MS Scrappy Scheduled Tasks

[Funkymatt]

Guru(s),

I am running W2K Pro SP2. I am unable to get the Scheduled Tasks feature to work correctly.

I've been reading some of the posts but am still somewhat confused as to the proper syntax when using. I do know that if the path to the task program includes spaces, to type double quotation marks ("&quot around the entire task path. For example:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\EXCEL.EXE"


Q1)What process should I look for in the Windows Task Manager to ensure that scheduler is in-fact running?

Q2)Syntactically speakng (can I say that?) what strings, values, and perhaps switches would I need launch MS Excel.

Q3) Does anyone know if it's possible to schedule an Excel woorkbook to open and then CLOSE using scheduler with an additional switch?

I don't understand why this is so difficult to use for me....

Best,
Matt

 

[vgrice]

Task Scheduler runs as a service and won't show up in Task Manager. To open a specific workbook, have the scheduled task open that file, not excel. I use the wizard and it works well. For closing the workbook you could schedule "Kill excel.exe" but it will only work with the -f switch so you can't save any changes. MAybe someone else has a way to close and save changes. Vince Grice
vgrice@hotmail.com
MCSE Win2K, NT; MCSA; MCP+I

I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow.
- Woodrow Wilson

 

[Funkymatt]

Vince,

I'm not even able to get Excel to launch using the scheduler. I am aware that you can drag and drop files that you would like to launch into the scheduler but that didn't work either.

Am I only able to do this when logged in with the Administrator account?

Is there something that I'm missing?!

Best,
Matt

 

[Funkymatt]

Does anyone else have problems with this? Does anyone else know syntax details?

 

[GlenJohnson]

Do you mean start/programs/accessories/system tools/scheduled tasks? Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com


"The past, though it cannot be relived, can always be repaired."
John La Farge (1835-1910); U.S. artist.

 

[Funkymatt]

Yes Glen...with the replies i've been getting I take it that I'm one of the only people who has a problem with this? There has to be something fundamental that I'm missing. I just want to open a friggin spreadsheet "generic.xls" which resides on the desktop.

Sorry...just frustrated and haven't gotten anywhere in a while and the MS site isn't very helpful. It's like reading a VERY basic tutorial that essentially tells you to use the wizzard to add a task. My tasks are added but they don't run.

Best,
Matt

 

[GlenJohnson]

Have you done all the hotfixes, service packs, things like that. Do you have any errors in the event monitor. When you say they just don't run, I'm assuming you mean that literally and not the fact that you get some kind of error message, correct? I use it to back up my system state to the root of c, so if anything happens to my pc, if I can boot into safe mode, I can restore the registry, so I know it does work for me. I see it pop up when it runs. Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com


"The past, though it cannot be relived, can always be repaired."
John La Farge (1835-1910); U.S. artist.

 

[Funkymatt]

Hey Glen,

No error messages whatsoever. Scheduled tasks just say "could not start" under status, "0x0" under last result, and creator contains my login.

Under Run
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\EXCEL.EXE"

Under Start in
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office"

I'm on a desktop, not a laptop so some of the settings for power saving do not pertain to me.

I'm DLing SP3 as we speak and I will look for additional hotfixes. Do you know if there is a problem with non-administrator accounts even if I have administrative privilidges on this box?

Best,
Matt

 

[GlenJohnson]

Can you just throw a shortcut in your startup? Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com


"The past, though it cannot be relived, can always be repaired."
John La Farge (1835-1910); U.S. artist.

 

[Funkymatt]

Although adding a shortcut to the startup is creative it's not a viable option. I need this PC up and running and only restarted on weekends. This task needs to be executed at least once a day.

Our network security crew, who try to keep all computers on SP2 until “proper authority” has made the decision to approve it, thwarted my tries to DL SP3 last night.

With that said I'm back to trying to just launch my Excel application via the scheduler.

Best,
Matt

 

[GlenJohnson]

Could you try and put the w2k cd in, re-install without un-installing? I know I've fixed w9x machines this way, but haven't had to try with w2k. Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com


"The past, though it cannot be relived, can always be repaired."
John La Farge (1835-1910); U.S. artist.

 

[Funkymatt]

Glen et al,

FYI this is what was wrong and boy to I feel dumb...

I didn't think the modal screen errors provided enough details so I finally decided to check the the Scheduled Tasks Application menu item Advanced-->View Log which brought up SchedLgU.Txt. The erros messages were much more detailed saying:

"EXCEL.job" (start) 9/15/2002 2:51:00 PM ** ERROR **
The attempt to log on to the account associated with the task failed, therefore, the task did not run.
The specific error is:

0x8007052e: Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password. Verify that the task's Run-as name and password are valid and try again.

I then realized that despite being logged in correctly each time the task executes it needs a login/pass combination for audit purposes. I supplied it with my administrative system login/pass and it ran like a beauty.

Does anyone know how to run tasks transparent to the system user (ie minimized to run in the background)?

Warmest,
Matt