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

[Steven Avery]

Hi Folks,

Looking for a scheduler, fun to use, reasonably versatile.
Almost no reviews on the Net.

Ok, granted I could probably use various scripting language tools.
What if you want a dedicated simple scheduler that is more robust
than what comes with XP ?

Here is what I have found, before loading any, have you used any of these ?
Or recommend another.

======================================
Freeware

Automatize
http://argentesoftware.blogspot.com/search/label/Argente%20-%20Automatize%201.6.0.4

JIT Scheduler
http://www.gibinsoft.com/gipoutils/scheduler/

*** UPDATE 8-23-2011 Web of Trust has negatives about Gibin Software ***

Smooth Program Scheduler
http://www.xemico.com/scheduler/

======================================
Shareware

Advanced Task Scheduler - $40
http://www.advscheduler.com/index.html

Hi-Base Task Scheduler - $30
http://www.dbf2002.com/scheduler/

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

Shalom,
Steven

[TucknDar]

Funny you should ask, I'm currently working on a review of nnCron. There are two versions, a shareware one and a LITE version (free). I've used the free one for about a year but recently switched to the full version.

You'll find it here: http://nncron.ru/

nnCron is an advanced and very powerful scheduler, scripting tool and automation manager. nnCron is very small in size (900k), but its capabilities are truly colossal. Besides possessing the traditional scheduler features (starting programs, displaying reminder messages and opening documents at specified time), nnCron also can:

• start any program as a service
• run tasks as if they were started by specified user
• handle and restart so called missed tasks and reminders
• shut down and hibernate the computer or put it into sleep mode at a specified time
• "wake up" the computer in order to run a task
• display, hide, close, kill, minimize, maximize and hide specified windows to system tray
• display messages on screen and write them in a log file
• work with clipboard, files and registry
• emulate keyboard input and mouse activities
• dial and hang up
• use the system speaker to make beeps of specified length and frequency
• play audio files
• sync system time
• assign a specified priority to a process
• terminate any running process
• restart automatically after fatal errors
• keep track of files, flags, windows, processes, mouse activities, periods of idle time, keyboard shortcuts, getting online/off line, insertion of disk in a drive, presence of a host in network (ping), amount of free space on a disk, etc., etc.

I think it's an excellent scheduler, and it does everything I want it to so far I should get back to writing the review.....

I see you want one for XP, but still, to anyone else: NNCRON DOES NOT CURRENTLY WORK ON VISTA, BUT THE COMPANY HAS A WORKING BETA THAT DOES!

[Carol Haynes]

How about Splinterware System Scheduler: http://www.splinterware.com/products/wincron.htm

There is a free version and a Pro version.

Haven't used the free version for along time but the Pro version works really well and can even run as a service so that it is active even when logged off if required!

[PhilB66]

Z-Cron is another freeware alternative (via Lifehacker).

[TucknDar]

Would be interesting to know these utilities' use of resources. nnCron has a very low memory footprint, but how about the other ones mentioned here?

[Carol Haynes]

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

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

[Steven Avery]

Hi,

Let's revisit this a bit.  I don't like to bomb out a Eudora download.  Probably the best way to check that is CPU for the program.  Do any of the freewares do that ?  If not, then which unfree is worth the heft ?

Many programs seem to test total CPU.  However, how about individual ?

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

I looked at Splinterware again, free version. (Remember, I had a bomb-out so I reinstalled clean.)  Pretty simple.  An example of what it does not have is "do these now" (only one at a time).  Or do all in an hour from now.  Still, as a nice automatic daily ccleaner, defrag, backup, etc. it looks very competent.  Gives you a good log file too.

Splinterware has the plus of fairly recent new tweak version, and a forum with mild activity. 

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

Any other schedule notes ?

Steven

[x16wda]

Interesting... just saw this thread after your post, and the nncron program looked very tempting.  When I visited the web site, I found that it hasn't been updated since around the time of your first post, in 2008

[Steven Avery]

Advanced Task Scheduler is on Bits Du Jour
http://www.bitsdujour.com/software/advanced-task-scheduler

I checked my notes about serial #s and saw I have a purchase from 2012 with a logon on their site.  Which worked fine.

The logon tells me all about the purchase, and even makes available the last download that matches the version and also the needed activation code.  I have one activation left (probably used 2).  Still not bad for a program purchased for about $15 on Bits Du Jour, 5 years later.

Only a few companies have it together in that manner.

Steven

[TucknDar]

Do you use ATS currently? Impressions? Looks interesting, although I'm unsure if I actually need the extra features compared to Windows Task Scheduler...

[IainB]

...Only a few companies have it together in that manner. ...
__________________________________

You are right. I too had a 2012 registration via BDJ, and I just now went to the ATS site using the (old) logon ID and password, and Bingo! - all recorded correctly. Impressive, yes, but then I guess that's what computer systems are useful for...