Edjob file reference

Question

Just wondering if there is a reference for writing edjob files (*.upd). Occasionally we need to make changes to jobs en-masse, and edjob seems like the perfect tool to do so.

Answer 1

For what it is worth, Michael, I had the same need some time ago and was trying to get some insights from FirstLogic on how to utilize edjob.  They wouldn't give up the details then, either.  So what I had done is written a complete FirstLogic template handler using the Ruby language.  I'm not sure what your technical background is.
Basically, all templates are made of blocks, and all blocks are made of instructions, and all instructions are a parameter and argument.  So the following code basically says, "Ask the O/S for a list of all templates (.pst files).  For each one, load an instance of the template and find the IDEA Mail.dat block.  If then block was not found, next template.  If found, set to 11-2 the mail.dat version.  Lastly, rewrite the template."
Dir.glob(File.join(base,'*','.pst')).each do |fname|
  tmp = FL_Presort_Template.new(fname)
  maildat = tmp.find('Report: IDEA Mail.dat')
  next unless maildat
  maildat.find('Mail.dat version (11-1/11-2)').arg = '11-2'
  File.open(fname, 'w') { |ofile| ofile.puts tmp.to_a } if params[:write]
end
Our company has nearly 300 templates that we maintain.  The template handler allows us to cut through all those and update what needs to be changed.  More difficult changes may isolate just standard mail templates, apply changes to entry points (zip changes are the most difficult), etc...  That same logic is utilized all over in our automated systems.
dvn