AutoSys autorep Command — Reporting and Status Checking
- autorep is the primary status and reporting command — use it for checking job status, viewing definitions, and generating reports
- % is the wildcard for job name matching; use it freely
- -q outputs JIL format — use it to back up job definitions before making changes
autorep (short for 'auto report') is the command you'll run dozens of times every day as an AutoSys operator. It's how you check job statuses, view job definitions, and generate reports. Mastering autorep patterns makes you dramatically faster at monitoring and troubleshooting.
Basic autorep usage
The most common use is checking the status of one or more jobs.
# Check a single job autorep -J daily_report # Check all jobs (% is the wildcard in AutoSys) autorep -J % # Check all jobs matching a pattern autorep -J eod_% /* all jobs starting with eod_ */ autorep -J %_extract /* all jobs ending with _extract */ autorep -J etl_*_load /* wildcard in middle */ # Check all jobs inside a specific box autorep -J eod_box% # Check machine status autorep -M % /* all machines */ autorep -M prod-server-01
-----------------------------------------------------------
eod_extract 03/19/2026 22:00:03 SU 0
eod_transform 03/19/2026 22:12:47 SU 0
eod_load 03/19/2026 22:29:11 RU --
eod_reporting 03/19/2026 22:00:00 AC --
The -q flag — getting JIL definitions
The -q flag outputs the job definition in JIL format. This is essential for backups, auditing, and creating job templates.
# Get JIL definition of one job autorep -J daily_report -q # Backup all jobs to a file autorep -J % -q > /backup/all_jobs_$(date +%Y%m%d).jil # Backup all jobs in a box autorep -J eod_box% -q > /backup/eod_jobs_backup.jil # Compare with previous backup (useful for change auditing) diff /backup/eod_jobs_20260318.jil /backup/eod_jobs_20260319.jil
insert_job: daily_report job_type: c
command: /scripts/report.sh
machine: report-server-01
owner: reportuser
date_conditions: 1
days_of_week: all
start_times: "02:00"
autorep -J % -q > /backup/all_jobs_$(date +%Y%m%d).jil as a daily AutoSys job itself. When someone accidentally deletes or corrupts a job, yesterday's backup saves the day.The -d flag — detailed job information
The -d flag shows all attributes of a job including its current runtime and any active overrides — much more detail than the default status view.
# Detailed view of one job autorep -J daily_report -d # Check prior runs (-run flag) autorep -J daily_report -run 1 /* previous run */ autorep -J daily_report -run 2 /* run before that */ # Filter by status autorep -J % -s FA /* all FAILURE jobs */ autorep -J % -s RU /* all RUNNING jobs */ autorep -J % -s PE /* all PEND_MACH jobs */
Status: SU (SUCCESS)
Exit Code: 0
Start: 03/19/2026 02:00:01
End: 03/19/2026 02:08:43
Runtime: 00:08:42
Machine: report-server-01
Command: /scripts/report.sh
Stdout: /logs/autosys/daily_report.out
| Flag | What it shows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (no flag) | Basic status: name, last start, status, exit code | autorep -J daily_report |
| -d | Detailed attributes, runtime, overrides | autorep -J daily_report -d |
| -q | Full JIL definition | autorep -J % -q > backup.jil |
| -s STATUS | Filter by status code | autorep -J % -s FA |
| -run N | Show N runs back in history | autorep -J myjob -run 1 |
| -M | Machine/agent status instead of jobs | autorep -M % |
🎯 Key Takeaways
- autorep is the primary status and reporting command — use it for checking job status, viewing definitions, and generating reports
- % is the wildcard for job name matching; use it freely
- -q outputs JIL format — use it to back up job definitions before making changes
- -s filters by status code;
-s FAfor failures,-s RUfor running,-s PEfor PEND_MACH
⚠ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Forgetting the % wildcard — autorep -J without a name returns nothing; use % for all jobs
- ✕Not using -q for backups before making bulk changes — saves enormous time if something goes wrong
- ✕Using autorep -J % in a large environment without filtering — can produce thousands of lines; use -s to filter by status
- ✕Not using -run to check prior runs when debugging intermittent failures
Interview Questions on This Topic
- QWhat is the autorep command used for in AutoSys?
- QWhat does the -q flag do in autorep?
- QHow do you list all jobs currently in FAILURE status?
- QHow do you see the previous run's details for an AutoSys job?
- QWhat wildcard does autorep use for matching job names?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is autorep in AutoSys?
autorep is the AutoSys command-line tool for reporting on job status, viewing job definitions, and checking machine status. It's the primary monitoring tool for AutoSys administrators.
How do I see all AutoSys jobs in FAILURE status?
Use autorep -J % -s FA. The -s flag filters by status code (FA = FAILURE, RU = RUNNING, SU = SUCCESS, PE = PEND_MACH, OH = ON_HOLD).
What does autorep -J jobname -q do?
The -q flag outputs the job definition in JIL format — exactly as it would look if you were writing it in a JIL script. This is used to back up job definitions, create templates, and audit what attributes are currently set.
How do I check what an AutoSys job looked like in its previous run?
Use autorep -J jobname -run 1 to see the previous run, autorep -J jobname -run 2 for the run before that, and so on.
What is the wildcard character in autorep?
The percent sign (%) is the wildcard in AutoSys commands. autorep -J % returns all jobs. autorep -J eod_% returns all jobs starting with 'eod_'. This is consistent across AutoSys commands.
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