Search for Use does not find vara objects for WF pre- or post-conditions

Products

• Automic SaaS
• CA Automic One Automation
• CA Automic Workload Automation - Automation Engine

Issue/Introduction

When using the Search for use function on a Variable (VARA) object in Automic Workload Automation, the search results are empty even if the variable is actively used within a Workflow task's Preconditions or Postconditions tab.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create a variable object (e.g., VARA.TEST.SEARCH).
2. Create a job object (e.g., JOBS.WIN.TEST).
3. Create a workflow (e.g., JOBP.TEST.SEARCH) and add the job to it.
4. Open the Task Properties for the job within the workflow.
5. Navigate to the Preconditions or Postconditions tab.
6. Add a condition that references the variable (e.g., IF {VARA.TEST.SEARCH,1,1} = 'VALUE').
7. Save the workflow.
8. In the Process Assembly, right-click VARA.TEST.SEARCH and select Search for use.

Expected Result: The search returns JOBP.TEST.SEARCH with the context "Task/Postcondition". 

Actual Result: No results are returned.

Environment

• Affected Versions: 21.0.10 and above, 24.x
• Working Version: 21.0.9 and prior

Cause

A product defect was introduced in version 21.0.10 where the indexer or search logic for "Search for use" fails to parse and return object references contained within the XML structure of task Preconditions and Postconditions.  This issue is tracked as defect DE183041. A fix is planned for a future release of the Automation Engine.

Resolution

Fix Version

This issue is planned to be fixed in the Automation Engine components in 24.4.5 and in 26.0.0 for SaaS customers.

Workaround

If you need to identify variable usages within preconditions or postconditions before the official fix is available, the following manual methods can be used:

1. Manual Inspection: Review the task properties of workflows where the variable is suspected to be used.
2. Database Query: Support can provide a custom SQL query to search the database tables directly for these references. Please contact Broadcom Support if you require assistance with this query.