To Invoke Automation from SSJS

Question

Is it possible to invoke automation from SSJS? We want to create Script Activity and based on some conditions wants to execute different automation? Can we do invoke automation using Script Activity?

Answer 1

It is relevant to add to the good answer by Brad Sapkota, that this will work perfectly within the same Business Unit. However it is also possible to start automations across Business Units using the SOAP API called from SSJS. There is a good example here, how to wrap SOAP XML in SSJS: Making SOAP Calls via SSJS

Answer 2

Yes, this is possible. Here is the sample code that invokes the automation. Please add the desired condition statements and replace the external key of the target automation.

<script runat="server">
Platform.Load("Core", "1.1.1");

// Automation A
var automationACustomerKey = "external_key_of_the_target_automation_here";

var rrA = Platform.Function.CreateObject("RetrieveRequest");
Platform.Function.SetObjectProperty(rrA, "ObjectType", "Automation");
Platform.Function.AddObjectArrayItem(rrA, "Properties", "ProgramID");
Platform.Function.AddObjectArrayItem(rrA, "Properties", "CustomerKey");
Platform.Function.AddObjectArrayItem(rrA, "Properties", "Status");

var sfpA = Platform.Function.CreateObject("SimpleFilterPart");
Platform.Function.SetObjectProperty(sfpA, "Property", "CustomerKey");
Platform.Function.SetObjectProperty(sfpA, "SimpleOperator", "equals");
Platform.Function.AddObjectArrayItem(sfpA, "Value", automationACustomerKey);

Platform.Function.SetObjectProperty(rrA, "Filter", sfpA);

var retrieveStatusA = [0, 0, 0];

var automationResultSetA = Platform.Function.InvokeRetrieve(rrA, retrieveStatusA);

var ObjectIDA = automationResultSetA[0]["ObjectID"];
var StatusA = automationResultSetA[0]["Status"];

if (ObjectIDA != "null") {

    if (StatusA == 6) {

        var obj = Platform.Function.CreateObject("Automation");
        Platform.Function.SetObjectProperty(obj, "ObjectID", ObjectIDA);
        var po = Platform.Function.CreateObject("PerformOptions");

        var performResult = [0, 0, 0];
        var performStatus = Platform.Function.InvokePerform(obj, "start", performResult, po);

    } else {
        // already running
    }
} else {
    // automation not found
}
</script>

Reference:

• Automation
• Interact with Automation Studio