External application execution

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External application execution

How to read the manual

This chapter is for reference information only.

For construction procedures, please refer to "Running external applications" in the Monitoring System Construction Guide.

 

 

 

 

 

Features of this action

You can run external applications.

In addition to being able to run executable files (exe), you can also specify files associated with file extensions (such as ".txt", ".doc", ".html") to run the target application. You can also call batch files.

 

 

 

 

Action Settings

The settings for this action are explained below.

 

Action specifications

Parameters

none

 

dialog

■ Launching external applications

 

c_action_0057

 

 

▪Execution Type

item

Operation

Launch the executable

You can specify the executable file ".exe". The administrator privileges will be inherited from FA-Server. For example, if FA-Server is launched with administrator privileges, the external application you run will also be launched with administrator privileges.

Open a file (launch according to the file extension)

You can specify text files, batch files ".bat", and executable files ".exe". For example, you can execute files with extensions such as ".txt", ".html", ".bat", and ".exe". For files, the application associated with the extension will be launched. If you specify ".exe", regardless of the administrator privileges status of FA-Server, the settings on the application being executed (for example, checking "Run as administrator" on the shortcut) will determine whether or not to launch with administrator privileges.

 

▪File path
The path to the executable file for the external application. Even if the file path contains spaces, it does not need to be enclosed in double quotes (note that this is different from options).
 

▪option
Set this if you want to specify startup options when launching the external application specified in the executable file path. For example, if the external application is one that can specify the file to be loaded, you can specify the file name as a startup option. When specifying a file path as an option, if the file path contains spaces, enclose it in double quotation marks "".
Example) "c:\Program Files\data.txt"
 
You can also set environment variables from the Variables button. If you need to switch options for redundancy, you can use environment variables as an option.
 
Example) VAR:IP_ADDRESS
 

 

hint

When you specify an environment variable as an option from the Variables button, the prefix "VAR:" is automatically added to the front of the environment variable. Be careful not to delete "VAR:" as it is necessary to treat it as an environment variable.

 

▪Wait until the application has finished
If you check this option, the action will wait until the launched external application has finished before terminating.
 

▪Display Type
This can be specified when the execution type is "Open file (launch according to file extension)".
*The display type may not work as expected as it depends on the operation of the application being executed.
 

item

Operation

Displaying the screen

Display the executable application screen and run it.

Do not display the screen

Runs the application with the screen hidden.

Maximize the screen

Runs the application in maximum screen size.

Minimize the screen

Runs the application in a minimized screen.

 

hint

For example, if you run a batch file such as ".bat", and you specify "Display screen" as the display type, the command prompt screen will be displayed the moment you start the program. If you want to prevent this behavior, specify "Do not display screen" as the display type.

 

 

 

hint

Combining Batch transfer actions with your own external applications expands the variety of system configurations. For example, you can have an external application perform batch-like processing such as data processing and complex aggregation processing. For example, after saving tag information to a text file or database, you can launch an external application, obtain parameters from the launched external application via the text file or database, and have the application perform batch-like processing such as data processing and aggregation. If you want to transfer the aggregated results to the tag again, check "Wait until the application is terminated." After the external application is terminated, you can use the Batch transfer action again to obtain the data processed by the external application and import it into the tag.

 

 

hint

In the "Advanced Settings" tab, you can specify the timing for executing a script (SC1) before an action is executed, or the timing for adjusting the execution of the action (setting the execution wait time). For details on the advanced settings of each action, see "Settings on the Advanced Settings tab of an action".