ATIH2011 B5519 Ordering tasks

Ray,

Tasks are run in the order that they appear in, if they are created in sequence unless you give task 3 (for example) an earlier time to start than it's preceding tasks.

You just need to be aware that tasks can become queued, which won't alter the order in which they are run, just if you expect the PC to shut down at a specific time it won't.

I think that whilst it might not be ideal, in your case it would be better to perhaps either make a cmd file to run things as you want, or have the Windows Scheduler call the TI tasks, that way you not only can specifiy in WS which task shuts the PC down, it gives you the flexibility of being able to run any of your tasks manually should you so need, with out having to remember you might not want to shut the system down on that particular occasion.

Colin,

Do you mean the order they appear in or the order they were started in? When I checked last time ATIH seemed to run tasks in an order it wanted rather than the order I started them in. If what you said "appear in" is correct then that may explain what I see but that is not ideal.

I appreciate that tasks get queued.

Ray,

How do you normally make your tasks?

As a general example, where I know I need to make a number of tasks for a particular disk, I always make them one after the other, which might account why for me tasks always perform in the order I see them, though so long as I don't have all the tasks starting at the same time, it has worked for me (in the past) if I add a task later on.

I'll set something up for 2011 (my main imaging is done with ABR10 - which has it's own annoying idiosyncracies, and of course I can no longer have TIH and ABR10 on the same system :( ) and see if I can replicate your problem.

Ray.
Just curious. How are you backups scheduled?
Example:
multiple backups scheduled for 1:00 a.m.
One additional backups scheduled for 1:05 a.m. and contains the internal shutdown command option
It would seem logical that the one scheduled for 1:05 would be the last to run.

Are you finding something different?

No these are ones I start manually no schedule involved.

Ray,

I'm now confused.

If you run these manually, how is True Image running them ' in the order that it wants ' ?

Could you post some screen shots showing what you do, and of course perhaps what you are getting instead.

Colin B

10 tasks run all of them 1 is active and 9 are queued - what is the next one to be executed in the queue?

the order you clicked "Run Now" or the order ATIH chooses?

I don't know what you are getting but it should be in the order in which you execute the "Run Now" option. If you are getting something different, then is a programming issue which needs fixing.

I would believe that the file "archives.xml" could show you the "after the fact" actual run sequnence.

As I am understanding, each of these tasks are being initiated manually via the "run now" option.

Hello Ray, GroverH and Colin!

Thank you for your comments and sharing your concerns with us. GroverH, Colin, thank you for your valuable assistance!

Dear Ray, thank you for reporting about the problem. I understand your concern and will do my best to assist you.

I've contacted the development team, and found out that in previous version the Scheduler used to start the backup tasks randomly in case you've selected them to run all at once, but this should've been improved in the latest version. We would like to investigate the question and would appreciate if you could kindly provide us with the following information: 

1. Exact sequence of steps performed
2. Acronis System Report

This data will help us to localise the issue and find a solution for it.

Should you need anything else or have any further questions - feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience, we will be happy to help you!

Thank you!

Hi Yana,

I cannot attach the system report files as it is 11Mb but the steps to reproduce this are:

1) create a task called "A_Task" to back up some data
2) create a task called "Z_Task" to back up some data
3) create a task called "B_Task" to back up some data
4) start A_Task
5) start B_Task
6) start Z_task
7) watch the order in which they run, on my system it is A, Z, B not A, B, Z
8) start them in a different order and see what happens

All three tasks must be started so that one is running and the other two are queued otherwise the test is useless. These are all manually started tasks.

In the main window the tasks were listed as A, B, Z but after restarting the GUI they were Z, A, B

And I think therein lies the issue ATIH runs the tasks in the order displayed not the order of starting.

I have attached a small command file that should be implemented as a pre backup command.

BTW if you create one task and then try to clone it there is no way you can ever get the command file to run as it *always* complains about the credentials and whatever you do you never get a chance to re-enter them.

BTW if you edit the task at all and save it after creation any consolidation settings will be deleted. You maust set them up each time you edit the task as the last thing you do.

therefore you MUST laboriously create each task from scratch.

The command should be entered/edited as " " and the space and quotes are mandatory
it should be passed the task name as a parameter in quotes and you cannot use a macro in this location another issue - sigh...