Task scheduler in windows 7

Question

I have created a task that has three actions which I would like to be executed in the following order:

1. Display message to user
2. Backup files (batch file)
3. Shutdown computer (batch file)

As I have understood from this question, they should be executed sequential from the top of the action list to the bottom. My problem is that as soon as I start the task, the computer will shut down. No message are reported to the user and I don't know if it calls the backup task. It takes around 1 hour to complete the backup. I have tested that the batch file works when double clicking on it, and it does.

Can you help me getting the message to be shown and the backup task completed before the shutdown?

Answer 1

I finally found the problem, which was a mix of the batch file and the action definition in task scheduler.

• The first problem was that the batch file I had written, used the 7-zip library. I had defined some folder paths with the letter definitions (in my case H:/) which worked when I started the batch file manually. But when running in a task, I had to use the full network path like \\something.com\public\home\...
• The second problem was that in the action definition window, I also had to define the optional argument: Start in. It shall point to the folder where the batch file is located, and further more, it shall not include " in the beginning and end like the script location field. Don't know why.

Now the actions are running sequential in the task :)

Answer 2

I think I may have the solution:

Depending on what the content of the message box, I may be able to help with that part of it - if it simply states some text, with an OK, or a Yes/No button/s, then I can do that.

What I propose is to create one batch file, to do all the operations you listed.

This way, you can define the order, however you like. And you know that one task cannot run until the other is completed.

The code for the question box varies a lot, depending on what sort of box you're after. The code itself is quite simple and only a couple of lines, once you've decided on what sort of message box you're looking for.

Here's the code for the message box (hopefully it's what you're after):

echo wscript.quit MsgBox ("Message", Number, "Title") > message.vbs
wscript //nologo message.vbs
set value=%errorlevel%
del message.vbs
if "%value%"=="1" goto :ok
if "%value%"=="2" goto :cancel
if "%value%"=="3" goto :abort
if "%value%"=="4" goto :retry
if "%value%"=="5" goto :ignore
if "%value%"=="6" goto :yes
if "%value%"=="7" goto :no

Obviously, you replace the Message with the content of the message box, the Title with the title, and the Number with one of the the numbers documented below. Make sure you include the quotation marks where necessary (where they already are in the code above).

Number (defines the buttons in the message box):

• If 1, then you get a message box with OK, and Cancel
• If 2, then you get a message box with Abort, Retry and Ignore
• If 3, then you get a message box with Yes, No and Cancel
• If 4, then you get a message box with Yes and No
• If 5, then you get a message box with Retry and Cancel
• If 6 and above, you get the same result as 1. (99% sure)

The %value% variable gives a numerical representation of what button you pressed. In the code I listed above, I documented each outcome, in the form of a piece of code that goes to a location in the batch script, titled that. I trust you understand locations, defined by :example, where example is the name of the location. This means that where it says goto :ok, there is a location called :ok in your batch script, where the corresponding code is stored for that outcome. Of course, you don't have to have the goto command at the end of the if statement if you don't want, I just included that, as an easy way to distinguish which value, corresponded to which button.

After the message box in your batch script, you'd have your backup program. Following that, your shutdown command (shutdown -s I presume?)

That's it! All you need to do now, is make a task in Task Scheduler, to run the batch file, and Voila! You should have a message box, backup, and shutdown, executed consecutively.