Is there a way to add a task to the windows task scheduler via python 3?

Question

I have a main python script that generates a GUI, and through that GUI I want the user to be able to create, amend, and delete schedules managed by the windows task scheduler.

Ahem... quick google results : http://blog.ziade.org/2007/11/01/scheduling-tasks-in-windows-with-pywin32/ http://sourceforge.net/projects/pytaskscheduler/ Have a nice day :-) — FredP, Oct 02 '14 at 13:01
This looks like it was written for Python 2.3, so not exactly what I was looking for. Will see if I can scavenge from it though. — I_do_python, Oct 02 '14 at 13:48
With `subprocess` you could do: http://stackoverflow.com/a/2725908/660921 — Martin Tournoij, Oct 02 '14 at 14:02

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 06 '18 at 10:08

This code creates a task which will run in 5 minutes (uses pywin32):

import datetime
import win32com.client

scheduler = win32com.client.Dispatch('Schedule.Service')
scheduler.Connect()
root_folder = scheduler.GetFolder('\\')
task_def = scheduler.NewTask(0)

# Create trigger
start_time = datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(minutes=5)
TASK_TRIGGER_TIME = 1
trigger = task_def.Triggers.Create(TASK_TRIGGER_TIME)
trigger.StartBoundary = start_time.isoformat()

# Create action
TASK_ACTION_EXEC = 0
action = task_def.Actions.Create(TASK_ACTION_EXEC)
action.ID = 'DO NOTHING'
action.Path = 'cmd.exe'
action.Arguments = '/c "exit"'

# Set parameters
task_def.RegistrationInfo.Description = 'Test Task'
task_def.Settings.Enabled = True
task_def.Settings.StopIfGoingOnBatteries = False

# Register task
# If task already exists, it will be updated
TASK_CREATE_OR_UPDATE = 6
TASK_LOGON_NONE = 0
root_folder.RegisterTaskDefinition(
    'Test Task',  # Task name
    task_def,
    TASK_CREATE_OR_UPDATE,
    '',  # No user
    '',  # No password
    TASK_LOGON_NONE)

More info on tasks and their properties here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/taskschd/task-scheduler-objects

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 21 '18 at 05:42

6

PyWin32 provides an interface to the Task Scheduler in win32com.taskscheduler. You can see an example of it's use here:

https://github.com/SublimeText/Pywin32/blob/master/lib/x32/win32comext/taskscheduler/test/test_addtask_1.py

Also @FredP linked to a good example that's much simpler:

http://blog.ziade.org/2007/11/01/scheduling-tasks-in-windows-with-pywin32/

There is also an interesting tidbit in the wmi module's cookbook about scheduling a job, although it doesn't appear to use the Task Scheduler:

http://timgolden.me.uk/python/wmi/cookbook.html#schedule-a-job

edited Sep 21 '18 at 05:42

Mattwmaster58

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answered Oct 02 '14 at 14:00

Mike Driscoll

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Warning: Do not use the WMI method. The service which it depends on seems to be deprecated and not enabled by default (Though you can enable it via registry) since Windows 8: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cimwin32prov/win32-scheduledjob – xendi Sep 12 '20 at 22:43

score 5 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 24 '21 at 08:45

Just to round out the option list here... How about just calling the windows command line?

import os

os.system(r'SchTasks /Create /SC DAILY /TN "My Task" /TR "C:mytask.bat" /ST 09:00')

You can launch any executable, batch file, or even another python script - assuming the system is set to execute python...

schtasks has a rich list of options and capabilities...https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/taskschd/schtasks

Is there a way to add a task to the windows task scheduler via python 3?

3 Answers3

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