How do you create shortcuts for task schedule triggers?

I have a trigger called NetDisable located in a new task folder called UC.

I tried: C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /tn "NetDisable"

I tried: C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /tn "UC\NetDisable".

None of the above worked.

However, I was successful only from the cmd prompt when I manually copy and paste the following: schtasks /run /TN “UC\NetDisable"

I would like to automate this process, if possible?

If I'm understanding what you want correctly, what you need is a batch file that will run the command and I am not very good at that, but there are numerous people on this forum who are. You can save the file to your desktop and click on it any time you want it to run.
If no one answers you soon, change the title of your post to "Need batch file to run task". I believe that will get their attention.

glasskuter said:

If I'm understanding what you want correctly, what you need is a batch file that will run the command and I am not very good at that, but there are numerous people on this forum who are. You can save the file to your desktop and click on it any time you want it to run.
If no one answers you soon, change the title of your post to "Need batch file to run task". I believe that will get their attention.

Click to expand...

Hi. Thanks. Yes, that's what I'm looking for. I tried to create one, but nothing seems to work though outside the command prompt.

Sammy,

If you manually create a shortcut then you can put this in its Target field
C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /Run /TN "UC\NetDisable"
or
schtasks.exe /Run /TN "UC\NetDisable"

I have no idea why your second example would not run. It appears to me to be correct.

I use shortcuts of this type and have not had any problems.

Denis

Try3 said:

Sammy,

If you manually create a shortcut then you can put this in its Target field
C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /Run /TN "UC\NetDisable"
or
schtasks.exe /Run /TN "UC\NetDisable"

I have no idea why your second example would not run. It appears to me to be correct.

I use shortcuts of this type and have not had any problems.

Denis

Click to expand...

Thanks. I know. I see no reason why it shouldn't run but it doesn't. The screen quickly flickers and nothing happens. Whereas if I copy and past the command in the command bar, it works fine.

Sammy,

Does Task scheduler, Task history tell you anything useful?

Perhaps you could create a dummy task [such as running Notepad] in the same UC folder to use to test that the syntax & all functions are working correctly so you can then amend it to include the real Action.
That might help to identify where the problem is happening.

Best of luck,
Denis

Not alone in this. I've got an identical issue where the shortcut doesn't work, run as admin, etc. I'm also not having any luck with the .bat file approach either. But run from an administrative cmd shell it's fine, just like above. So no shortcut, no batch, no luck. Windows 11 machine 22H2. Putting pieces together for the next universal image (and migration to 11) and not enjoying many oldie-but-goodie tricks falling by the wayside without simple alternatives.

Interesting twist, if you construct a .ps1 with Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName "ScanSoftware" and run a shortcut to that, or rather the PowerShell executable and call it with -File, you can run it as an admin and start the task with a shortcut. It's a bit circuitous compared to the good ol' way, but it gets the job done.

Try3 said:

Sammy,

Does Task scheduler, Task history tell you anything useful?

Perhaps you could create a dummy task [such as running Notepad] in the same UC folder to use to test that the syntax & all functions are working correctly so you can then amend it to include the real Action.
That might help to identify where the problem is happening.

Best of luck,
Denis

Click to expand...

Hi, sorry for the late reply.

It doesn't.

Try this in the shortcut Target field
schtasks.exe /run /tn "\UC\NetDisable"

I could not find any of my own old examples so I rechecked the built in help
SchTasks /Run /?
and we were both forgetting that a leading \ is needed before the task's folder name. I don't remember having to do that.

I just set up a dummy task in a TS subfolder and the revised syntax worked both in a cmd prompt and as the Target field of a shortcut.
schtasks.exe /run /tn "\Event Viewer Tasks\dummy"

Ignore me.
I just set up a dummy task in a TS subfolder and the original syntax worked both in a cmd prompt and as the Target field of a shortcut.
schtasks.exe /run /tn "Event Viewer Tasks\dummy"
so the change I suggested above is not necessary - it worked both with & without the leading \.

I suggest you do what I suggested all that time ago. Create a dummy task in your TS sub-folder. Just make it run the command
notepad
and see if that runs from your shortcut to it.


Denis