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Schedulers - Automatize, JIT, Smooth Program, Advanced, Hi-Base

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Carol Haynes:
Here is are the task manager entries for the Splinterware system scheduler I mentioned above:


--- End quote ---

The three tasks running as system are used to run tasks when the user is logged off (and are optional - you just disable run as a service in the options). The one run under the specified user name is in the task bar.

David1904:
Schedule Wizard http://www.authord.com/SW/ is one I used a few years ago.
If you don't know much about scripting or macros, it is still quite easy to start programs, have them peform a series of actions, then close down again with all sorts of time frames, conditions etc.

I was using the Deluxe version $59 rather than the Standard at $39

Steven Avery:
Hi,

Thanks folks.

So far I have downloaded JIT Scheduler from Gibin on one system. Good product, more for the home user, simple solid and crisp.

Now on system 2 I downloaded Carol's suggestion from Splinterware.  Neato, the freeware version is even free for biz usage. Looks a bit more robust in many ways, has the pro version upgrade later, looks excellent.  And I just gave it a try on my anti-virus, popped up the scan, I may have to forward a keystroke or something, but it nicely has that versatility. (When I try to do it with Windows XP scheduler, I don't even see a parameter setting, do you actually have to create a separate .bat file or something to pass a parameter ?). Anyway, System Scheduler will probably be my normal main scheduler keeper, ready for later purchase of pro version, and recommended to Donationcoder and Bits Du Jour discount researchers.

Also downloaded nncron.  Looks a bit more techie/programming/script oriented, so when I'm in that mood I'll look at it more.

Thanks for the feedback.  I really think this is a nice software niche.  Folks don't use the Windows XP scheduler much, even though it is decent, you want real ease-of-use and visibility and more robustness. And I would much prefer to schedule from one easy-use external program than internally here and there.  Good suggestions.

Shalom,
Steven

Carol Haynes:
Glad you like it - I have found the Splinterware product very solid and I like the fact that you can run it as a service even when logged off - means you can schedule stuff to be executed at any time and as any user..

Steven Avery:
Hi Folks,

While Splinterware is excellent and remains my usage choice so far for strong and solid scheduling (ie. replacing the Windows scheduler) -- here is another freeware that comes from a programmer with good stuff.

http://www.konradp.com/products/firetask/
Ka Firetask (freeware) - konradp.com (Konrad Papala)
Freeware, easy to use task automation for Windows.

Supporting DNM Scripts - which is Konrad's own little scripting thing. 
Updated 03/2009

Lifehacker writeup
http://lifehacker.com/5062714/firetask-schedules-automated-tasks
Firetask Schedules Automated Tasks - 10/2008

This may bridge the gap a bit between the crons and the more easy-use schedulers.  If anyone has used this, give a holla, also the DNM scripting stuff from Konrad in general. (Presumably it is pretty standard stuff for scripting.)

It would be fairly easy to look at the basic features (outside the scripting) and compare the two. If anybody has done that, let us know what you find, I may do it later.

============================

A discussion that went into some programming nuances (sleeps, networks) in
http://www.randomtree.org/eric/techblog/2004/09/the-windows-task-scheduler-is-not-a-secondclass-citizen.html
The Windows Task Scheduler Is Not a Second-Class Citizen

=========

Keep in mind that the Windows scheduler is a malware point of attack.  WinPatrol and some others let you know of any changes there. You don't have such monitoring of third party schedulers, on the other hand these are highly unlikely to ever be noted as attack points. 

=====================================

A little side-note, if you get involved in scheduling a network, and want visibility, ease-of-use and power-flexibility, this may be good, at a price ($200 or so).

http://www.visualcron.com/
VisualCron

I may compare this with some others for where I work.  If anybody has good experience with such a program, we could start another thread.

Shalom,
Steven

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