Extract value condition fails only at runtime

Products

• CA Automic Applications Manager (AM)

Issue/Introduction

An extract value condition has been defined and tested successfully. However during runtime, the extract value condition fails and returns a null value.
 
If this behavior occurs, it is likely a timing issue in conjunction to the file that the extract value condition is running against. An example where this issue has occurred is in the following situation:

1. A task has 2 conditions
2. A Before Condition 1 creates a file that will be used in an extract value condition
3. A Before Condition 2 contains the extract value condition

Applications Manager conditions in a task can execute back to back with little to no time in between each condition. In the above configuration, it is possible that condition 1 has not completed the creation of the file before condition 2 executes. This results in the extract value condition to return a null value since the file does not yet exist.

Environment

Component : APPLICATIONS MANAGER

Cause

Timing issue

Resolution

Allow more time between the file creation process and the extract file process to allow the file creation process to complete. This could mean:

1. Splitting the conditions between 2 different Jobs

or 

2. Splitting the condition so that one condition is a Before Condition and one is an After Condition