Where is the dollar sign ($) conversion documented?

[Gregory DeCecco]

I have created a very simple package with a custom probe as shown here:

 

<package info>
   name = Training-Create_New_File
   description = Create a new file in C:\Temp, with a GUID for a file name.
   copyright = (C) Copyright 2018
   group = Training
   author = my_name
   date = 8/29/2018
   version = 1.0
   build = 5
   no_drop = no
</package info>
<SectionName>
   name = Training-Create_New_File
   type = simple
   OStype = windows
   OS = win64
   update = Training-Create_New_File
   <Training-Create_New_File>
      description = Generate a new file using PowerShell
      group = Training
      active = yes
      preserve_state = yes
      type = timed
      timespec = interval 10 min
      workdir = 
      command = C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
      arguments = -command { New-Item -Path "C:\Temp" -Name $((New-GUID).Guid) -ItemType File }
      config = 
      logfile = 
      datafile = 
   </Training-Create_New_File>
</SectionName>

 

This command fails because the robot is altering the argument text by using 'MyStringExpand' to change variable names into values.  MyStringExpand thinks the dollar sign ($) is the beginning of a variable name, but cannot translate it, and throws the following error:

 

Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller: ----- Robot controller 7.80 [Build 7.80.3132, Jun  1 2015] started -----
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller:  Name   = winrm, IP = IP, Port = 48000
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller:  OS     = Windows / Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Evaluation, 64-bit / Service Pack 0 Build 9600
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller:  Domain = TheEvilNetwork
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller:  Primary HUB = /TheEvilNetwork/Nimsoft_hub/Nimsoft IP
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller:  Loglevel = 0, Logfile = controller.log
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller:  Running as user SYSTEM
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller: ----- 
Aug 29 15:36:00:496 [1880] Controller: Controller on winrm port 48000 started
Aug 29 15:36:01:497 [1880] Controller: Hub Nimsoft_hub(IP) contact established
Aug 29 16:16:57:148 [1880] Controller: MyStringExpand - variable ((New-GUID).Guid) not found

 

How can I disable this MyStringExpand functionality?

Where is this translation functionality documented?

How can I view which strings are available for expansion?

[Gene Howard]

through out UIM the $ is used for variable names.

this can not be disabled.

the only information on the package editor is located here:

packageEditor - CA Unified Infrastructure Management Probes - CA Technologies Documentation 

[Garin Walsh]

I'd suggest trying to escape the value - will take some trial and error:

 

the short list of things I'd try

$$

%$

%%$

^$

^$$

\$

 

-Garin

[darst02]

Hi,

I tested this with all the escape characters I could think of and couldn’t get it to work ☹ I guess that the $ is reserved for variables but the controller.

So, I looked at using a bat file to execute this but again there are some difficulties and you need to have your command in a .ps1 file and call that from the .bat file and it does work   I am getting the guid file created every 10 mins in C:\Temp:

 

 

Here is the Training-Create_New_File.ps1 file: 

New-Item -Path "C:\Temp" -Name $((New-GUID).Guid) -ItemType File 

 

Here is the Training-Create_New_File.bat file: 

Powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\Training-Create_New_File.ps1 

 

Here is the new package file with the new files added: 

 

<package info>
name = Training-Create_New_File
description = Create a new file in C:\Temp, with a GUID for a file name.
copyright = (C) Copyright 2018
group = Training
author = my_name
date = 30/08/2018
version = 1.0
build = 3
no_drop = no
</package info>
<Training-Create_New_File>
name = Training-Create_New_File
type = simple
OStype = windows
OS = win64
update = Training-Create_New_File
<files>
<Training-Create_New_File.ps1>
type = binary
access = 0755
dir = probes/training/training-create_new_file
</Training-Create_New_File.ps1>
<Training-Create_New_File.bat>
type = script
access = 0755
dir = probes/training/training-create_new_file
</Training-Create_New_File.bat>
</files>
<Training-Create_New_File>
description = Create a new file in C:\Temp, with a GUID for a file name.
group = Training
active = yes
preserve_state = yes
type = timed
timespec = interval 10 min
workdir = probes/training/training-create_new_file
command = Training-Create_New_File.bat
arguments =
config = Training-Create_New_File.cfg
logfile = Training-Create_New_File.log
datafile =
</Training-Create_New_File>
</Training-Create_New_File>

 

You’ll need to create the Training-Create_New_File.ps1 and Training-Create_New_File.bat files and add them to your package. The package needs the workdir so it can find the files and the command is the Training-Create_New_File.bat file with no arguments. 

 

I hope this helps.

 

Steve D'Arcy

[Gregory DeCecco]

Excellent work and effort.  I took your lead and poked at it in an effort to slim down the configuration.  Eventually I was able to eliminate the use of the .bat file.

 

<package info>
   name = Training-Create_New_File
   description = Create a new file in C:\Temp, with a GUID for a file name.
   copyright = (C) Copyright 2018
   group = Training
   author = gdececco
   date = 8/29/2018
   version = 1.2
   build = 19
   no_drop = no
</package info>
<SectionName>
   name = Training-Create_New_File
   type = simple
   OStype = windows
   OS = win64
   update = Training-Create_New_File
   <files>
      <Create-File.ps1>
         type = ascii
         access = 0777
         dir = probes/training/training-create_new_file
      </Create-File.ps1>
   </files>
   <Training-Create_New_File>
      description = Create a new file in C:\Temp, with a GUID for a file name.
      group = Training
      active = yes
      preserve_state = yes
      type = timed
      timespec = interval 1 min
      workdir = probes/training/training-create_new_file
      command = C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
      arguments = -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -file Create-File.ps1
      config = 
      logfile = 
      datafile = 
   </Training-Create_New_File>
</SectionName>

 

Create-File.ps1 Contents:

New-Item -Path "C:\Temp" -Name $(([guid]::NewGuid()).Guid) -ItemType File | Out-Null;
Return 0;

 

This is probably as slim as I am going to get to running a PowerShell command without a lot of overhead.