Overview

Scheduling Agent starts each time you start Windows. It runs in the background, starting tasks at their scheduled times. With Scheduling Agent, you can schedule a new task or change the schedule for an existing task.

When Scheduling Agent is running, this icon appears next to the clock on the taskbar:  .

If a scheduled task is running, an hourglass appears on the icon: .

Double-click the Scheduling Agent icon to:

•	Add and remove scheduled tasks.

•	Change the schedule for an existing task.

•	Temporarily disable the schedule for a task.

•	Set options to determine how the task will run at its scheduled time.

Tip

•	If you don't want Scheduling Agent to start when you start Windows, double-click the Scheduling Agent icon, click the Advanced menu, and then click Stop Scheduling Agent.


Schedule a new task
To schedule a new task

1	On the File menu, point to New, and then click Task.

2	Type a name for the task.

3	In the list, double-click the new task.

4	In the Run box, type the path for the task, or click Browse.

If you want a description of the task to appear in the Scheduling Agent window, type it in the Comments box.

5	To set up the schedule for the task, click the Schedule tab.

Tip

•	Make sure that the system date and time for your computer are accurate. Scheduling Agent uses this information to start scheduled tasks. You can use the Date/Time option in Control Panel to update your computer's date and time.

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Removing a scheduled task
To remove a task

1	Click the task whose schedule you want to remove.

2	On the File menu, click Delete.

Tip

•	You can also remove the schedule for the selected task by pressing DEL.


Modify a task
To modify a task

1	Click the task you want to reschedule.

If you want to rename the task, right-click the task and then click Rename.

2	Double-click the task.

3	In the Run box, type the path for the task, or click Browse.

If you want to change the schedule for the task, click the Schedule tab.

If you want to customize the settings for the task, click the Settings tab.

Tips

•	Make sure that the system date and time for your computer are accurate. Scheduling Agent relies on this information to know when to run a scheduled task.

•	If the task frequently accesses your hard disk, and your computer runs on batteries, you can extend the life of your batteries by clicking the Schedule tab and then making sure Don't Start Scheduled Task If The Computer is Running On Batteries is checked.

•	For Help on an item, click [image] at the top of the dialog box, and then click the item.

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Temporarily disabling a scheduled task
To temporarily disable a scheduled task

1	Click the task that you do not want to run.

2	On the File menu, click End Task.

Tips

•	To reenable a task, click the task, and then on the File menu, click Run.

•	You can temporarily prevent all scheduled tasks from running by clicking the Advanced menu and then clicking Suspend Scheduling Agent. This is useful if you are running another program (such as a game) or installing software, and you don't want scheduled tasks to run at the same time.

When Scheduling Agent is temporarily suspended, the Scheduling Agent icon on the taskbar looks like this: .

•	To reenable the schedules for all tasks, click the Advanced menu, and then click Suspend Scheduling Agent.


Running a scheduled task immediately
To run a scheduled task immediately

Right-click the task you want to run, and then click run.

Tip

•	You can end the task by clicking End Task on the File menu.


Viewing a log of tasks that have run
To view a log of tasks that have run

On the Advanced menu, click View Log.


Turning off Scheduling Agent
To turn off Scheduling Agent

On the Advanced menu, click Stop Scheduling Agent.

Notes

•	When you turn off Scheduling Agent, your scheduled tasks will not run and Scheduling Agent will not start automatically the next time you start Windows.

•	To turn on Scheduling Agent, click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduling Agent.


Having a task run repeatedly
To have a task run repeatedly

1	Click the task you want to run repeatedly.

2	On the File menu, click Properties.

3	Click the Schedule tab, and then click Advanced.

4	In the Repeat task area, specify the settings that you want.

Tips

•	Make sure the deadline is set to the time you want. The task will run repeatedly until this time.

•	For Help on an item, click [image] at the top of the dialog box, and then click the item.

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Running a scheduled task when your computer starts
To run a scheduled task when your computer starts

1	Click the task you want to run repeatedly.

2	On the File menu, click Properties.

3	Click the Schedule tab, and then click at Startup In the schedule list.

Tips

•	For Help on an item, click [image] at the top of the dialog box, and then click the item.


If the task cannot start at the scheduled time (because you were using your computer, it was turned off, or it was running on batteries), Scheduling Agent will try to start the task until the deadline. If the task starts late, but you still want it to stop at the deadline, make sure the option to stop the task is checked.


 The Scheduling Agent icon as it appears on the taskbar when it is not currently running a task.


 The Scheduling Agent icon as it appears on the taskbar when Scheduling Agent is temporarily suspended.


 The Scheduling Agent icon as it appears on the taskbar while a scheduled task is running.


Scheduling Agent maintains a log of all scheduled task actions. When a task runs at the scheduled time, information about the time at which the task ran and whether or not it ran successfully is added to the log.


Help is available for each item in this group. Click [image] at the top of the dialog box, and then click the specific item you want information about.


Lists tasks and shows when they are scheduled to run, when they last started, when they last ended, and what the results were.

To change the way a scheduled task runs, double-click the task. To change the settings a task uses when it runs, click the Settings tab in the Properties dialog box.

To change the schedule for a task, right-click it, and then click Properties.


Displays the name of the scheduled task.


Provides a space for you to type a note or other information for a scheduled task.


Provides a space for you to type a path for the scheduled task. For example, you can type the path for a program or a document.


Click this to browse through folders to find the file you want.


Provides a space for you to type MS-DOS parameters for a scheduled task that uses a program.


Provides a space for you to type a path for the scheduled task. For example, you can type the path for a program or a document.


Provides a space for you to type your password. Asterisks will appear instead of what you type.


Provides a space for you to type and confirm your password. Asterisks will appear instead of what you type.


Click this to have the scheduled task run. This box is checked by default.


Starts the task only after you have not used your keyboard or mouse (for a specified period of time???).


Prevents the task from running if you are currently using your computer.


Prevents the task from starting while your computer is running on batteries.

Some programs frequently access your disk, which drains the batteries faster. Selecting this box can extend the life of your batteries.


Stops the task when your computer starts running on batteries.


Removes the task from your computer once it has finished.


Stops running the task at the specified time.


Displays additional scheduling options on the Schedule tab.


Displays advanced scheduling options for tasks.


Specifies a start date for the scheduled task.


Runs the task no longer than the specified number of minutes each time it starts. To specify the number of minutes, type a number or click the arrows.

Some tasks do not automatically close when they finish. To run this type of task repeatedly, select this box so that Scheduling Agent can quit the task.


Specifies an end date for the scheduled task.


Stops the task if it is still running at the deadline. This option is useful if your tasks don't quit automatically.

If you leave this option unchecked, the task will continue running, even after the deadline. This is useful if, for example, your task takes one hour to run but starts 15 minutes before the deadline. However, if the task does not automatically close when it is finished running, you may need to close it.


Specifies that the repitition of the scheduled task end at a defined time.


Specifies the type of schedule for the task. You can define the start time and how often the task should run.


Click to set additional scheduling options for the task. For example, you can define start and end dates.


Runs the scheduled task only once, starting at the specified date and time.


Runs the scheduled task daily, starting at the specified date and time. Click up or down to specify how often you want the task to run.


Runs the scheduled task weekly, starting at the specified day. You can select multiple days to run the task.


Specifies the day you want the task to start.


Specifies the day you want the task to start. Type a number or click the arrows to set a new day.

If you specify a day between 29 and 31, the program will run on the last day of the month, if the selected month does not have that many days.


Specifies the month you want the task to start. You can select multiple months to run the task.


You can specify a day of the month to run the task. In the first list, click whether you want the task to run on the first, second, third, fourth, or last day of the month. In the second list, click the exact day you want.