Preload packages

You can preload packages on your local device to shorten the bot runtime.

When you run a bot, the system downloads the bot and all the packages used in the bot. Bot execution begins when the download is complete. If the packages used in the bot are preloaded, the system can skip downloading the packages and start executing the bot, thereby reducing the bot execution timeframe.

Folder path: Preloaded packages are stored in \ProgramData\AutomationAnywhere\GlobalCache on the local device.

If there are multiple versions of a package, only the default package is preloaded. You can only preload packages on your local device. For the option to be available, the automatically download preloaded packages setting must be enabled by the Control Room admin.

Note: You can also save specific versions of packages that are used in bots offline to save the time it takes to download these packages from the Control Room. The specific version of packages are stored in the C:\ProgramData\AutomationAnywhere\AAPreloadedPackages folder. You must create this folder manually C:\ProgramData\AutomationAnywhere\AAPreloadedPackages.

Perform the following steps to preload packages on your local device:

  1. Log in with a Bot Creator account.
  2. Click the Manage > Devices > Preload package icon in the menu list for your local device.
    Note: The Preload package option is also available from the device icon drop-down menu for Automation 360 Cloud through the Google Chrome browser with the Chrome plug-in enabled.
  3. In the Preload packages window, preload either all packages listed on the Common packages page, or select individual packages from the Customize packages page.

    Common packages are the most lightweight and most commonly used ones.

  4. Click the Start preloading option.