Command Task in Informatica Powercenter Express

Command task runs a single shell command or starts an external executable program during the workflow. We can write  commands to delete reject files, copy a file, or archive target files. You can use workflow parameters and variables in the command.

When you run a workflow, the workflow passes input data to a Command task in parameters and variables. The Command task uses the input data to run the command. When the Command task finishes running, the task passes output data back to the workflow in variables.

The command syntax depends on whether the Data Integration Service runs on UNIX or Windows.

Windows Use any DOS or batch file.  For example, to copy a file from target folder to source folder

Copy C:\Informatica\PCExpress\tomcat\bin\target\xyz.txt C:\Informatica\PCExpress\tomcat\bin\source\xyz.txt

To create a batch file, write above command in a file and save the file as *.bat file. Then use the file in command task.

UNIX Use any UNIX command or shell script. For example, to copy a file from target folder to source folder

cp C:\Informatica\PCExpress\tomcat\bin\target\xyz.txt C:\Informatica\PCExpress\tomcat\bin\source\xyz.txt

To create a shell script, write above command in a file and save the file as *.sh file. Then use the file in command task.

Command Task Input

It is the data that passes into a Command task from workflow parameters and variables. Assign a Command task configuration property to task input to define the value of the property in a workflow parameter or variable.

Command Task Output

It is the data that passes from a Command task into workflow variables. Command task outputs include general outputs and task specific outputs. The Data Integration Service copies the Command task output values to workflow variables when the Command task completes.

If the task fails, the Data Integration Service copies the general task output values but not the task specific output values to workflow variables.

General outputs Includes output data produced by all tasks such as the task start time, end time, and whether the task successfully ran.

Command task outputs Includes data produced by the Command task when it runs the command.

Exit code returned by the command. A successful command returns 0. An unsuccessful command returns a non-zero value.

Standard error message returned by the command. By default, the first 1,024 characters of the error are returned. You can change the length of the standard error in the Command task advanced configuration properties.

Standard output returned by the command. By default, the first 1,024 characters of the output are returned. You can change the length of the standard output in the Command task advanced configuration properties.

Command Task Advanced Properties

The Advanced tab for a Command task includes properties that the task uses to run the command.

Working Directory

Directory from which to run the command. You can also specify the working directory in the command that you enter for the task. If you specify the directory in both locations, the directory specified in the command overrides the directory specified in this property.

Standard Output Length

Number of characters to return in the standard output for the command. Maximum is 32,768 characters. Default is 1024 characters.

Standard Error Length

Number of characters to return in the standard error for the command. Maximum is 4096 characters. Default is 1024 characters.