How to bring Auto Rec output to a deployable bot


Auto Rec Optimization Team: 2 members

  1. Subject Matter Experts (SME, LOB, or Citizen member) - Someone who is knowledgeable about the target process - Usually, the one performing the target process while running the Auto Rec in the background
  2. Scenario Optimization Experts (SOE, IT, Software Engineer, or STU Operator) - Someone who understands software optimization and will convert the Auto Rec output to a deployable bot using ARGOS STU.


NOTICE

On our roadmap: SARA will have the optimization tools

  • Standalone Auto Rec Application
    • No STU installation required
    • No network access required


  • To be released in Q1/2023
  1. Auto Rec features
  2. Slideshow viewer and editor
  3. Shortcut Key <> Text Input converter
  4. Click interval manager and double/triple click converter
  5. Delay manager
  6. Property data text editor with “wildcard” insertion feature

Need help?

Technical inquiries contact to tech@argos-labs.com


Contents

  • Step #1: Observe Screenshots and Properties
  • Step #2: Manage delays
  • Step #3: Mouse click corrections
  • Step #4: Key stroke corrections
  • Step #5: App title/name optimization
  • Step #6: Integrate App Start/Switch operations
  • Step #7: Apply basic Application plugins
  • Step #8: Test Run and Happy Path review
  • Step #9: Bot development and stabilization
  • Step #10: Volume Test and Optimize Performance
  • Step #11: Fix and finalize the bot
  • Step #12: Documentation

Step #1: Observe Screenshots and Properties

(tick) This is a discussion session between someone who performs the target process (the Subject Matter Experts (SME)) and someone who will convert the output to a deployable bot (the Scenario Optimization Experts (SOEs))
  • Jointly observe the Screenshots in slideshow mode and the property data
  • Objectives are:
    • Remove unnecessary operations (garbage collection)
    • Identify all the applications that are used in the Scenario
    • Divide and label the Output into easy-to-understand “steps”
    • Agree on the Happy Path flow



Step #2: Manage delays

(tick) This is a SOE task
  • Use STU Settings menu for one-click change-all feature
  • Extend delays on
    • Operations start delay time
    • Verification time-ou


Step #3: Mouse click corrections

(tick) This is a SOE task
  • Find back-to-back mouse click (Locate Image) operations and, if applicable, consolidate multiple single-clicks into double/triple clicks

Step #4: Key stroke corrections

(tick) This is a SOE task
  • Observe the [Shortcut Key] operations and convert them to Text Input when applicable (use the paste option when applicable)

Step #5: App title/name optimization

(tick) This is a SOE task
  • Go through [Locate Image] and [Image Match] operations and remove non-consistent values from app titles and app names
  • If applicable, replace them with “*” wildcard

Step #6: Integrate App Start/Switch operations

(tick) This is a SOE task
  • Find when applications start and see if you can use [Run Program}
  • Find when applications are switching and see if you can use [Select Window]


Step #7: Apply basic Application plugins

(tick) This is a SOE task
  • See if you can apply [Excel, PDF, Text, File/Folder] plugins for quick stabilization


Step #8: Test Run and Happy Path review

(tick) This is a joint task between SME and SOE
  • Run the scenario in the actual environment
  • Objectives are:
    • Agree on the “trigger” to start the bot
    • Agree on the data input scheme – agree on variables
    • Agree on process record keeping scheme (Master Excel file?)
    • Agree on the execution result report scheme
    • Agree on the log [Citizen log] format, timing, and location


Step #9: Bot development and stabilization

(tick) This is a SOE task
  • Perform the following and bring the bot to deployable state
    • Design and implement [variables]
    • Design loops and decide iteration scheme
    • Design and implement process record keeping scheme --- such as master Excel file
    • Apply API, HTML, and Objects wherever you can to replace image base processes
    • Design logs and notifications (and interactive steps if needed)
    • Add exception/error handlers


Step #10: Volume Test and Optimize Performance

(tick) This is a joint task between SME and SOE
  • Bring the prototype bot to a test environment and repeat test
  • Objectives are:
    • Discover more exceptions and errors
    • Minimize delays to optimize performance


Step #11: Fix and finalize the bot

(tick) This is a SOE task

  • Implement the findings from Step #10 and make the bot more robust, stable, and fast


Step #12: Documentation

(tick) This is a joint task between SME and SOE

  • Put together “User’s Manual” for the bot
  • Should include
    • Description
    • Development team names and contacts
    • Input and Output
    • Deployment environment and execution schedule (triggers)
    • Logs format – where to find them and how to read them
    • Trouble shooting guide