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Automation

Through many years of experience, Orange Crystal Consulting has learned the value of automation. Whether it be in the form of small scripts or data warehouse loads, we know that most sequences of operations on a computer will be repeated many times so it pays to write automate the process.

Moreover, automation provides an auditable method of running a series of steps repetitively.

Many technologists are in the habit of scripting just about everything under the sun. For us this makes sense because a small script can often provide a kernel for future menuing systems. Scripting is also a safe alternative to typing something in manually at the command-level interface (and risking typing in the wrong command which may cause damage).

Many tools such as word processors, compilers, and installers come with built-in scripting languages. We are capable of using all of these grammars because we understand the basis of procedural languages. We understand the necessity of coding with discipline and we have development tricks and techniques which come only after many years in the trenches. One technique is the use of a development machine to protect the customer's current investment.

Customers must realize that automation of any task will take some time. Generally, a flowchart first outlines the procedure to be taken by the script. The script is then developed in a safe staging area, fully tested and then approved by management. Only then is a script put into production. Often a menu will provide a safe way for an operator to run the resultant script. The menu itself must have values initialized and be thoroughly tested to meet and react gracefully to error conditions.

We see the possibility of many scripting scenarios under Windows 2003 Server. We have already come across CScript, vbscript and windows scripting host. JavaScript is used for web pages. Under Unix, we have experience with the various shells, each of which supports a slightly different grammar. Korn Shell is still our favorite on the Unix platform. We can do full development under Unix and thus protect your data from travelling around on laptops. The news is full of articles on what happens to company data when left on laptops!

Then we see action scripts as found in products such as Flash and Swish. Does it ever end?

We take scripting seriously. When we dig in to write a script, rest assured it will be fully tested in a simulated production environment.

Many years ago we developed Procedure Language on Wang computers and Control Language scripts on the IBM. Today, we continue to write accurate scripts to provide an easy way for your computer operators to run jobs. When you are ready we can schedule those scripts to run at pre-set times. Before we do that, we will generally make sure you understand the work that the scripts are doing so that once scripts are running with full automation (scheduling) so that there will be no unpleasant surprises in the morning!