This is suitable when you are only concerned about the design and behaviour of your suite definition.

It is only available with the python api.

The ecflow python api, can automatically generate the '.ecf' scripts for any definition.

The header and tail includes that allow communication with the server will also be generated. (This assumes that server is running locally)

It uses the content of the definition to parametrise what gets generated, and the location of the files.

Hence if a task definition specifies events,meters or labels, then the generated scripts, will place ecflow child commands that will exercise those attributes in the generated scripts.

It makes a few assumption.

• ECF_HOME directory is specified and accessible, with valid permission for auto creation of directories
• ECF_INCLUDE directory is specified, with valid permission for auto creation of directories. There is where the auto generated header file are placed(head.h and tail.h)
• If ECF_FILES is specified, then scripts are generated under this directory otherwise ECF_HOME is used
• If the variable ECF_DUMMY_TASK is specified on a task, it will not generate a script.
• If the script file already exist, script generation will fail. (To avoid overwriting user specified .ecf scripts)
• The generated scripts assume that ecflow_client executable is accessible. This can be overridden by adding a ecflow variable ECF_CLIENT_EXE_PATH
• The generated header and tail include files, assume the server is on the local machine.

A ready made python script that calls script generation can be seen on the cookbook section. See How can I test a definition without writing scripts