Data Writing Actions

The Mainframe module Data Writing actions send input to the mainframe terminal screen. All Write actions support a configurable input type and a Wait Timeout parameter.

See Mainframe Actions for prerequisites and Connection and Setup Actions to establish a session before writing data.

• Write Here
• Write at Coordinates
• Write at Label

About input types and Wait Timeout

All Data Writing actions share two common parameters:

Input type: Choose how the value is provided:

• Text: Enter a plain text value directly. This field lets you enter a text string, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Username: Use the username from an Appian RPA credential entry. This option lets you input credentials securely without storing them in the robotic task definition. To start, choose the selection method:
  • Any available credential: Select the application whose credential username you want to use.
  • Specific credential: Select a specific credential entry. Each entry shows the application name and username.
  • Reserved credential: Use a credential reserved and saved to a variable in a parent robotic task. This option is available only when the current robotic task is used as a robotic subtask.
• Password: Use the password from an Appian RPA credential entry. To start, choose the selection method:
  • Previously referenced credential: Use the password for a credential referenced earlier in the workflow. The robotic task will fail if no credential was referenced before this action. Enter the username first, then use this option for the related password.
  • Specific credential: Select a specific credential entry to use its password.

Wait Timeout: Specifies the maximum amount of time the action waits for the terminal to be ready before writing. If the terminal becomes ready before the timeout elapses, the action continues immediately. Choose from these options:

• Use default max wait time: The robotic task waits for the platform default wait time.
• Enter max wait time: Enter the maximum time (in seconds) to wait. This value must be greater than zero.
• Don't wait: The action writes immediately without waiting.

This parameter follows the same pattern as the Wait time parameter in Windows Automation Actions.

Write Here

This action writes input at the current cursor position on the terminal screen. Use this action when the cursor is already positioned at the target field.

You can configure CONFIGURATION and AFTER COMPLETION parameters for this action.

Configuration

In the CONFIGURATION area of the ACTION CONFIGURATION pane, configure the following parameters:

• Input type: See About input types and Wait Timeout above.
• Value: Enter the text to write. This field appears when Input type is set to Text. This field lets you enter a text string, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Clear the current data in the field before writing: Select Yes to send an Erase Field command to clear the existing data in the field before writing the new value. Select No to write without clearing.
• Wait Timeout: See About input types and Wait Timeout above.

After completion

In the AFTER COMPLETION area of the ACTION CONFIGURATION pane, configure the following parameters:

• Wait before executing next action: Enter the number of seconds the robotic task waits before it continues to the next action in the robotic task definition.
• Take a screenshot: If you select this option, the robotic task takes a screenshot of the host machine immediately after the action completes successfully.

Write at Coordinates

This action moves the cursor to the specified row and column, then writes input at that position. Use this action when you know the exact screen coordinates of the field to write to.

You can configure CONFIGURATION and AFTER COMPLETION parameters for this action.

Configuration

In the CONFIGURATION area of the ACTION CONFIGURATION pane, configure the following parameters:

• Row: Enter the row number of the target field. Rows are numbered starting from 1. This field lets you enter a number, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Column: Enter the column number of the target field. Columns are numbered starting from 1. This field lets you enter a number, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Input type: See About input types and Wait Timeout above.
• Value: Enter the text to write. This field appears when Input type is set to Text. This field lets you enter a text string, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Clear the current data in the field before writing: Select Yes to send an Erase Field command to clear the existing data in the field before writing the new value. Select No to write without clearing.
• Wait Timeout: See About input types and Wait Timeout above.

After completion

In the AFTER COMPLETION area of the ACTION CONFIGURATION pane, configure the following parameters:

• Wait before executing next action: Enter the number of seconds the robotic task waits before it continues to the next action in the robotic task definition.
• Take a screenshot: If you select this option, the robotic task takes a screenshot of the host machine immediately after the action completes successfully.

Write at Label

This action locates a text label on the terminal screen and writes input at a specified offset from that label. Use this action when you know a label that appears near the target field but don't know the exact coordinates.

You can configure CONFIGURATION and AFTER COMPLETION parameters for this action.

Configuration

In the CONFIGURATION area of the ACTION CONFIGURATION pane, configure the following parameters:

• Label text: Enter the text of the label to locate on the screen. The action searches the screen for this exact text string. This field lets you enter a text string, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Column Offset: Enter the number of columns to move from the end of the label before writing. For example, a column offset of 1 places the cursor one column to the right of the label. This field lets you enter a number, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Row Offset: Enter the number of rows to move from the label before writing. For example, a row offset of 1 places the cursor one row below the label. This field lets you enter a number, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Input type: See About input types and Wait Timeout above.
• Value: Enter the text to write. This field appears when Input type is set to Text. This field lets you enter a text string, choose a variable, or use the expression editor.
• Clear the current data in the field before writing: Select Yes to send an Erase Field command to clear the existing data in the field before writing the new value. Select No to write without clearing.
• Wait Timeout: See About input types and Wait Timeout above.

After completion

In the AFTER COMPLETION area of the ACTION CONFIGURATION pane, configure the following parameters:

• Wait before executing next action: Enter the number of seconds the robotic task waits before it continues to the next action in the robotic task definition.
• Take a screenshot: If you select this option, the robotic task takes a screenshot of the host machine immediately after the action completes successfully.

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