Create a Threshold-Based Automation Process

Use the Threshold-Based Automation Process window (accessed from within the Automation Process Editor) to create a Threshold-Based Automation Process. When you define the Automation Process, you define:

  • General properties: Name, description, Business Object, and execution priority.
  • Value: A value that the Automation Process should monitor.
  • Criteria: Search criteria for the value included in the calculation.
  • Threshold: Define when and how an Action is run when a threshold is breached.

To create a Threshold-Based Automation Process:

  1. Open the Automation Process Editor.
  2. Select New, and then select Threshold-Based Process.
  3. Define general properties:
    • Name:

      Provide a display name to use within CSM (search this property in CSM Item Managers).

    • Description:

      Provide a description to use within CSM (search this property in CSM Item Managers).

    • Business Object:

      Select the type of Business Object against which this process will operate.

    • Execution Priority:

      Select a priority level, which provides a hint to the Business Process Server as to the importance of the Automation Process. This allows the system to attempt to execute higher priority processes before normal or low priority processes.

  4. Define the value that the Automation Process should monitor:
    1. Select the Value page.

      The Value page opens below the general properties.

    2. Define value properties:
      • Number of Records:

        Select the radio button to monitor the number of records that meet the defined criteria.

      • Function:

        Select the radio button to apply a mathematical function against a Field (example: Average, total, etc.) if there is a numeric Field on the records being evaluated.

      • Duration Function:

        Select the radio button to apply a mathematical function against the range of timebetween two time-based Fields (example: Determining the average amount of time that Incidents take to resolve).

        Note: If you select a duration function, you must specify the Fields that define the start/end date times and the unit(s) to use (example: hours, days, months, etc.).

  5. Define criteria for the records included in the calculation:
    1. Select the Criteria page.

      The Criteria page opens below the general properties.

    2. Define criteria properties:
      • Search Criteria:

        Select the Ellipses button Ellipses Button to select an existing Saved Search or select SearchGeneral Knowledge Search Button to define a Custom Query to limit the records considered.

      • Date Range:

        Select the Range drop-down list to select a date range or select New to create a new date range to use to limit records for consideration.

      • Open Incidents Only:

        Select the check box to only include open Incidents in the results.

  6. Define one or more thresholds.
    1. Select the Thresholds page.
    2. Define threshold properties:
      1. Use the Check threshold values every option to set how often threshold values should be checked. Checking begins when Automation Process is enabled or when an Automation Process Blueprint is published.
      2. Define run Actions:
        • Every time value is checked (if the threshold is crossed):

          Select the radio button to execute the Action if the check is completed every hour and the value is above the threshold.

        • When the threshold is first crossed:

          Select the radio button to execute the Action the first time the value is above the threshold, but not execute the Action again unless the "at least" operator is specified.

        • Each time a threshold is crossed:

          Select the radio button to execute the Action the first time the value is above the threshold, but not execute the Action again until the value falls below the threshold at least once and then goes above the value again.

        • At least:

          Specify the "at least" operator for the rules to be reconsidered. If the option is set to When the Threshold is First Crossed and the threshold is crossed, the Action will be executed a single time. If you specify that at least one day must pass between operations, then a day later the Action will be executed again if the threshold is crossed.

          Note: This option is only available if you select the Automation Process to operate every time a value is checked or each time a threshold is crossed.

      3. Define thresholds:
        • Create a threshold:

          Select Add to add a threshold to the list.

        • Edit a threshold:

          Use the controls underneath the threshold list to customize the threshold.

        • Remove a threshold:

          Select Remove to permanently delete a threshold.

        • Reorder the thresholds:

          Select Reorder to organize the threshold list. This option sorts all of the thresholds based on the threshold values, but does not affect the Threshold-Based Automation Process functionality.

        • Above/Below threshold: Specify whether the threshold should be considered Breached when the value exceeds or falls below the threshold value.
        • Threshold value:

          Specify the value against which the returned result will be compared.

        • Action:

          Select or define a One-Step Action to run when the threshold is breached.

          Note: The Action must be an unassociated One-Step Action (not tied to a particular Business Object). This is necessary because there is no single record to operate against, just a single resulting value.

  7. Select Save.