Getting Started with Automations

Introduction

Automations provides the ability to quickly and easily author automated workflows through a simple drag-and-drop interface accessible through FME Flow (formerly FME Server). You can use automations to author complex multi-workspace, multi-action workflows with configurable input parameters set to run on a schedule or trigger in response to real-time events. 

Automations provides end-users with the ability to download processed data or upload data for processing on a variety of different systems and web services including mobile platforms and devices, eliminating the need for manual data distribution and collection. Automations also provides centralized logging and management of all your automated workflows.    

This article provides a brief introduction to the purpose and interface of Automations, with links to automation examples and tutorials on their creation and management. 
 

Why Use Automations?

• Save time with automated workflows.
• It’s easy to use! Even for users unfamiliar with scripting or web integrations.
• Automate workflows to run on a schedule or in response to a trigger event.
• Author sequential or parallel workflows.
• Monitor automated workflows.
• Automations offers centralized logging and management of automated workflows.
   

Articles

Beginner Tutorials

Accessing and Managing Automations

A basic overview of how to access, build, manage, and troubleshoot automations. 

Schedule a Workspace to Run with FME Flow Automations

In this tutorial, you will learn how to run a workspace on a schedule.

Run a Workspace When Data Arrives in a Directory

In this tutorial, you will learn how to run a workspace when incoming data arrives in a directory.

Automating Dropbox Workflows with FME Flow

In this tutorial, you will learn how to upload data to Dropbox and run a workspace when data arrives in Dropbox.

Automating Amazon S3 Workflows with FME Flow

In this tutorial, you will learn how to upload data to an Amazon S3 bucket and run a workspace when data arrives in an Amazon S3 bucket.

Run a Workspace in Response to Incoming Email

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use SMTP and IMAP protocols to monitor incoming email and run a workspace.
 

Intermediate Tutorials

Send Email from Automations

In this tutorial, you will learn to receive data via email, run a workspace in response, and send emails when further action may be required. The advanced tutorial will teach you how to use Automation Parameters in an automation.

Working with Automation Parameters and Custom Attributes in an Automation | User and Global Keys

In this tutorial, you will learn about Event Attributes, Custom Attributes, and Automation Parameters and how these can be used in an automation. 

Routing Data Between Workspaces in Automations

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the FME Flow Automations writer to split jobs and pass data between actions.

Job Orchestration with Automations

In this tutorial, you will learn to split an automation workflow into separate jobs to be processed by multiple FME Flow engines in parallel.

Run an Automation Using the Manual Trigger

In this tutorial, you will learn to use the Manual Trigger to manually run an automation on-demand either via the Web UI or REST API in FME Flow. 

Push Data from ArcGIS Survey123 to an Application in Real-time with Webhooks

In this tutorial, you will learn how to configure a webhook in Survey123 and process a webhook response using FME Flow.
 

Advanced Tutorials

Getting Started with the Split-Merge Block

This article provides an overview of the Split-Merge Block, and various use cases. A Split-Merge Block is used to encircle a set of workspace actions and treats these workspaces as a single event. 

Understanding the Split-Merge Block | Troubleshooting & FAQs

This article provides a deeper look into how the Split-Merge Block works, how to maximize its potential, and troubleshooting suggestions.

Dynamic Workspaces: Data-Driven Parallel Processing

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use dynamic workspaces using the Splitter and Content Enricher enterprise integration patterns in FME Flow.

The Splitter Pattern is used to break out composite messages into a series of individual messages, each containing data related to one item. The Content Enricher pattern is used to augment messages with missing information by accessing an external data source.

Creating Looping Workflows within FME Flow Automations

In this tutorial, you will learn to create looping workflows in FME Flow. The first part covers how to create a simple looping automation that re-runs a workspace when it fails. The second part covers how to create a complex looping workflow that uses custom output ports from Automations Writers and connects them to previous input ports to create a Process Manager enterprise integration pattern.

 A Process Manager pattern relies on a central processing unit to dynamically route tasks or messages to different ‘processing units’ (workspaces), without having a sequence or processing order predefined.  
 
 

Additional Resources

[Webinar] Don't Hate! Automate: The Fundamentals of Automations
[Webinar] Getting Started with Enterprise Integration in Automation
[Webinar] Automating the Enterprise with Event-Driven Workflows 
[Webinar] Automating Enterprise Workflows with FME Flow
[Webinar] Automation Keys: What They Are, And Why You Should Use Them 
[Webinar] Tasks Your Business Should Automate in 2022 That Just Make Sense
[Tutorial] Publish a Workspace to FME Flow and Run It
[Tutorial Series] Email in FME Flow
[Tutorial Series] Getting Started with FME and the Web
Check out the FME Academy for free interactive training courses! 
[Trail] FME Flow Authoring  

We welcome your thoughts and suggestions to make Automations even better! Please share them on our Ideas Forum.