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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Windows Scheduled Task /Script.
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| Phil23 Guru  Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1667 |
Hi All, A Windows one that's always eluded me of going on 3 years. Running a Weather station here that uploads to the Web, Phil's Weather Station & it's Console. It uses software called CumulusMX which is a command line app that builds htm files that make up the software's user interface. It runs 24/7 & ftp's to my site & a few others. Connects via USB with a CP2102 interface. On an old Win8.1 laptop, so the Startup Group doesn't work to launch it at logon, so I launch it with Task Scheduler. All that works fine. But the station comes with another piece of software called weatherLink, that I want to update periodically. I can do that manually by closing Cumulus; executing a command that forces WeatherLink to launch, connect, & then download new data then exit. The manual process is what I want to automate & have tried on & off for years with little success. Below is what I've posted on several weather forums, but have yet to get any responses. Anyone got any suggestions? ================================================================================ Ok, So I have a Scheduled Task that starts Cumulus on boot & it runs happily. Periodically I shut it down & update Weatherlink Via a shortcut that point to:- "C:\WeatherLink\WeatherLink 6.0.3.exe" -d Then Start Cumulus again with the Desktop link that points to:- C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /tn "\Weather Tasks\Start Cumulus" The Task that starts it on login. Would like to automate it so it happens at least every day, but always seem to get in a know athe the launch task is constantly sitting in the running state, (0x41301) untile Cumulus is terminated. Have had multiple tries over the years without complete success. For example this task, [code] C:\CumulusMX\CumulusShutdown.exe (That exe is an AutoHotKey complied script that focuses on the MX window & sends it Ctrl-C) ping -n 5 localhost "C:\WeatherLink\WeatherLink 6.0.3.exe" -d ping -n 5 localhost C:\CumulusMX\CumulusMX.exe [/code] The AutoHotKey Script:- [code] #NoEnv ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases. #Warn ; Enable warnings to assist with detecting common errors. SendMode Input ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability. SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir% ; Ensures a consistent starting directory. WinActivate, C:\CumulusMX\CumulusMX.exe Send ^c Return [/code] Everything seems to get caught in the loop if tasks being still running while Cumulus is running. It shouldn't be that hard as I have a means to shutdown Cumulus, & a command line to download the WL data then exit. The pings above are a simple delay so the task don't execute too quickly. Any thoughts or suggestions? Cheers. |
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TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
I would start by increasing your delays. Cumulus can take a long time to shut down. VK7JH MMedit |
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| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1667 |
Hi Jim, Tried all that; tried having Task Scheduler launching a batch file instead or running commands... All attempts appear to have a looping issue on subsequent launches. That's where I reckon it's somehow related to the (0x41301) status that the Scheduled tasks sit in. That's the "Still Running" state. I reckon I need to have it get to the (0x0) state, completed, before doing other stuff. Re Cumulus taking a long time to exit; I've notice a huge improvement in that issue in the latest releases. Not sure if you are aware, but since Steve (Author) retired a back in 2017, circa V3046, the software is now being supported & developed again. Steve released the source code in Dec 2018 & it's now being updated again. Mark Crossley is heading that up now. He's the guy that's been responsible for the code for gauges & graphs etc. His latest release is v3050 & was posted 1'st May 2019. Cheers Phil. |
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| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1667 |
This.....  The task still running.... I think I need it to reach the "Completed" state once CumulusMX.exe is launched & running. |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
Never liked the scheduler, I prefer to write my own or use a windows version of CRONTAB I would definitely use a batch file and get that working and exiting first. You probably need to start Cumulus with "start" in the batch file so it will complete. I use Cumulus on a RPi. Not the latest version but not too far behind. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3378 |
Hmmm ... a little searching shows there is such a thing as the "AT" command. Interesting. "AT /?" yields [code]The AT command schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date. The Schedule service must be running to use the AT command. AT [\\computername] [ [id] [/DELETE] | /DELETE [/YES]] AT [\\computername] time [/INTERACTIVE] [ /EVERY:date[,...] | /NEXT:date[,...]] "command" \\computername Specifies a remote computer. Commands are scheduled on the local computer if this parameter is omitted. id Is an identification number assigned to a scheduled command. /delete Cancels a scheduled command. If id is omitted, all the scheduled commands on the computer are canceled. /yes Used with cancel all jobs command when no further confirmation is desired. time Specifies the time when command is to run. /interactive Allows the job to interact with the desktop of the user who is logged on at the time the job runs. /every:date[,...] Runs the command on each specified day(s) of the week or month. If date is omitted, the current day of the month is assumed. /next:date[,...] Runs the specified command on the next occurrence of the day (for example, next Thursday). If date is omitted, the current day of the month is assumed. "command" Is the Windows NT command, or batch program to be run.[/code] PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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CaptainBoing Guru Joined: 07/09/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2170 |
AT is the CLI access to the task scheduler |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
I had a rummage around and found my old windows CRON.EXE I don't have any clue about the author but I used it for many years and it still works under Windows 10! VirusTotal gives it a clean bill of health. 2019-06-24_084753_cron.zip If you put your batch files in the same folder as the exe, you don't need the path, something that makes it reasonably portable. Phil, You still need to get a working batch file before you worry about scheduling it or you could try the three commands you already have one minute apart. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
This ZIP contains cron, sendkeys, and a couple of batch files. You will need to change the path to your EXEs sendkeys is my version of AutoHotKey To start CumulusMX from a batch file, you need to CD to the program folder first. If you use START in a batch file so the batch completes, you need to specify the window title or sendkeys can't find the window to send ctrl-C to it. See startMX.bat You should be able to combine the actions into one batch file but start with individual files. 2019-06-24_171248_cron.zip Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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