How avoid computer sleep mode while running automation?

[lucie16]

Hi all,

I need to run my automation which takes several hours. But my computer goes to sleep mode after 10 minutes and it stops the automation (with status failed). I tried to add Move Mouse activity, but it has no effect.

Here is how the automation looks like:

I know that it is possible to set the time after which my computer will go to sleep mode (including never) in Power and Sleep mode settings, but I can't use this solution. So please does anybody know how to do it in my automation? How keep my computer awake? 🙂

Btw. I use IRPA Cloud Studio, Desktop Agent version 2.0.28 and most dependencies are version 1.27.60.

Regards

Lucie

[yogesh-001]

You can use "Move Mouse" Application download from Microsoft Store, It will run on background and never sleep your screen.

[jmodaal]

Hello,

a (somehow dirty) solution would be to create a small script with AutoIt! (https://www.autoitscript.com/site/) that presses the Shift key every 5 minutes to prevent your computer from falling asleep.

; a delay for Sleep()   5 minutes
Global $sdelay = 300000
; do endlessly
While 1
  Send("{SHIFTDOWN}{SHIFTUP}")
  sleep($sdelay)
WEnd

Make an .exe file of this script with AutoIt and put a shortcut to it into the Autostart folder of your Windows computer. An option would be to leave out the While loop in the script and execute it every 5 minutes in the Scheduled Tasks on your Windows computer.

Kind regards

[lucie16]

Hi all,

I tried most of the activities but unfortunately none of these worked.

Lucie

[janv7306]

Hello Lucie,

Are there any news on this topic? Did you test any activity from Vishal's note above?

Regards, JV

[vishal]

Hi lucie16,

For sure it should be technically feasible to run some "dummy" activity every few minutes to keep the workstation awake. Ex: forever loop iterating every few minutes (with delay timer in each run) involving some activity like rename a dummy file with current timestamp OR some click activity OR file move OR screenshot OR Log Message/Event - provided such activity helps keeping workstation awake, pls test out various available activities on your environment to check if (a) its continuous run keeps workstation awake and (b) at same time does not interfere with your actual automation run..

Regards,

Vishal Rathi

[lucie16]

Thanks for your answer vishalrathi21,

Unfortunately I can do only attended automations (because of license) and I can't change my workstation configuration either.

I hoped there is some activity I can add to my automation that do its job every couple of minutes that keeps my workstation awake.

But it seems that it is not possible in my case. Am I right?

Regards,

Lucie

[vishal]

Hi lucie16,

In scenarios where automation is in attended mode, it is generally assumed user is monitoring the bot execution continuously (execution happens under the guidance of user). And hence user would ensure screen remains unlocked during the automation run. Also attended mode executions are generally short in duration and triggered repeatedly by user whenever he needs support of bot to carry out smaller use cases.

However as your use case involves running of automation for several hours - it is desirable to have automation to run in unattended mode (as it would be practically difficult for user to monitor the execution continuously for such long duration)

Further, regarding Ad1, I think SAP is suggesting we ensure the environment (workstation where desktop agent is being run) is configured such that screen remains unlocked always.

Ad2, is mainly for Desktop Studio can ignore since your automation is using Cloud Studio

Ad3, yes this sounds similar to 1, however it is recommendation for virtual desktop in attended mode

To summarize, I can see two approaches to be followed up A) maintain workstation configuration such that it does not get locked automatically B) convert automation to unattended mode, and if screen unlocking is needed during unattended mode then refer to instructions here

Hope this helps

Regards,

Vishal Rathi

[lucie16]

Hi vishalrathi21,

Thanks for your quick answer!

First I want to say, that I use attended mode so I don't need to unlock screen just to keep it unlocked while the automation runs.

Ad 1 - The link say: "A common best practice is to configure your environment to prevent the screen from locking." I don't see where I can configure my environment. Is it in Cloud Factory > Environments or did they mean setting in my computer? Could you describe it more or give me more specific link please if it is in Cloud Factory?

Ad 2 - I don't see Unlock activity in Cloud Studio nevertheless using it could be problematic, because screen lock can stop my automation at any point and it would be difficult to continue after unlock. Or am I wrong?

Ad 3 - It seems like the same issue as in ad 1.

Did I miss something importatnt?

Thanks.

Lucie

[vishal]

Hi lucie16,

Please check below recommendations I found from SAP related to screen locking issues

• Keep Screen Unlocked
• Use Unlock Activity
• Usage of Virtual Desktop Infra to run automation

Above mentioned are specific to Desktop Studio. Similarly, for Cloud Studio recommendations on usage and unlocking locked session are available here.

Regards,

Vishal Rathi