Job Execution Steps
In FlowForce Server, steps define what a job must do (e.g., delete a file, execute a MapForce mapping, send an email). In its simplest form, a step is an operation with failed or successful outcome. Each step must execute a step function. You can create as many steps as required for your job and set the order in which the steps must be executed. You can also use the result of a step in other steps.
Add an execution step
To add an execution step, create a job or open an existing job, and select the relevant step type in the Execution Steps section of the job configuration page.
Types of steps
Execution steps can be of the following types:
•Resume steps (used inside Error/Success-Handling steps)
Function parameters
Most step functions have parameters. When you select a function in an execution step, the function parameters become automatically available. Parameters and their data types vary, depending on the function you select. Parameters can accept different values, including expressions and expression functions.
Under certain conditions, the previously set values of function parameters are copied over into the parameters of a new function. The parameter value is copied over if the parameter has the same internal name and the same data type in both step functions. Besides this condition, one or more of the following conditions must also be true:
•The parameter is an expression.
•The parameter has logging enabled.
•The parameter is an inline credential with a user name and password.
The parameter value is not copied over if:
•the parameter is locked (mapping with more than one parameter with the same name);
•the parameter value starts with altova://packagedfile/ (it will not work with any other function except the one it was deployed with).
To revert to the default value of an optional parameter, use the Set to button and choose <Default value>. For mandatory parameters, the value has to be removed manually.
As soon as a function is selected and its parameters are retrieved, the parameters are cached for this job configuration page. Every time this function is selected again (for any new step, existing step, or the same step), its parameters are not retrieved; instead, the cached parameters are used.
Buttons
The table below gives a list of buttons that allow you to manage steps and function parameters.
 | Adds a step or parameter. |
 | Deletes a step or parameter |
 | Duplicates a step. |
  | Moves a step up or down. |
 | Undoes the previous delete action. |
 | Enables/disables logging of the parameter value. |
 | Sets a specific value of a parameter. |
| Allows you to expand or collapse all execution steps. This option could be useful when you want to do a search in the browser or print the page. |
