Windows Task Scheduler is a powerful tool that allows you to automate tasks on your Windows system. One common use case is to run a task at regular intervals, such as every few minutes. In this tutorial, we will explore how to schedule tasks using Windows Task Scheduler.
To get started, open the Task Scheduler: you can search for it in the Start menu or type taskschd.msc in the Run dialog box (Windows key + R). Once opened, click on "Create Basic Task" in the right-hand Actions panel. Give your task a name and description, then click "Next".
The next step is to specify the trigger for your task. A trigger determines when the task should be executed. To run a task every few minutes, you will need to create a daily trigger and then modify its advanced properties. Select "Daily" as the trigger type and choose the start time. Then, click "Next" and finally "Finish" to create the task.
To modify the advanced properties of the trigger, double-click on the task you just created. This will open the task’s properties window. Click on the "Triggers" tab, then double-click on the daily trigger you created. In the Edit Trigger window, scroll down to the "Advanced settings" panel and check the box next to "Repeat task every". Here, you can specify the interval at which the task should be repeated.
By default, the repeat interval is limited to a few options (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes). However, you can override this by typing in a custom value. For example, if you want the task to run every 2 minutes, simply type "2" in the minutes field.
Alternatively, if you need more fine-grained control over the scheduling of your tasks, you can create a batch file that runs your executable at regular intervals. Here’s an example batch script:
:loop
call YourScript.Exe
timeout /t timeToWaitBetweenCallsInSeconds /nobreak
goto :loop
Replace YourScript.Exe with the path to your executable and timeToWaitBetweenCallsInSeconds with the desired interval in seconds.
In conclusion, scheduling tasks with Windows Task Scheduler is a straightforward process. By creating a daily trigger and modifying its advanced properties, you can run a task at regular intervals. Additionally, using batch scripts can provide more flexibility when it comes to scheduling tasks.