Defining attributes for external programs and external commands steps

Supported attributes for external programs and external commands step definition shows a complete list of the supported attributes for external programs and external commands step definition.
Table 1. Supported attributes for external programs and external commands step definition
Attribute nameSynonymDescription Required
typetyp The step type can assume one of the following values:
For external programs
  • X
  • EXTPRG
For external commands
  • C
  • EXTCMD
Before launching the job, the product performs a check for correct attribute values.
reportABAP program name or name of the external program or command.
parameter Parameters for the external program or command.
user authcknamUser of the step.
languagelang

Step language.

This attribute accepts language names in either the ISO format (two characters, for example DE, EN) or the R/3 format (one character, for example D, E).

If this attribute is not specified, the login language of the access method is used (customize using the twsxa_lang option in the r3batch option files).

The product performs a check for a valid language prior to launching the job.

targethostxpgtgtsysTarget host for the external program or command. This name must be exactly the same as the name shown in the External Operating System Commands table in the SAP system (transaction sm69).
osopsystemOperating system for the external command. This name must be exactly the same as the name shown in the External Operating System Commands table in the SAP system (transaction sm69).
termcntl waitfortermControl flag: if an external command or program is to be run synchronously. ²
tracecntl Control flag: if SAP tracing level 3 is activated for tracing SAPXPG, the program that starts an external command or program. ¹ ²
stdoutcntl Control flag: indicates if standard output from an external command or program is to be written to the job log. ¹ ²
stderrcntlControl flag: indicates if standard error from an external command or program is to be written to the job log. ¹ ²
Note:
  1. This attribute is available for BC-XBP 2.0 and later.
  2. This attribute is a flag, that is, it does not have a value, for example: –s2 pr_release.
HCL Workload Automation performs the following syntax validation on job attributes:
  • Only valid attributes are allowed.
  • Checks if a particular attribute requires a value.
  • The values of the following attributes are checked:
    • type
    • language
    • pr_copies
    • pr_lines
    • pr_colums

Validation is performed before the job is created in the SAP system. If the validation fails, the HCL Workload Automation job goes into the ABEND state.