|
|
Login ActionNOTE: This action appears only in the Professional Service Edition |
|
|
Login ActionNOTE: This action appears only in the Professional Service Edition |
|
Description
|
Login dialog |
|
|
Parameters
Username
Specifies the Windows username that AutoMate should use to log on to Windows.Password
Specifies the log on password for the user specified in the "Username" parameter.Domain
Specifies the Domain or Machine name that AutoMate should authenticate the username and password. You may enter either a network domain or if you are not connected to a network the local machine name.Create Desktop
When enabled, specifies that AutoMate should also create a desktop for this user account. Some applications require that certain user properties be established (such as security credentials and rights) before they will work properly. Tasks that use a new desktop take longer to initialize and require more memory to maintain. Therefore, this option should be used only if your task fails otherwise. When Create Desktop is checked, the following additional actions are enabled:Reveal and Make Interactive
When enabled allows applications to be visibly launched under the new desktop. If this option is not selected, the desktop is created in the background and does not permit user interaction. The default user shell (i.e. Windows Taskbar and desktop environment with icons, shortcuts, etc.) are not shown unless the "Setup Desktop" option is selected.Setup Desktop
Configures the desktop for use by the AutoMate user account. If selected, the desktop becomes visible and can be interacted with like any other login session. When the desktop is setup, the current user session is interrupted until the task is complete, at which time the original user session is restored.Lock Mouse
When enabled AutoMate will lock the mouse to outside users while the logon session is active. This has the same effect as issuing a Lock Mouse step directly after the Login Step. The mouse is automatically locked when the task ends.Lock Keyboard
When enabled AutoMate will lock the keyboard to outside users while the logon session is active. This has the same effect as issuing a Lock Keyboard step directly after the Login Step. The keyboard is automatically locked when the task ends.
Background
Each task that runs through the Service Edition of AutoMate must be performed on behalf of an active user on the domain or machine. Otherwise, AutoMate™ will not have access to network or system resources that it may need to perform its tasks. The Login Action performs the login necessary to give the task its required privileges. This step should be the first step of any task that will be run by the Service Edition.
To setup the step, enter the username, password and domain/machine name of a user that has the access privileges required to successfully carry out the task. This should be lowest set of security rights possible. This will limit the susceptibility your system may encounter if it is running a task on a logged out workstation, or if the task is somehow interrupted by a user. See the NT Specific Security Notes for more information about running secure tasks on an NT workstation or server.
You can automatically lock the mouse and/or keyboard after a successful login by checking off the Lock Mouse and Lock Keyboard check boxes. This eliminates the need for a Lock Mouse Step or Lock Keyboard Step after the login step.
The remaining check boxes of the Login Step are used when you wish to create a task capable of running on a logged off workstation. Check Create Desktop to have AutoMate™ create a new, virtual desktop that the task can use to start its applications on. If you wish to send keystrokes to this new desktop, you must also check Reveal and make interactive. This will give AutoMate™ interactive access to the new desktop. If you require an Explorer interface (i.e. a fully functional desktop with a taskbar and icons), select Setup desktop.
A Login Step should be followed by a Logout step if you have created a desktop in the login command (by checking the Create Desktop checkbox), since logging out cleanly destroys the desktop and reestablishes the previous environment.
Notes
You can also set up a default user profile for the NT Service Edition. This will allow the AutoMate Task Service to assume a certain user if a Login step is not found for a task.
Related Topics:
