b4A Packages

Objects for the Automic Automation Engine are delivered with best4Automic. The objects are organized in so-called b4A Packages. They are used to control b4A modules from the Automic Automation Engine and provide helpful objects that make it easier to use best4Automic in automation.

The format of the b4A Packages is similar to the format of the Automic Package Manager. Please refer to the Package Management chapter.

The following list describes the standard folder structure of a b4A Packages:

Folder	Description
ACTIONS	This folder contains generic objects that can be included in various places.
CONFIG	This folder contains the configuration variables that are necessary for the operation of the b4A Package and can be customized.
DOCUMENTATION	This folder contains general documentation and the release notes of the b4A Package.
SERVICES	This folder contains prepared and executable objects that facilitate configurations or provide functions.
SOURCE	This folder contains all objects that are used in the actions and services.

Installation

Before the Automic Automation Engine objects of best4Automic can be used, they must first be installed in a client. For this purpose, best4Automic contains a b4A Modul pm.Install. The following b4A Package are available for installation:

BBC.SHARED This provides basic objects. These include SQLI variables and include objects, which are used as tools by several other b4A Packages.

B4A.BASE This contains actions for integrating best4Automic into the automation processes.

B4A.PM

Contains example processes for a deployment procedure based on the b4A Package Management

B4A.WEB

Contains actions that can be used for the integration of the b4A Service Portal

The following command can be used to install the b4A Packages:

UNIX:

./b4A pm.Install -C <connection> --zip-file ../packages/B4A.BASE.zip

Windows:

./b4A.bat pm.Install -C <connection> --zip-file "../packages/B4A.BASE.zip"

To perform the installation in graphical mode, the -X option can be added to the call.

After successful installation, the b4A Packages objects are located under the PACKAGES folder. Before the workflows of the b4A packages can be used, some configurations must be carried out, which are described below. As these are examples, it may also be necessary to make adjustments to the objects in order to adapt them to the environment.

Documentation

A detailed description of the functions provided by the individual b4A Package can be found at https://docs.best4automic.de/packages.