Service Manager Workflows – Part 1

To automate tasks, Service Manager brings it’s own Workflow Engine. Using the Authoring Tool you can build detailed Workflows to automate almost any task you want. And the best thing: it’s pretty easy! In this Blogpost Series i will show you how Workflows can make your life easier …

I will build a Workflow that launches a Powershell-Script that automatically closes Incidents that have been in a resolved state for more than 5 days. You can find details about this Script in this Blogpost.

First, I create a new Management Pack in the Authoring Tool and create a new Workflow.

After the name and description of the Workflow have been specified, I choose the Workflow trigger. I want the Workflow to automatically run daily at a specific time.

Now it’s time to build the workflow. In this first Part of the Workflow Series, I will build a very simple Workflow with just one Object that holds the Powershell-Script. I just drag the needed Object from the Toolbox to the Workflow and configure it by giving it a name, description and the script body.

Now it’s time to save and import the Management Pack. But wait – there is one more step! The folder that contains the Management Pack XML-File also contains some other files that were created when I built the workflow. The Assembly (DLL-File) needs to be copied to the Service Manager Installation Folder on the Management Servers. Otherwise the Workflow will fail.

In the Service Manager Console it’s possible to check the Status of the Workflows. In case of problems you can find important details why the workflow did not run successfully.

In the next Part of the Workflow Series I will show you how to use Workflows for more complex requirements.

See you!
Marcel

8 Responses to Service Manager Workflows – Part 1

Anand says:

25/01/2013 at 21:23

Hello Marcel

I have created a workflow with Authoring Tool that has one PowerShell script included.The script is suppose to Update Activities related to a specific Change Request .

I am able to import the Management pack and put the related files (*.dll) etc on the Service manager install dir. The workflow status says Succeeded but the script it seems does not run at all as there are no changes to the Change Request.

I must add that when run from the PowerShell the script works and runs fine.

Any pointers in this regard will be highly appreciated

Thanks

Anand

- Marcel Zehner says:
  
  27/01/2013 at 13:55
  
  Hey
  
  Does the workflow account have the needed permissions to update the activities?
  
  Cheers
  Marcel
  
ch says:

21/05/2013 at 11:38

hi,

how to overwrite a workitem without triggering the update workflow?

Thanks

Tracy says:

03/07/2014 at 14:01

Hi Marcel, I receive an error when saving the MP though I did the steps you have described. I have copy and paste your code with a Little modification:

$LogFilename = “C:\Install\Scripts\Logs\AutoCloseIncidentsScript.log”;

$Date = (get-date);
$DateString = $Date.toString();

import-module smlets;
$7DaysOld = (get-date).addhours(-168);

$IncidentsToClose = Get-SCSMObject –ClassName System.WorkItem.Incident$ | where{$_.lastmodified -lt $7DaysOld -AND $_.Status -like “*Resol*”};

$IncidentsToClose | Set-SCSMObject –property Status –Value Closed;

Add-Content -Path $LogFilename ($Datestring + ” – ” + $IncidentsToClose.Count + ” Incidents AutoClosed”);

When trying to save the MP there is an error: Incorrect sign in the coding, row 2, Position 457.

- Marcel Zehner says:
  
  04/07/2014 at 11:00
  
  1. Did you copy/paste the script? That could be the problem.
  2. The script is very old and a really good example how a script should NOT look like. It’s an old example from my first SCSM experience, so take care 🙂
  
Marcelo Souza says:

25/03/2015 at 14:18

Hi Marcel

If I run the script on powershell command line, on the management server, it works. But when I create the workflow and Import the script (or type it), the workflow status says it succeed, but nothing happens. I recreated it many times, but nothing happens, although the script works out of the workflow. Do you have an idea what is going on? I have SCSM 2012 R2 UR4.

Thanks.

Marcelo

- Marcel Zehner says:
  
  06/04/2015 at 09:22
  
  Hey Marcelo
  
  Hard to say. I suggest you add some additional logging in your scripts that somehow writes Status Information to the Event log or a simple text file to get some more insights of what happens. That’s the easiest way to start.
  
  Cheers
  Marcel
  
  - Marcelo Souza says:
    
    06/04/2015 at 17:09
    
    Hi Marcel
    
    I have found a solution. This tip worked for me:
    
    http://systemcenterservicemanager.blogspot.com.br/2013_01_01_archive.html
    
    Thanks.
    
    Marcelo Souza