Adding custom commands with parameters

In Task Assistant Manager, you can associate ArcMap or custom commands with a step in the workflow. When you associate multiple commands with a single step, commands are executed from top to bottom, in the order in which they appear in the Selected Commands area of the Command Item Editor dialog box. You can change the execution order by highlighting a command in the Selected Commands area and using the Up and Down arrows on the Command Item Editor dialog box to move the command in the list.

Task Assistant Manager allows you to specify parameters for commands. This option is available through the Designer tab on the Command Item Editor dialog box. This is useful for custom commands that are configured to receive parameters. See Task Assistant Manager FAQs for information regarding how to create a custom command that accepts parameters.

Tip:

Task Assistant Manager contains a number of commands that have been written to accept parameters. These can be found under the Task Manager Utilities command category.

Note:

Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) ArcMap commands cannot receive parameters and will ignore any specified parameters. Custom commands that are not implemented to receive parameters will also ignore any specified parameters.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. If necessary, click the Task Assistant Window button on the Task Manager toolbar to display the Task Assistant window.
3. Load a task assistant workflow.
4. Click to highlight the step to configure in the Task Assistant window.
5. Click the Designer tab.
6. Click the cell next to Commands and click the ellipsis (...) that appears.

   The Command Item Editor dialog box appears.

7. Verify that the custom command to which you want to add parameters is visible in the Selected Commands list.
8. Click to choose the command you want to customize in the Selected Commands list.
   Note:

   COTS ArcGIS commands cannot receive parameters. Parameters can be applied only to custom commands.

9. Click the Command Parameters button .

   The Command Parameters dialog box appears.

10. Type one or more command parameters, separated by commas or semicolons, in the Command Parameters text box.

    Parameters may contain spaces.

    Note:

    Depending on how the custom command has been implemented, there are a few different ways the Command Parameters dialog box can be displayed. See Task Assistant Manager FAQs for more information about creating a custom command that accepts parameters and the different options available for configuring the Command Parameters dialog box.

11. Click OK.
12. Click OK to close the Command Item Editor dialog box.