I have an agent that is set to run daily but runs only at the first scheduled instance. I have searched out this forum and even looked at tech notes on why agents don’t run. Frankly I’m stumped. This is the only agent I have this problem. I don’t have any errors when it runs either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Subject: Scheduled agent runs once, won’t repeat.
Steve,
I won’t enter into the CRISPY debate, as that seems well flogged by now.
If you mean that it really isn’t running (as opposed to running but not doing what you want) then I’d suspect that it’s an NTF or NS3 file or something like that.
Alternatively, I suppose it’s possible that your scheduled agent list is too long or the agents in front are never finishing …
regards,
raphael
Subject: RE: Scheduled agent runs once, won’t repeat.
We might be able to help with more information. You might read the C R I S P Y document and consider its recommendations.
- Andre Guirard, IBM/Lotus Development
Useful blog: Best Practice Makes Perfect
Subject: Your C R I S P Y response
Andre,
By virtue of the fact that you’re sending me a reprimand for posting a request for help without enough info, let me reiterate that I’ve been on this forum for quite some time looking for a solution before posting. Your document comes across as a slap in the face whether or not you intend otherwise. To be frank, I was looking for someone to respond who may have had a similar experience to mine who, perhaps, could pointed out something I’ve overlooked based on the information I did provide. I am not new to Lotus Notes and am a certified developer and system administrator, working with the product since 1993. I can tell you that after today I will no longer post on this forum but instead will contact tech support directly.
Subject: RE: Your C R I S P Y response
Hi Steve
Maybe you misunderstood the intend, I don’t think it was meant to be a slap in the face.You don’t give a lot of infos, so it’s hard to say if we had similar situation as yours.
So it should run more than once a day.
How many times?
Based on what?
Do you have error handling?
Can you run it manually more than once?
Can you run in remote debugging?
Can you post a sample code?
Does it update your documents?
etc.
JYR
Subject: RE: Your C R I S P Y response
This is the last straw.
I have tried and tried and tried to find a way to request more information in a way that would not get people blowing up in my face. I’ve edited the CRISPY document several times to soften it and make it very, very clear that it’s not intended as a criticism, but as a set of recommendations for getting a better answer.
As of now, I officially give up on that. I won’t bother to tell people they need to provide more information, since apparently there is NO WAY to do this without getting flamed.
The only alternative to this is to ask the specific questions that they should’ve answered without being asked, and engage in a long discussion back and forth. However, I don’t have time to do this and further, I resent the inconsiderateness of people who make it necessary.
My new strategy is to simply ignore any question that isn’t already CRISPY. That will save me a lot of time. This is a voluntary activity for all of us here. I decline to subject myself to further such abuse in the future.
Subject: RE: Your C R I S P Y response
I understand what you were trying to get people to do and it was a good idea.
Further, you’re right … when it comes to message board (and I’m on a few) any “advice” is often seen as critism.
I believe MOST people when they post are probably so tired and frustrated of trying to figure why it’s not working. Everything is obvious to them and / or they don’t want to give too much detail worried they will confuse people. But they then make the mistake of forgetting to mention basic things. (For example did Steve check the log.nsf?) Unforuntately that makes it very hard for the rest of us trying to help.
I’ve often felt there should be an Input Translation in the Subject field that say if it contains urgent then the posting should fail and then take you to your CRISPY page / the FAQ.
I say keep the CRISPY rules and it be a secret way to get better response from experienced people. Sorta like how some people know how to access this system in their notes client and other think it’s only available on the web.
Thanks for trying. Unfortunately, people don’t read. (AND I’m no Saint - I’ve been guilty of that at times.)
But otherwise, there are a lot of great people on this forum who help people.
I like reading it to see what people are trying to do, as it gives me ideas.
Subject: RE: Your C R I S P Y response
Andre, being a member of an IS department I can tell you that if I directed my users to a document such as your CRISPY one when they sought my help my superiors would make me remove it. It would, in fact, make my users feel rebuked for seeking help regardless of your intentions. I get requests every day from users who give me very little information and often I have to ask some key questions. Is that a waste of time? Not when it’s my job to help. In my worthless opinion you’re being a little too sensitive for someone who works for IBM Lotus in a help environment.
Subject: If you are offended at being sent a link to the CRISPY document…
No offense is intended. Please consider our situation.
This is a user forum, and participation is entirely voluntary. Nobody is being paid to help you here.
You’re asking us to help you for free. We want to help you. We are all busy and want to do as much good as we can with the limited time we can spend here. With a question like yours, we don’t have time to engage in a long Q&A about it, so we have two choices:
Skip your question and move on to someone else.
Indicate that we are willing to help but that we need more information, without taking time to specify exactly what information unless it is something non-obvious.
You can choose to take offense. If you do, the experts in this forum will know that you rather we choose option A for all your posts. If you want answers, you’re likelier to get them if you respond constructively rather than with a flame. Up to you.
I suggest that you take a day to consider, and remember that these forums are archived and will be available indefinitely. Flaming the experts in your field, who are trying to help you, can be a career-limiting move.
Subject: If you think I’m trying merely to flame you…
You’re missing my intention. Perhaps I misunderstood your presence on this forum. If you are not here as a representive of IBM Lotus to help with the product as directed by superiors but rather as a volunteer than I am in the wrong. Surely you can understand that your CRISPY document can be construed as offensive as I’m sure others have pointed out. That was my point from the beginning. It was never my intention to flame you or anyone else on this forum so if I’ve offended you I apologize.
Subject: RE: If you think I’m trying merely to flame you…
Everyone posting here (with the very infrequent exception of LDD Webmaster announcements) is doing so voluntarily. That is made clear in the Forum Use and Etiquette document (and while we are asked to refrain from chastising newbies for not having read the document, it’s always the first place I go when I visit a new online forum). There are a lot of very helpful people here, but this isn’t a support channel – just a low-stigma self-help group. And I’ve got to say that one really needs to be in dire need of a skin-thickening session at the dermatologist’s office if he/she finds anything offensive about the C R I S P Y document (in any of its versions).
Subject: RE: If you think I’m trying merely to flame you…
I think it’s been made clear a few times already that nobody is here except as a volunteer, so your “if” is misplaced.Frankly, no, I don’t see what is offensive about that document. Certainly, people have been offended by it in the past, but many others have actually read it and found it helpful. As I said, I’ve revised it several times trying to take any “sting” out of it. If you can think of a better way to convey the content, that will work for more people, I’m open to hearing it.
If you think the very concept of suggesting that people read the manual, do some debugging on their own, be clear, and present their evidence for what they’re saying, is offensive, then I just don’t know what to say. Technical disciplines are very unforgiving by necessity because they have to deal with lots of highly complex information. To be effective as a developer, fuzzy thinking and hand-waving just don’t work. You have to use the information that’s available, think critically, follow the evidence, or you can’t solve any problems for yourself. And that’s what they pay you for.
At the moment, you seem to be recommending that those of us who are not willing, do not have time, to do a long series of back and forth to try and pry information out of people so we can answer their questions, simply ignore any questions that don’t have enough information in them already. In the absence of any other recommendation from you that’s what I have to assume you had in mind. I suspect you are in the minority of questioners on this point, and most people would prefer to be helped.
Subject: RE: Your C R I S P Y response
Steve, that’s where you got it all wrong (and I could imagine, you already found out): It is NOT Andre’s job to help anybody in this forum. In fact, it’s nobody’s job to answer any questions here.
You get paid for helping your users. Nobody gets paid for helping you here. Heck, I don’t even get paid for not helping you, in this case …