Task Runner Reference Help

This page describes the menus of Task Runner. For an overview of its usage go to: Using Task Runner.

Note:: Task Runner can be opened from VOExplorer by selecting a resource and choosing Execute Task, or can be launched standalone from VODesktop. In the former case details of the selected application will appear in the Task Runner window. In the latter case the first action will be to load a previously saved task document.

File Menu

New Task

Displays a dialogue that allows the user to select a different remote application or database to build a task for.

Open

Loads a previously saved task document, i.e. restores the information about the application to be executed and the saved settings such as the location of input files and the values of parameters.

Save

Saves the current task document, to local disk or to VOSpace. Task documents are saved in xml format.

Save as

Saves the current task document, to local disk or to VOSpace. Task documents are saved in xml format.

Close window

Close the current Task Runner window. Note: unsaved information about the current task will be lost.

Login/Logout

Exit

Close the Task Runner and shut down VODesktop.

Edit Menu

Cut Copy Paste Select All

Provide the usual editing help.

Reset form

Reset values of the task parameters (eg inputs, outputs) to the default values that appeared when Task Runner was first opened.

Preferences Reset configuration Clear Cache

See: VOExplorer help

Task Menu

Execute

Starts the task, usually at the most appropriate location by default, but you may use a choice of locations, if offered. This has the same function as the Execute button at top right.

Result Menu

Once a task has completed, click the output icon (see above) if you want to use this menu. Similar options are also listed at lower right of the main window.

View

Displays the task output in a browser if possible (this may not be suitable e.g. for binary data).

Download

Gives you the option to save the output to local disk or to VOSpace if not already saved. If you have an appropriate 'Plasticised' Helper Application running, e.g. TopCat for tables, you will also be offered a link to that.

Show in File Explorer

Opens Help/ReferenceHelp/FileExplorer, which allows you to see the size and other properties of the output file.

Window Menu

See VOExplorer Window Menu

Help Menu

This menu provides links to Help pages for internal and external VO tools and applications.

Task Runner Window Overview

If a task can be performed in several ways (for example, STILTS options like volint, tmatch2 etc.) you make a selection from Interface to the right of the task title bar at the top of Task Runner.

The body of Task Runner contains three main sections. Inputs are entered on the left and hovering over the name gives context-sensitive help in the lower middle panel, or clicking keeps help for that input displayed (also see Help for individual tools, data sets etc.). Small files such as a table of a few hundred rows can be returned directly, or you can use the upper middle panel to select a destination. This may be on your local disk or in VOSpace (if you have an account); some services may require specific output, which will be shown (e.g. if a population synthesis code produces many files). You should make sure that large files are saved to your disk or VOSpace.

Once you have completed the inputs and output, click on the Execute button at top right. The little V gives a drop-down menu which may offer a choice of locations where a task will run; those which have reported a functioning status have a green button, but usually a suitable implementation is chosen by default.

The progress of the task is described below the Execute button.