Managing Packages

Downloading a Package Version

1. In the Packages page, click View Versions. The Package Versions window is displayed.
   
   

   

   
   
2. Click More Actions > Download package for the corresponding package version you want to download. The package is downloaded to the default location configured in your browser, in the .nupkg format. From here, you can upload it to another Orchestrator instance.
   Note: The Download button is enabled only if you use a local feed, and you have View permissions on Packages.

Manually Uploading Packages to Orchestrator

This value can be changed in IIS, as explained here.

To manually upload a package with you need Create on Tags. If you do not have Create on Tags, the package is uploaded without tags.

1. On the Packages page, click the Upload button . The Add Package window is displayed.
2. Click Browse and select the packages (with the .nupkg extension) you want to upload to Orchestrator.
3. Select I would like to see which processes can be upgraded to display all processes that use a previous version of the package being uploaded.
   
   

   

   
   
4. Click Upload. The package is uploaded to Orchestrator, and it is displayed on the Packages page. If you selected the I would like to see which processes can be upgraded option, the Upgrade multiple processes is displayed, showing a list of the processes that can be upgraded to a newer package version.
   
   

   

   
   
5. Use the checkboxes to select which processes to upgrade and click Upgrade. The selected processes are updated to the new package version, and the window closes. Only the package version is updated. If you want to customize the process parameters or entry points, edit the process.

Deleting Packages

A package can only be deleted from Orchestrator if all its versions have been deleted. Package versions can be deleted if they are Inactive, i.e., not deployed to a process.

1. In the Packages page, click View Versions. The Package Versions window is displayed.
   
   

   

   
   
2. Select one or more versions and click Remove. Alternatively, click More actions > Delete for the package version you want to delete. The selected package versions are removed.
3. Click Remove All Inactive to delete all inactive versions of the selected process. If a package version is part of a process (it is active), it is NOT going to be deleted. If all the versions are inactive, they are all deleted.

Displaying Release Notes for One Package Version

1. In the Libraries page, click View Versions. The Package Versions window is displayed.
2. On the Versions tab, you can see all package versions of the library displayed.
   
   

   

   
   
3. For the desired version, click More Actions > Show Release Notes. The Release Notes window is displayed, enabling you to see the note added in Studio for the respective version.
   
   

   

   
   

Note that you have the option to manually download package versions from the Release Notes window as well. The process is similar to downloading them from the Versions tab.

Displaying Release Notes for All Package Versions

1. In the Packages page, click View Versions. The Package Versions window is displayed.
2. Click the Change Log tab. You can see all package versions of the library, and for each, the corresponding release note containing information related to what has changed in-between versions.
   
   

   

   
   

Note that you have the option to manually download package versions from the Change Log tab as well. The process is similar to downloading them from the Versions tab.

Viewing the Arguments of a Package

1. In the Packages page, click View Versions. The Package Versions window is displayed.
2. Click More Actions > Show Arguments for the desired package version. The input and output parameters of the selected package version are displayed. Please note that you cannot edit the values of the parameters at this level, only at process, jobs, and triggers ones.

Adding Tags to Packages

You can apply tags to a package at design time in Studio. To learn how to add tags to packages, see About Publishing Automation Projects in the Studio guide.

You cannot change the tags of a package from Orchestrator. Tags are specific to each package version. On the Packages page in Orchestrator, you can see tags specific to the latest package version, regardless if it's active or inactive.

Removing Tags From Packages

You can remove tags from a package at design time in Studio. To learn how to remove tags from packages, see About Publishing Automation Projects in the Studio guide.

You cannot change the tags of a package from Orchestrator. Tags are specific to each package version. On the Packages page in Orchestrator, you can see tags specific to the latest package version, regardless if it's active or inactive.

Exploring Packages

You can view and explore the graphical representation of any .xaml file that is part of a package version like Studio's Designer panel. This feature enables smoother cooperation between developers and Orchestrator managers.

Note:

You cannot explore compiled packages using this feature.

Learn more about automation projects in the Studio guide

1. In the Packages page, click Explore Package next to a package. The Explore Package window is displayed, in which you have access to all the versions of the selected package.
2. Click a version you want to see more about. All .xaml files available in the project are displayed, along with the project author, description, and date at which it was uploaded to Orchestrator. The .xaml file set as Main in Studio is marked accordingly, and the project dependencies are displayed under the Dependencies section.
3. Click a .xaml file. The workflow is displayed.
4. To view all the variables, arguments, or imports available in the selected file, click the Variables,Arguments, or Imports button. The corresponding panel is displayed, similar to that available in Studio.
   
   

   

   
   
5. Double-click any scope to see a focused view of the workflow.
   
   

   

   
   
6. Click Expand All to get a better view of a workflow section.
7. Click any activity to view its properties. Please note that you can also copy the value of any property.
   
   

   

   
   

Comparing Packages and Workflows

You can view the differences between any two selected versions of a package, knowing what changed: added, modified or deleted .xaml files, changes in folders, or the dependencies list. You can also compare the two selected versions' workflow .xaml files, graphically presented side by side. This feature enables Orchestrator managers to view what changed in the packages and workflows without requiring Studio access.

Here's how you can view the differences at the package version level, and then at the workflow file level:

Read on for step by step instructions:

1. In the Packages page, click Explore Package next to a package. The Explore Package window is displayed, giving you access to all the versions of the selected package.
2. Click the Compare button above the list of package versions to toggle the compare mode. A checkbox appears in front of each package version.
3. Check the boxes corresponding to the package versions you want to compare. You can only compare two package versions at a time.
   Alternatively, you can compare the same .xaml file corresponding to two package versions. To do this, expand one package at a time and select the workflow file.
4. Click the Compare button below the list of package versions. This button is activated after you select two checkboxes. The Comparing window is displayed, containing a list of results with the newest selected version's workflow files, along with the project author, and description. The workflow file set as Main in Studio is marked accordingly, and the project dependencies are displayed under the Dependencies section.

   Alternatively, if you chose to compare workflow files in the previous step, the two workflows are displayed side by side, the earliest file version on the left.

5. Filter the differences that are displayed by selecting one of the options in the top-right corner of the window:
   • All - displays all the differences between the compared package versions or workflow files. This is selected by default, displaying a summary of all the differences.
   • Added - highlights in green the files, folders, or dependencies added to the package version, or the containers, connectors, and activities added to the workflow files shown in the Comparing window, along with their exact number.
   • Modified - highlights in yellow the files, folders, or dependencies that were changed within the package version, or the containers, connectors, activities, and properties or property values that were changed within the workflow files shown in the Comparing window, along with their exact number.

   • Deleted - highlights in red the files, folders, or dependencies that were deleted from the package version, or the containers, connectors, and activities that were deleted from the workflow files shown in the Comparing window, along with their exact number.

     
     

     

     
     
6. Click the Compare button next to a workflow file from the list of results. The two workflows are displayed side by side, the earliest file version on the left, and with an individual scroll for each workflow. All the changes that happened in the file between the two package versions at the container, connector, or activities level are highlighted and color-coded as follows:
   • Green highlight for added content
   • Yellow highlight for modified content

   • Red highlight for deleted content.

     
     

     

     
     

     If only minor changes were performed at the workflow level, such as positioning of activities or connectors, you are notified that the logic hasn't been altered.

7. (For containers only) Double-click a container activity. The Comparing window displays only the activity within both package versions, for a focused view. If the activity exists in only one of the workflow files, then it is displayed in the corresponding workflow's side. Navigate back from the container to the workflow by clicking the breadcrumb trail.
   
   

   

   
   
8. Click any activity to view the changes to its properties. All the changes that happened in the activity between the two package versions are highlighted and color-coded, as mentioned before.