Schedule and run jobs in Retail Scheduler

Important

This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack

To schedule and run the data transfer between Microsoft Dynamics AX and retail channels, Commerce Data Exchange uses Retail Scheduler jobs and distribution schedules.

Jobs and subjobs contain the data distribution settings for specific tables and fields in the database. A distribution schedule associates scheduler jobs with the locations where data must be synchronized. After you have created distribution schedules, you can run them automatically in a batch, or you can run them manually.

Before you can set up a distribution schedule, you must create scheduler jobs. If you’re using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, you must also set up data groups. If you’re using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 or Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, you must set up distribution location lists. For more information, see Configure jobs and subjobs in Retail Scheduler, Create a channel data group, and Set up a distribution location list.

This topic contains the following sections:

  • Create a distribution schedule in AX 2012 R3

  • Create a distribution schedule in AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 Feature Pack

  • Set up batch processing for scheduler jobs

  • Run a scheduler job manually

  • View the status of data distribution

Create a distribution schedule in AX 2012 R3

If you are using AX 2012 R3, use the following procedure to create a distribution schedule.

  1. Click Retail > Periodic > Data distribution > Distribution schedule.

  2. Click New to create a new distribution schedule, or select a distribution schedule to modify.

  3. Enter a name and description for the distribution schedule.

  4. Select Active to turn on the distribution schedule. If this option is not marked, the distribution schedule will not run.

  5. If you are creating a new distribution schedule, select the direction that the data will flow:

    • Select Download if the jobs in the distribution schedule transfer data from Microsoft Dynamics AX to channels.

    • Select Upload if the jobs in the distribution schedule transfer data from channels to Microsoft Dynamics AX.

    The direction that you select determines the jobs that are available to add to the distribution schedule. For example, you can’t add the job P-0001 (POS transactions) to a distribution schedule where Download is selected.

  6. On the Data groups FastTab, click Add to add one or more data groups to the schedule. When you run the distribution schedule, a data package is generated for each data group. All channel databases in a data group subscribe to the same data.

    To remove a data group from the schedule, select the data group and then click Remove.

  7. On the Scheduler jobs FastTab, click Add to add one or more jobs to the schedule. To remove a job from the schedule, select the job, and then click Remove.

Create a distribution schedule in AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 Feature Pack

If you are using AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 Feature Pack, use the following procedure to create a distribution schedule.

  1. Click Retail > Periodic > Data distribution > Distribution schedule.

  2. Click New to create a new distribution schedule, or select a distribution schedule to modify.

  3. Enter a name and description for the distribution schedule.

  4. Select an Application Object Server (AOS) connection profile to use for the distribution schedule. For more information, see Set up an AOS profile.

  5. On the Distribution location list FastTab, click Add to add a distribution location list to the schedule. To remove a distribution location list from the schedule, select the distribution location list, and then click Remove.

  6. On the Scheduler jobs FastTab, click Add to add a job to the schedule. To remove a job from the schedule, select the job, and then click Remove.

Set up batch processing for scheduler jobs

Use the following procedure to set up a batch job for a distribution schedule.

A batch job is a scheduled run of a job or a group of jobs. When you create a batch job, you set up a timer in the AOS instance. The job is then run automatically on the server. To run batch jobs, you must configure the batch server. For more information, see Configure an AOS instance as a batch server.

  1. Click Retail > Periodic > Data distribution > Distribution schedule.

  2. Select a distribution schedule.

  3. On the Scheduler jobs FastTab, select the Enabled check box for each scheduler job that the batch job should run.

    If you are using AX 2012 R2 or AX 2012 Feature Pack, you can enable or disable multiple jobs at the same time. Select the jobs, and then click Enable batch job or Disable batch job.

  4. Click Create batch job. In the form that is displayed, enter information about the batch job. For more information about the options in the form, see Submit a batch processing job from a form.

Run a scheduler job manually

Use the following procedure to run an individual scheduler job manually. The job runs for all distribution location lists that are in the schedule.

  1. Click Retail > Periodic > Data distribution > Distribution schedule.

  2. Select the distribution schedule that contains the job to run.

  3. On the Scheduler jobs FastTab, select the job to run.

  4. Click Run now. (In AX 2012 R2 and AX 2012 Feature Pack, this option is called Run directly.)

View the status of data distribution

In AX 2012 R3, you can view information about past runs of a distribution schedule. In the Distribution schedule form, select a distribution schedule and click History. For more information, see View history for a distribution schedule.