Multiple task wait system for use in a data warehouse environment

Abstract

A multiple task wait system and associated method allow a client application to wait for multiple tasks to be successfully or conditionally implemented before running subsequent tasks. Two mechanisms can be used to accomplish this multiple wait process: The first mechanism uses a multi-wait grouping process that is visible to the client, and the second mechanism uses a graphical representation to identify the tasks to be completed. The multi-wait grouping process allows a client to group a related set of tasks together for both control and documentation purposes. The client can add as many tasks as the resources of the computer allow to a group while defining the data flows and control flows between the tasks in the group using various graphical tools. The multi-wait system allows the client to define the constraints and conditions for a set of tasks to be considered complete, and further allows the system to define the constraints and conditions for considering all the tasks within the group to be completed. By utilizing the group concept, the system can selectively control the tasks to be included in the completion decision based on predefined rules.