Extending EngageIP With Action Scripts

Summary

Actions are scripts that are triggered by back-end events associated with the provisioning of servers and/or transfer of data. The automation of these events, typically known as workflow, is useful for clients who want to automate a range of functions within the system.

The content below outlines the possible configuration of actions, depending on the internal business processes and requirements for your organization, these guidelines may or may not apply.

Overview

Each organization's structure and requirements for actions is unique. Because actions are prompted by specific events, organizations can use actions to automate both provisioning and data-related functions. Therefore, thinking what is possible from a business-process related perspective will provide technically-savvy organizations the ability to apply a range of technical solutions to business scenarios via actions.

Introduction to Actions

There are a number of areas where actions can occur:

• Payment Terms

• Provisioning of Servers

• Workflows

Viewing Actions

1. Click Setup

2. Select Actions

3. A list of actions that are in the system will be listed here

   Open

   

You can create your own action scripts that will perform actions based on events within the application. By default the application contains the following basic scripts; Charge Late Fee, Open Ticket, Send Email, Send SMS and Set User Status which are used when configuring payment terms of credit ratings.

In order to access the details of an action, click on the hypertext link in the Name column.

Action Profile Questions

Unlike other profile questions, which are used to gather additional information about a particular service or account, action profile questions work in conjunction with the action script(s) they are attached to. For example, if you have a script that will charge a late fee it is handy to have the rate that will be charged easily configurable within a profile question.

Open

Adding a Profile Question to an Action

1. Load the Setup page

2. Select Actions

3. Click on the Name of an existing Action in the table to edit it

4. On the Action edit page scroll down to the Components section and click the Add button

5. Select Profile Question and populate the question details (see the article Profile Questions – Configuring if you are unfamiliar with setting up Profile Questions)

The Action profile questions will prompt for an answer when you invoke the action, for example when you add a Payment Term or Payment Retry Term with an action of 'Charge Late Fee'.

For additional profile questions, repeat the above process. A list of all profile questions will be visible under Components.

Provisioning of Servers

Actions can also be used for basic provisioning of external servers.

Setup > Server Types (under Configuration) 

Each of these scripts will be executed when the event it is associated with occurs for accounts associated with a server of this type. The system will handle the provisioning of simple servers which do not require a lot of data synchronization (i.e. provisioning web servers, UNIX accounts, mail servers, etc.). The provisioning of more complex devices (i.e. soft-switch, CPE device) which require more complex provisioning and frequent synchronization of data can be handled by creating a set of workflows.

If you have a server which you would like to provision, please contact your LogiSense Customer Care Representative to discuss your organization's requirements.

Workflows

The workflow system allows for the creation of complex sequences of actions. For more information see the articles under the Actions and Workflows section.