Windows Task Scheduler: Difference between revisions

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}}</ref> It runs as a [[Windows Service]], and the task definitions and schedules are stored in [[Binary file|binary]] <code>.job</code> files. Tasks are manipulated directly by manipulating the <code>.job</code> files. Each task corresponds to single action. On [[Windows 95]] (with [[Internet Explorer 4.0]] or later), [[Windows 98]] and [[Windows Me]], the Task Scheduler runs as an ordinary program, <code>mstask.exe</code>. It also displays a status icon in the notification area on Windows 95 and Windows 98 and runs as a hidden service on Windows Me, but can be made to show a tray icon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272962|title=How to Enable the Scheduled Tasks Icon in Windows Me|date=January 29, 2007|work=Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130185556/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272962|archive-date=January 30, 2008}}</ref> Computer programs and [[Scripting language|scripts]] can access the service through six [[Component Object Model|COM]] [[Interface (computing)|interfaces]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa383581%28v=vs.85%29.aspx|title = Task Scheduler 1.0 Interfaces|access-date = 30 May 2014|website = [[MSDN]]|publisher = [[Microsoft]]}}</ref> Microsoft provides a scheduling agent DLL, a sample [[VBScript]] and a configuration file to automate Task Scheduler.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=601d75e2-f907-4e51-ad88-adb818df1d27|title=Task Scheduler Using VBScript|work=Download Center|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=March 22, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504033359/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=601d75e2-f907-4e51-ad88-adb818df1d27&displaylang=en|archive-date=May 4, 2006}}</ref>

In addition to the graphical user interface for Task Scheduler in [[Control Panel (Windows)|Control Panel]], Windows provides two command-line tools for managing scheduled task: <code>[[at (command)|at.exe]]</code> (deprecated)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.computerhope.com/at.htm|title=MS-DOS and Windows command line at command|access-date=7 March 2021|website=[[Computer Hope]]}}</ref> and <code>schtasks.exe</code>.<ref name="Mueller-2010" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Schtasks|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490996.aspx|work=[[Microsoft TechNet]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=18 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=At|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490866.aspx|work=[[Microsoft TechNet]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=18 May 2014}}</ref> However, <code>at.exe</code> cannot access tasks created or modified by Control Panel or <code>schtasks.exe</code>.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313565|title = How To Use the AT Command to Schedule Tasks|date = 30 October 2006|website = Support|publisher = [[Microsoft]]}}</ref> Also, tasks created with <code>at.exe </code>are not interactive by default; interactivity needs to be explicitly requested. The binary ".job" files which the AT command produces are stored in the %WINDIR%\Tasks directory.<ref>{{cite book|author1-first=Dave|author1-last=Kleiman|author2-first=Laura E|author2-last=Hunter|year=2006|title=Winternals Defragmentation, Recovery, and Administration Field Guide|publisher=[[Elsevier]]|isbn=978-0080489872}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/121562/EN-US|title = Applications Started with AT Are Not Interactive|date = 20 February 2007|website = Support|publisher = [[Microsoft]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029024318/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/121562/EN-US/|archive-date=October 29, 2004}}</ref>

===Task Scheduler 2.0===