(s). This can be a helpful way to check for job errors without actually running the job, which can save you time.
- Run Job: Use this tool to run your entire job (as opposed to only portions of it). When the job is actively running, this button toggles to pause, and the Stop Job tool also becomes available.
- Stop Job: The Stop Job tool becomes active (red) when a job is running. use this tool to stop the running of a job at any point. The Stop Job icon is not available in the toolbar when the job is not currently running.
- Connect Nodes: Use this tool to connect two nodes together. Select the Connect Nodes tool, then select the Source Node, and the Destination Node as prompted.
- Set Run Order: The Set Job Run Order tool allows users to define the order of operations of a job run and allows specific nodes to be run in a customized order. When the order is initiated, all non-output nodes will temporally be removed. From there, select the individual outputs to set the desired run order.
- Edit Notes: The Edit Notes tool allows users to create stylized notes about a job. These notes can be saved within the Jobs Notes interface that opens when Edit Notes is selected. The results of the notes are located in the Workspace tab Job Detail section.
- Edit Parameters: This tool allows users to define or edit job parameters that can be used as dynamic values throughout the job. More information about parameters is available below.
- Undo/Redo: Use these buttons to undo or redo any recent actions performed in the job workspace.
- Show Assistant: This tool displays the assistant on the right side of the job workspace - a helpful tool for new users to learn how to get started constructing new jobs. By default, this assistant is available when first using the product. However, it can be removed by selecting the Hide Assistant option.
-
Save Job: Select the Save tool on the job workspace toolbar periodically to prevent losing progress, or the Save and Exit tool when you are finished working on a job and wish to close it.
- To save a job to a particular folder location, select the location from the folder menu or type the file path in the Path field.
- To save a job to a particular folder location, select the location from the folder menu or type the file path in the Path field.
- Zoom Control: The Zoom tool is located at the bottom right corner of a job. This function allows users to expand or contract the view of a job.
Parameters
Parameters (i.e., named variables) are user-defined values that are specific to each job and can be used throughout job processes. They can be thought of as placeholders for a value in cases where the value may need to be changed frequently. Parameters can serve many uses and can help a job be more dynamic, since they can be used in jobs that are run with different iterations and need different values. In situations like this, parameters can save time since you only need to edit one section and the changes will cascade through the rest of the job.
Parameters are created and edited through the Edit Parameter tool in the job workspace toolbar.
Look for the green P icon within nodes to use parameters as part of a node configuration. When selected, this opens a list box, allowing the user to select any pre-defined parameters to incorporate in a command or action. When a parameter is selected, it shows in the node as the name of the parameter surrounded by curly brackets.
Comments
0 comments
Article is closed for comments.