Question

Need to configure multiple schedules for the same job from command line

Asked by: aarganesh

I've a requirement to create a scheduled task multiple times from the command line using schtasks. I know it is possible to create multiple schedules using the GUI for the same task name (as shown in the picture attachment), however I want to accomplish the same using schtasks /create method. When I run the schtasks /create with different set of parameters except for /TN being the same, XP complains that the task name already exists as follows...

C:\>schtasks /create /TN TASK1 /TR c:\windows\system32\calc.exe /SC Daily /ST 10
:00:00 /RP ****** /RU ******
SUCCESS: The scheduled task "TASK1" has successfully been created.

C:\>schtasks /create /TN TASK1 /TR c:\windows\system32\calc.exe /SC Monthly /ST
10:00:00 /RP ****** /RU ******
ERROR: The specified task name already exists in the system.

 Somebody please help. Thanks.

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Asked On
2009-08-20 at 08:44:34ID24668587
Tags

schtasks

,

multiple schedules

Topics

FTP Software

,

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
1
Points
125
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: burrcmPosted on 2009-08-21 at 04:53:40ID: 25150810

As far as I am aware, the command line version runs one set of parameters only. Just set up as many as you need using different task names. You can run the sequence in a batch file if you wish.
Parameter set here - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490996.aspx

Chris B

 

by: aarganeshPosted on 2009-08-21 at 21:50:00ID: 25157428

Thanks. Yes I've gone through several MS articles on this but none of them says it is a limitation with Windows XP. Could you please direct me to a article that explains this limitation or provides an alternate solution other than what you've mentioned? Thanks again.

 

by: burrcmPosted on 2009-08-21 at 22:57:25ID: 25157530

Hmm. You won't find anything in your refrigerator manual that says it can't fry an egg, but that doesn't mean it can.  If you want to run a task at different times using the one setup, you have to use the GUI. The command line tool is for a single instance. Here is a guy with the same issue as you, and he got the same answer.

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/32582758/creating-schtasks-to-run.aspx

Chris B

 

by: aarganeshPosted on 2009-08-23 at 22:04:00ID: 31618215

I'd guessed that there's no way to accomplish this, but the pointer you gave me helped me. I'll try to build some intelligence for the retries. Thanks.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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