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Frequently Asked Questions
Please read the FAQ and use support form to contact our Support Service if you have additional questions or problems.
 General Questions-
 1. What is Advanced Task Scheduler?
Advanced Task Scheduler is a powerful cost-effective tool to schedule running of applications, batch files, popup messages, alarms and much more. Tasks can be set to run once or every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, etc. or by such events as hot key, computer idle and so on.
- 2. What Advanced Task Scheduler edition is right for me?
Three versions of Advanced Task Scheduler are available. Advanced Task Scheduler is the simplest of the three and allows users to automate basic tasks. With Advanced Task Scheduler Professional, several actions can be executed one by one in a single task, control statements, such as IF, ELSE, ENDIF, can be used to control actions by conditions during execution. Advanced Task Scheduler Network is a client/server program suitable running tasks on a large-scale network, it can manage tasks on remote servers, running in the background without taking up valuable memory space. You can find feature comparison table here https://www.advscheduler.com/compare-editions.
- 3. Where can I get it?
You can download it from our web site: https://www.advscheduler.com/downloads.
- 4. How do I register?
Please read more information about Advanced Task Scheduler registration at https://www.advscheduler.com/purchase.
- Technical Questions
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- 5. How do I backup Advanced Task Scheduler settings and/or copy them to another computer?
You can backup your Advanced Task Scheduler settings and task list by Export and Import commands from File menu.
Alternatively, you can backup Advanced Task Scheduler settings and tasks by creating a backup copy of it's registry key and database files. The location of Advanced Task Scheduler's settings is described here: Scheduled Tasks location and upgrade compatibility. Do not forget to exit Advanced Task Scheduler and stop it's service before exporting/importing it's registry settings and copying files.
- 6. Why Advanced Task Scheduler doesn't display help correctly?
If you do not have Internet Explorer 5 or higher, you need to install Html Help. You can download it here: https://www.southsoftware.com/hhupd.exe.
- 7. Why program does not start with message "Cannot find import; DLL may be missing, corrupt or wrong version. File: WS2_32.dll"?
Windows Sockets 1.1 or later must be installed on your computer. You can download W95 Winsock Upgrade (963 KB) here: https://www.southsoftware.com/W95ws2setup.exe.
- 8. Why program does not start with message "Your system has old version of Common Controls Library (ComCtl32.dll)."?
ComCtl 5.80 or later must be installed on your computer. You can download Platform SDK Comctl32 Redistributables (499 KB) here: https://www.southsoftware.com/50comupd.exe.
- 9. How do I correctly reinstall or update Advanced Task Scheduler?
If you downloaded the installation program of latest version of Advanced Task Scheduler from our site, you need simply start it. It will detect that Advanced Task Scheduler is already installed and will update it, but your preferences, scheduled tasks and registration information will be kept.
Please read question 18 of this FAQ if you are upgrading from Advanced Task Scheduler 1.x to newer versions.
- 10. Is there any way to capture output from say a batch file to the scheduler log file?
Advanced Task Scheduler Professional and Network: Use "Launch application" schedule type with selected "Save stdout to the log" option.
All versions of Advanced Task Scheduler: You can redirect batch file output to a file by adding ">" or ">>" to shortcut.
Modify you task as follows:
Executable file name:
your_path\file.bat
Command line arguments:
>> output_file
- 11. I need to schedule a task which uses network resources but all runs end up either "Access Denied" or "File Not Found" error message?
By default, Advanced Task Scheduler service is registered to run as the system user (the LOCAL SYSTEM account). Generally, the default service account, LOCAL SYSTEM, has full privilege on the local machine but NO PRIVILEGE on a remote system. So any request to access a remote resource like your files will fail.
If you need Advanced Task Scheduler to be able to access network resources, change user account for Advanced Task Scheduler Service from LOCAL SYSTEM to an administrator account. To change service account go to Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services, double click Advanced Task Scheduler Service and specify user account on the Log On tab of the Service Properties window.
- 12. How can I store log file or Advanced Task Scheduler settings and task list on a remote machine?
To store log file on a remote machine:
In the text field under "Write log file" in the Options section of the Preferences screen you need to specify a path to a shared folder on a remote machine (For example: "\\MACHINE\SharedFolder\logfile.log").
When you run Advanced Task Scheduler as service:
When Advanced Task Scheduler is running as service as the system user (the LOCAL SYSTEM account), it cannot write log file on a remote machine. You need to change user account for Advanced Task Scheduler Service from LOCAL SYSTEM to an administrator account. To change service account go to Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services, double click Advanced Task Scheduler Service and specify user account on the Log On tab of the Service Properties window.
- 13. Can I start Advanced Task Scheduler service under a predefined user account?
Yes, you can. Simply go to Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Services, double click Advanced Task Scheduler service and specify user account on the Log On tab of the Service Properties window.
Advanced Task Scheduler 1.x: Advanced Task Scheduler does not support running service under a predefined user account, because services are running under separate secured winstation/desktop, you will not have rights to connect to it if your service runs under any other account except of LOCAL SYSTEM. If you need to run scheduled task under a predefined user account, consider use of "Run as user" option.
- 14. Can Advanced Task Scheduler close a running application?
Yes. You can use the Destroy window or Kill process task type to close an application by sending it a close signal or kill an application without giving it a chance to save data.
- 15. Can Advanced Task Scheduler wake up my computer from standby/hibernation before starting a task?
Advanced Task Scheduler Professional and Network: Yes, you can select the "Wake up computer if it is in the standby or hibernate mode when task shall start" option on the Standby/Hibernate Options tab of the Task Properties window.
Other versions of Advanced Task Scheduler: This feature is not supported.
- 16. Can I run Advanced Task Scheduler hidden so user has no access to it?
To start Advanced Task Scheduler hidden:
1. Set "dontshowtray" 32-bit DWORD value to 1 in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Southsoftware\AdvScheduler or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Southsoftware\AdvSchedulerPro (Professional Edition) registry key.
2. Run advscheduler_admin.exe or advscheduler_proadm.exe (Professional Edition). If it is already running, it becomes hidden.
To start Advanced Task Scheduler normally:
1. Set "dontshowtray" 32-bit DWORD value to 0 in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Southsoftware\AdvScheduler or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Southsoftware\AdvSchedulerPro (Professional Edition) registry key.
2. Run advscheduler_admin.exe or advscheduler_proadm.exe (Professional Edition). If it is already running, it becomes visible.
- 17. Does Advanced Task Scheduler support Remote Desktop sessions?
Because of Remote Desktop session is not active console session, scheduled tasks may not execute successfully for the Remote Desktop user. If you want to execute task when Remote Desktop user is connected, try the following options:
1. Run task on the hidden desktop on the User Account Options tab on the Task Properties window - executes task on the hidden desktop regardless of the currently active user.
2. Start task for each logged on and valid user on the User Account Options tab on the Task Properties window - executes task for each logged on and valid user including Remote Desktop users (Professional and Network Editions only).
3. For more information refer: Terminal Server Aware Task Scheduler.
- 18. How do I import my task list from Advanced Task Scheduler 1.x to newer versions of Advanced Task Scheduler?
Advanced Task Scheduler does not import task list from version 1.x automatically. You have to use Export task list command from the File menu of Advanced Task Scheduler 1.x to export task list to a file, then use Import command from the File menu of Advanced Task Scheduler to import task list from that file.
- 19. When my computer wakes up to start a scheduled task it goes back to sleep a few minutes later. How can I prevent this behavior?
Windows Vista and later versions of Windows goes back to sleep or hibernate automatically after a specified period of time if you do not touch the mouse or keyboard. This behavior can be changed as described in this topic: System automatically enters sleep after waking from sleep.
- 20. Can I use Advanced Task Scheduler for FTP upload/download?
Yes, you can. For detailed instructions, refer: Automate FTP transfers with Advanced Task Scheduler.
- 21. How do I run a task when no user is logged on?
This question is answered in this post: Run scheduled tasks when no user is logged on into the system.
- 22. How do I run Advanced Task Scheduler in Windows Safe Mode?
This question is answered in this post: Advanced Task Scheduler in Windows Safe Mode.
- 23. Does Advanced Task Scheduler support log files or other means, so I could be notified if a good working task begins to fail?
This question is answered in this post: Error handling in scheduled tasks.
- 24. What features does this program add that the built-in windows scheduler, on windows 10, doesn't already have?
Advanced Task Scheduler and Windows built-in Task Scheduler are different applications. Both run their own tasks. You can find comparison chart here: Advanced Task Scheduler vs. Windows Task Scheduler.
- 25. Can I automatically send SQL queries to an ODBC data source?
You can use the ODBC SQL schedule type. You can find more information here: SQL Automation with Task Scheduler.
- 26. I need to log on to a site with login/password, click a button and download the produced file. Can I automate this?
You can use the IE Automation schedule type. You can find more information here: IE Automation with Task Scheduler.
- 27. Can synchronize tasks between two or more computers so that the schedules would be the same on both?
In Advanced Task Scheduler Network, you can use the "Replicated tasks" feature. You can find more information here: Replicated Tasks with Advanced Task Scheduler Network.
- 28. The task finishes with "A required privilege is not held by the client" error. How do I fix this?
Usually, this error means that your task requires additional privileges that you can enable in Windows Settings.
The required privileges are listed on the "Execution log" tab of the "Task Properties" window.
Read more in this post: Fix "A required privilege is not held by the client (1314)" error.
- 29. The task finishes with "An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist" error. How do I fix this?
Usually, this error means that there was no active user at the moment when the start started.
Read more in this post: Fix "An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist (1008)" error.
- 30. The task finishes with "The requested operation requires elevation" error. How do I fix this?
This error may indicate that you are trying to run a program that requires elevation (run as administrator) from the current user tab.
You can try to run your task from the "All Users" tab. Read more in this post: Fix "The requested operation requires elevation (740)" error.
- 31. What does the "The requested resource is in use" means in the "Last start status" column?
If this status is displayed in the "Last start status" column with arrow icon, then this is not actually an error, it means that the task is currently being executed.
Otherwise, see this post for more information: Fix "The requested resource is in use (170)" error.
- 32. If the task is hung, is there a way to kill the task and restart?
At present, the only way to stop a task that has hung is to kill it from the Task Manager. This is because the Advanced Task Scheduler is designed in such way that if a task fails, crashes or hangs than the whole scheduler keeps running. In other words, any problems with a task should not affect the scheduler itself.
- 33. Does Advanced Task Scheduler support Windows x64 Editions?
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 x64 Edition For Intel® EM64T and AMD64 Platform Architecture are fully supported by Advanced Task Scheduler.
- 34. Does Advanced Task Scheduler support virtual environment?
Advanced Task Scheduler should work fine in a virtual environment without any limitations.
- 35. What if I need a custom feature that I can't find in Advanced Task Scheduler? Can you develop a special version for our environment?
We are always open for new feature requests. Please contact our Support Service for further discussion.
- Task scheduling questions
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- 36. What functionalities does Advanced Task Scheduler offer to schedule around holidays?
If you wish to start a task on all days except either a single holiday or all holidays, you can use the Run on holiday schedule type with the "Run on all days except holiday" option.
If you wish to start a task on work days only, excluding holidays and non-work days such as Saturday and Sunday, you can use the Run weekly schedule type with the "Work days only" option selected.
Additional information you can find in this post: Holiday Aware Task Scheduler.
- 37. I would like to run a task every day, starting at 8:00AM and run every 30 minutes until 5:00PM, and then stop. Then, the very next day I would like to repeat the above process.
You can use the Run daily schedule type. Select "Run minutely" in the "TIME IN DAY" options. There you can select "every 30 minutes" and period from 8:00AM to 5:00PM in the "Run in period" options.
- 38. Can Advanced Task Scheduler trigger a task at a user’s login?
You can use the Logon watch schedule type.
- 39. Is it possible using your software to run task at random times (like I want to run some daily between 9 and 10, but not always at 9:15 for example)?
You can run a task at random times in Professional and Network versions. Select Run daily schedule type and "Randomized time" in the "Time in day" option.
- 40. If I create a "Run on startup" task, reboot and log in as soon as the log in screen appears, the scheduled task executes perfectly. However, If I restart and log in some time after the log in screen has appeared, the scheduled tasks don't run.
The Run on startup schedule type is for system startup. Try the Logon watch schedule type to run a task when a user gets logged in.
- 41. Is there a way to keep Advanced Task Scheduler from triggering if the task is still running.
More than one instance of a task is not allowed with the "Do not start task when its another instance is being executed" option in the "Task Properties" window.
- 42. Can I use the "File watch" schedule type on network folder?
You can try the File watch schedule type with the "File added" option enabled. The "Directory name" can be set to a unc path or shared folder, however, some networks may not support file watching, in that case you'll see a error message in the "Next start time" column in the task list.
- 43. I want a job to run on file watch, however that file is located in a mapped drive. It turns out there is no option from file watch to select from a mapped drive.
Most likely, your mapped drive is not mapped for the user account under which the Advanced Task Scheduler Service runs.
- 44. I want to start a task 5 times per day at random time.
In Professional or Network version, you can create 5 schedules within a single task. Each schedule has to be "Run daily" schedule type and "Randomized time" in the "Time in day" option.
- 45. I have a task that I would like to run every Tuesday and Thursday and on the 15th of the month. However, if the 15th falls on a Tuesday or Thursday I want the program to only run once on those days and not twice.
If you create two schedules with the same time in day within one task, then the task will start only once. In other words, if schedules are within one task and their start times match, the task is started only once.
- 46. Why does the Advanced version not have a "Run on Shutdown" option?
We did not add a "Run on Shutdown" option because when Windows shuts down it allows a running program to cancel shutdown or terminates it unconditionally. So, if we start a task when Windows shuts down the system will terminate it without letting it a chance to finish or the system does not shut down.
- Purchase Questions
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- 47. Is it safe to order online?
By clicking a purchase link on our web site, you order from our authorized sales agent. They provide you with an order process that is protected via a secure connection so that the data sent to the recipient can only be read by the recipient. Important information such as credit card numbers, addresses, etc. is sent to the recipient securely via the Internet.
- 48. Can I buy Advanced Task Scheduler with PayPal?
Yes, now we accept PayPal. Please follow this link to buy Advanced Task Scheduler with PayPal: https://www.advscheduler.com/purchase.
- 49. How to purchase your product and how long will I receive the license code after I complete the purchase?
Normally, you will receive the activation code by e-mail immediately after your successful purchase. You will also receive a separate message with your login information for our registered user area. The registered user area allows registered users of Southsoftware.com products to download latest versions of our software, view order information and activation status. If you don't receive your registration information in a timely manner, or if you've lost it, please contact our Support Service.
- 50. How many times can I activate Advanced Task Scheduler license?
You can activate Advanced Task Scheduler as many times as you want on the same computer (with the same hardware fingerprint). The number of different computers where you can activate Advanced Task Scheduler is limited by the number of copies purchased.
- 51. How to reactivate Advanced Task Scheduler, if computer hardware configuration changes?
If you upgrade some significant parts on your computer, reactivation might be required. In that case please contact our Support Service. You will be able to reactivate your software automatically in 6 months after last activation.
- 52. What happens when my Updates and Support subscription expires?
When your Updates and Support subscription expires, your installed software will continue to work, you will be able to activate it in case of reinstallation, with your login information for our registered user area, you will be able to download the latest version that is available for your subscription (the version that was release before your Updates and Support subscription expired). However, you will not be able to upgrade to the newer version and you will receive only limited support.
- 53. How to renew Updates and Support subscription?
To renew your Updates and Support subscription, please login into our registered user area and click on one of the renew links. We provide a 50% renewal discount for registered users. If you are renewing a subscription that is not expired, new subscription will extended your existing subscription for the selected period, if your existing subscription is expired, your new subscription will start from the day of renewal. If you can't use our registered user area, please contact our Support Service.
Categories: FAQ
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I am using the trial version at the moment and I would like to use the schedule option as described in faq number 37 but I cannot find the “run period options” in the scheduler. can anyone help
This option is available in Advanced Task Scheduler Professional and Network editions. You should select the “Run daily” schedule type, then click the “Modify” button in the “TIME IN DAY” options, select “Run minutely” and find the “Run in period” options in the appeared window.
I am facing issues on Windows Task Scheduler where all the application task has been removed after windows Update (windows 7 or Windows 10).
Therefore, I would like to know is the Adv Task Scheduler will face the same when windows update?
Windows Updates should not affect Advanced Task Scheduler at all. Advanced Task Scheduler does not depend on Windows Task Scheduler and does not interact with it in any way.
I am facing an issue create when add new task to run my program. If I set all configuration as normal the task run
well. But if I set to “run task in hidden desktop” the program was freeze and show “The requested resource is in use”.
For your information, my program did not need any input from the user. Any solution?
As this matter is urgent, I would appreciate a reply as soon as possible.
This may happen if the application you are trying to run on the hidden desktop is not configured to run under the selected user account. Try to select actual user account in the “Task execution account” options on the “User Account Options” tab of the “Task Properties” window. More information you can find in the “Task execution account” section in this post: Run scheduled tasks when no user is logged on into the system.
It’s work. Thanks a lot.