Accessing the Scheduler

The scheduler feature can be accessed from two interfaces:

NetWare* Administrator utility--Administrators only.  Settings are kept in NDS* in a Package object and affect one or more workstations.

Workstation-based Scheduler utility (wmsched.exe)--Anyone can use.  Settings are kept on this workstation and affect only this workstation.

Both interfaces are virtually the same and perform the same functions, except with the above-noted restriction.

In addition, note that NetWare Administrator can be used to view and edit the Package object, but it cannot view or edit the actions kept on the workstation.

The workstation-based Scheduler; however, can be used to view both the Package objects in NDS which have been pushed down to the workstation and the local Action objects on the workstation, but it can edit only the local (workstation) objects.

Related Topics

Understanding the Scheduler

Adding an Action

Managing Action Items

General Tab

Action Items Tab

Schedule Tab

Advanced Tab

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Action Item Properties

To view or edit a user-defined action item's characteristics:

1.	Open either the NetWare* Administrator Package Schedule page of a Package or the workstation Scheduler.

2.	Click the name of an action item.

3.	Click Details (in NetWare Administrator) or Properties (in Scheduler).

For more information about each field, see Add an Action Item.

4.	Click OK when you are done with the action's properties.

5.	Click Close when you are done with the Scheduler.

Related Topics

Understanding the Scheduler

Action Items Tab

Managing Action Items

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Action Item Tab Name Field
Name

Enter the name of the program to be run.  For example, type notepad.exe into this field.  Only recognized action items are run.  You can search for the filename by clicking the Browse button.


Action Items Tab

Allows you to manage action items contained within an action.

To bring up the Action Items Tab:

1.	From the workstation Scheduler, either click an action in the list and then click Properties to bring up the action's property page, or click Add to Add an Action.

From NetWare* Administrator, open a Workstation or User Package, click an action, and then click Details.

2.	Click the Items tab.

Options

The Action Items tab allows you to perform the following management tasks:

Add an action item

Manage an action item

Related Topics:

Understanding the Scheduler

General Tab

Schedule Tab

Advanced Tab

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Action List

Displays Action objects created by the administrator using NDS* and by the workstation user.  The icon to the left of the action item indicates whether the action is local to this workstation (displays a calendar) or an NDS Action object scheduled by the administrator (displays a tree).

Most of the following fields appear only on the workstation-based Scheduler:

Name

The name of the specific executable to be run.

Working Directory

The path to the executable.

Command Line

The parameters to pass to the action item.  For more information, see the documentation associated with the executable to be run.

Priority

The priority of execution for this action:  Above Normal, Normal, Below Normal, or Action Default.

Terminate Time

Length of time the action is allowed to run before it is stopped by the system.

Completion Event

The event (such as User Logout or Screen Saver is Activated) which must occur before this action is run.

Currently Running

Indicates whether the scheduled action is currently being run.

Return Code

An identifier associated with this action.


Action Properties General Name Field
Name

A name by which to identify this action.  In the NetWare* Administrator snap-in Scheduler, the name is the complete context of the action combined with the name you entered when you created the action.  In the workstation Scheduler, you enter a name by which to identify this action.


Action Properties Items Tab Action List (Extended Description)
Action Properties Items Tab Action List

Each action on the list includes various items of information associated with that action.  This information is listed in the following fields.

Fields:

Name

The name of the action item.  This is the name that was entered in the Name field on the Item Properties tab when the action item was added.

Working Directory

Generally, this is the path where the executable file for this action is located.  It can be a different path, however, if the program requires it.  This information was entered in the Working Directory field of the Action Properties Item tab when this action was added.

Parameters

The parameters to pass to the action item.  For more information, see the documentation associated with the executable file specified in the Working Directory field.

Priority

The importance assigned to this action in relation to the user's access to the workstation.

Terminate Time

The length of time this action can run before the system stops it.  The assumption is that if it takes longer than a specified time to run, there might be a problem associated with running this action and, therefore, the action should be ended.  You specified that a length of time would apply when you checked the Terminate Item If Still Running After check box on the Action Items tab when you added this action.  You also specified the amount of time the system should allow this action to run.

Note: The following fields are for information purposes only and cannot be changed.  Also, they do not display on the Action Properties Items tab for User or Workstation Packages in NetWare* Administrator.

Completion Event

Identifies the end of the running of this action.

Currently Running

Identifies whether this action is currently being run on this workstation.

Return Code

Identifies the system's response associated with running this action.


Action Remains Persistent
Action Remains Persistent after a Reboot

Saves the action to the local machine.  This allows the Scheduler to reactivate the action at the appointed time.  If this check box is not checked, the action is lost when the machine is turned off and, therefore, it cannot be rescheduled.


Add Button

Adds an action item to the list.  You must add at least one action item to an action.


Add an Action Item

This process assumes that you have previously created an action that will contain the action items.

To add an action item:

1.	Open the Action Items tab.

2.	Click Add.

3.	Click Browse to find the desired action item.  When you find the action item, click it and then click Open.

4.	(Optional) To define a working directory other than the one automatically set (where the action item is located), enter the path in the Working Directory field.

Note:  The Working Directory must specify a local device.  Network paths cannot be used as working directories.

5.	Enter any parameters for the action item in the Parameters field.

Note: If you are adding an action item that is a DOS batch file, a DOS window has to be opened to run it.  The DOS window will close when the batch file has finished running if you include the /c parameter.  You must put the /c parameter, followed by a space, in front of the name of the batch file in the Parameters field.

For example, to run a DOS batch file called test_c.bat, make the following entries on the Item Properties dialog for the action item when you add the action item:

Name:  cmd.exe (the name of the Windows** NT** command which opens a DOS window) or start (the name of the Windows** 95 command which opens a DOS window)

Working Directory:  leave blank unless you need to specify where either cmd.exe or start is located

Parameters:  /c test_c.bat (you must include the full filename with extension, and you must use the /c parameter if you want the DOS window to close as soon as the batch file has finished running)

Priority:  leave at Action Default, or choose one of the other settings

6.	(Optional) Select the priority of the action item.

7.	(Conditional) If the action item must complete within a certain time, check the Terminate Item If Still Running After check box, and then specify the number of minutes within which the action item must complete by clicking the Up- or Down-arrow.

Note:  Specify the time needed for all action items to run to completion if the Run in Order check box is checked.  If it is not checked, specify the amount of time required based on the longest running action item.

8.	To save the settings and continue editing the action, click Apply.  When you are done with the action item's properties, click OK.

The action item now appears in the action item list.

Note:  If any action items are scheduled to run now and you click OK or Apply, they will run now.  That is, you might see various windows pop up and disappear or remain on your screen when you click one of these buttons.

9.	Repeat Steps 2 through 8 until you are finished adding items.

10.	When you are done with the Scheduler, click Close.

Related Topics

Understanding the Scheduler

Action Items Tab

Managing Action Items

Action Item Properties

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Adding an Action

Setting up an action item requires that you add the action item to the list of action items.  The network administrator (or other user with the Supervisor right) can do this by using the NetWare* Administrator Scheduler snap-in and then pushing the action item to one or more user workstations.  User can also set up action items to run on their individual workstations by using the workstation Scheduler.

To add an action using the NetWare Administrator Scheduler snap-in:

1.	Launch NetWare Administrator (if you have not already done so) and then open the container where the User Package or Workstation Package that you want to add an action for exists.

2.	Open a User package or a Workstation Package object in the Directory tree.

3.	Click Add.

4.	In Create Scheduled Action, enter a name to be associated with this action.

5.	Click Create.

The action is added to the list of actions in the package.  You can now do any of the following:

Set a priority and define an impersonation (see General Tab)

Add items to this action (see Action Items Tab)

Specify when this action should take place (see Schedule Tab)

Specify what happens if this action cannot occur (see Advanced Tab)

To add an action using the Workstation Scheduler:

1.	Load the Scheduler (run wmsched.exe).

2.	Click Add.

Action Properties, displaying five tabs, opens.  (The first tab, General, opens by default when you create a new action.)

Note:  For information on each of the tabs and their associated fields, use the What's This (?) help button.

3.	Fill in the fields of the General tab.

4.	Click the Action Items tab.

5.	Click Add.

6.	Fill in the required information in Item Properties.

7.	Click OK.

8.	Click OK in  Action Properties.

The action is added to the Action list on the Scheduler.  You can now do any of the following:

Specify when this action should take place (see Schedule Tab)

Add items to this action (see Action Items Tab)

Specify what happens if this action cannot occur (see Advanced Tab)

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Advanced Tab

Allows you to determine what happens to the action's schedule if it did not complete or run within the given time, or when it successfully completes.

To use the Advanced tab:

1.	Load the Scheduler.

Either launch NetWare* Administrator and then open the container where the User Package or Workstation Package that you want to add an action for exists, or run wmsched.exe.

2.	Click the name of an action.

3.	Click Details in NetWare Administrator or Properties in the workstation Scheduler.

4.	Click the Advanced tab.

5.	Choose what is to occur if the action could not be run.

For more information, see if action could not be run.

6.	Click on any of the following checkboxes (when available) to activate:

Disable the action after completion

Terminate action if still running after _ minutes

Randomly dispatch action during scheduled time period

Reboot after completion

5.	To save the settings and exit, click Apply and then OK.

Related Topics

General Tab

Action Items Tab

Schedule Tab

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Browse
Browse Button

Allows you to navigate the file systems to find an action item.


Buttons
Buttons on the Initial Workstation Scheduler Screen

The following buttons are available on the window which opens when you launch the workstation Scheduler:

Add

Opens the Action Properties screen from which you begin providing information to add an action to the list.

Remove

Deletes or removes a scheduled action from the list of scheduled actions. To remove an action you must first click on the action, then click Remove.

Properties

Displays the Action Properties screen for the chosen action. As with Remove, you must first click on an action before you click Properties.

Disable/Enable

Depending on the current state of an action (enabled or disabled), this toggle button lets you enable or disable an action without removing the action from the list. To enable or disable an action, you must first click on the action you want to enable/disable, before clicking the enable/disable button.

Run Now

Runs the chosen scheduled action immediately instead of waiting until its scheduled time. To run an action, you must first click on the action before you click Run Now.

Refresh

Updates the information related to each action in the list of actions. Information the Refresh button updates includes: the name of the action (Action), the date and time the action is scheduled to run next (Next Run) or was previously run (Last Run), whether the action is currently running (Currently Running), what priority has been given to the running of this action in relation to the user's access to the workstation (Priority), the kind of access rights the action and its associated action rights have to the workstation (Impersonation), how long the action is allowed to run before the system stops it (Terminate Time), whether this action is to be part of this workstation session only or is to be retained for future use as well (Persistent), and if any additional options such as what to do if the action could not be run (Advanced Options) apply to this action.

Close

Ends this workstation session of Scheduler and closes the Scheduler utility.


Daily Scheduling
Daily

Choosing Daily allows you to schedule your action to occur on one or more days between specified start and end times.  Optionally, it also allows you to repeat the action at regular intervals after the action successfully starts. For example, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday start the action between 12:30 and 13:00 and run every 10 minutes.

Fields:

Run this action on the following days

Check the box next to each day of the week on which the system is to run this action automatically.

Start the action between the hours of (HH:MM)

Lets you choose a range of time between the exact hour (HH) and minute (MM) within which this action can be started start.

Repeat the action every

Lets you choose the number of hours (HH), minutes (MM), and seconds (SS) the system is to wait before it repeats this action.


Details/Properties Button

This button (called "Details" on the NetWare* Administrator snap-in version of Scheduler and "Properties" on the workstation version of Scheduler) allows you to view/edit the properties of an action.  To open the details/properties page, first you must have loaded the workstation-based Scheduler or clicked the Package Schedule page button of an open package in NetWare Administrator.  Then you can do the following:

1.	Click the name of an action.

2.	Click either Details or Properties.

3.	(Optional) Edit the action's details/properties.

4.	Click OK to save any edit changes you made.


Disable Action After Completion
Disable the Action after Completion

Disables the rescheduling mechanism for this action after all action items have started up successfully.


Disable/Enable Button

Either disables a currently enabled action item or enables a currently disabled action item (toggle-switch button).


Event Button

Event scheduling allows you to determine what kind of workstation event causes your action to run.  To schedule the action based on an event, click the Event button and then choose from the following list of recognized events.

Note:  You cannot choose Scheduler Service Startup or System Shutdown if the action is an interactive user.  It will not run because the user is not authenticated at that point in time.

Scheduler Service Startup runs action when the Scheduler starts up

User Login runs action after the user has successfully logged in but before the login scripts are executed

User Desktop Is Active (does not apply to Windows 95) runs action after the login scripts have completed

Workstation Is Locked (does not apply to Windows 95) runs action at the time that the workstation is locked

Workstation Is Unlocked (does not apply to Windows 95) runs action at the time that the workstation is unlocked

Screen Saver Is Activated runs action when the screen saver is activated

User Logout runs action before logout is completed

System Shutdown runs action after all other applications have successfully closed but before the system shuts down


General Tab

Use the fields in this tab to add or change basic information about the related action.

Fields:

Name

The name of the action.  In the NetWare* Administrator Scheduler snap-in, the name includes the action object's full context.  In the workstation Scheduler, the name is whatever you enter in this field.

Priority

The order in which the action is run.  Higher priority actions are run first.  If two actions have the same priority, the first one encountered in the action list (contained in the window that is first displayed when the Scheduler is loaded) runs first.  The priority selected applies to all action items contained in this action, unless the action item overrides it.

Impersonation

(Windows** NT** only)  The workstation access rights to grant to all action items contained by this action.

Action Remains Persistent after Reboot

(Workstation Scheduler only)  The action is saved to the workstation, allowing the Scheduler to reactivate the action at the appointed time when the workstation is rebooted.  If this option is not selected, the action is lost when you exit Windows NT.

Related Topics:

Understanding the Scheduler

Action Items Tab

Schedule Tab

Advanced Tab

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


If action could not be run

If the system could not run the action, specify what should occur:

Disable the Action disables the action so that no future attempt to run it will be made (unless you again enable it).

Retry Every Minute causes the system to keep trying to run this action every 60 seconds.

Ignore the Error and Reschedule Normally causes any error which occurred while the action was running to be ignored and the action to be rescheduled to be run at a later date/time.


Impersonation Action Field
Impersonation

Determines how the action (service) is to run on the workstation.  Each option affects the action and all action items contained by this action.

Available options:

Interactive User causes the action to run in the context of the user who is logged in to that workstation.  It gives the action whatever the workstation's User object has been assigned.  Usually, this is just the user access rights.  If the default user rights have been granted, the action cannot change settings that require administrative rights.  (For Windows 95, choosing Interactive User specifies that the user's rights are used for access.)

System causes the action to run in the background as a local service.  When the action is dispatched, it then runs under the context of that local system.  The action is granted administrative rights to the workstation.  Use this option only if the actions do not require any user intervention (it does not display a user interface that requires input).  (For Windows 95, choosing System specifies that the workstation's rights are used for access.)

Unsecure System (NT only) allows actions to run in the background but, at the same time, they can interact with the user if interaction is needed.  Use this option for applications that require user interaction.  This method is unsecured, because the operating system permits address mappings between the user and system space (which it normally does not allow).  You can use this option when the protected areas of the registry and file system need modifications and require a user interface to execute.  However, this option should be avoided if at all possible.


Manage Actions and Action Items

You can perform several tasks associated with any given action or action item assuming you have the right to do so.  As a network administrator, you can perform all applicable tasks on any given action.  As a network user, however, you can manage only actions and action items which are local to your workstation.

If you have the necessary rights, you can view and edit details or properties associated with an action.  You can also delete (remove) an action, disable or enable an action, or run an action immediately even though it was scheduled to run at a later date or time or upon the occurrence of a given event.

For action items, you can remove them, disable or enable them, reorder them, and view or modify properties associated with them

To perform any of these tasks, you must first open the Policies page of NetWare* Administrator for a User Package or Workstation Package, or start the Scheduler.  Then you can perform any of these tasks.

View or Edit Details or Properties of an Action

To view or edit details or properties of an action, click the action in the list of actions and then either Details (NetWare Administrator Scheduler snap-in only) or Properties (workstation Scheduler).  Next, click the tab containing the details or properties associated with this action.  Make changes as needed, and then click OK.

View or Edit Details or Properties of an Action Item

To view or edit properties associated with an action item in the NetWare Administrator Package Schedule page of a User or Workstation package, click the action in the list of actions and then Details.  Next, click an action item and then Properties.  Make changes as needed.

To view or edit properties associated with an action item in the workstation Scheduler, click the action in the list of actions and then Properties.  Click Items and then an action item.  Next, click Properties, make changes as needed, and then click OK.

Remove an Action

To remove an action from the list of actions, click the action in the list of actions and then Remove.  This immediately removes the action from the list of actions.  Warning: This action cannot be undone, and when you click Close, you are not prompted to verify the removal of the action.  If you remove an action that you later want, you must add it back again.

Remove an Action Item

To remove an action item in the NetWare Administrator Package Schedule page of a User or Workstation Package, click the action in the list of actions and then Details.  Next, click Items and then an action item.  Finally, click Remove.

To remove an action item in the workstation Scheduler, click an action in the list of actions and then Properties.  Next, click Items and then an action item.  Finally, click Remove.

Disable or Enable an Action

To disable or enable an action in the list of actions, click the action and then Disable or Enable.  (The button name that appears depends on whether the action is currently enabled or disabled.)  This immediately changes the action's status from one to the other.

Disable or Enable an Action or Action Item

To disable or enable an action item in the NetWare Administrator Package Schedule page of a User or Workstation Package, click the action in the list of actions and then Details.  Next, click Items and then an action item.  Finally, click Disable or Enable (depending on the current status of the action item).

To disable or enable an action item in the workstation Scheduler, click an action in the list of actions and then Properties.  Next, click Items and then an action item.  Finally, click Disable or Enable (depending on the current status of the action item).

Run Now

To cause an action to be run immediately, click the name of the action in the list of actions and then Run Now (workstation Scheduler only).

Refresh

To update the current list of actions on the workstation Scheduler, click Refresh.

*Novell trademark.  **Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Monthly Scheduling

Allows you to choose the day of the month that this action runs on, as well as the time range that the system can start this action within.  For example, you can choose to run this action on every fourth day of the month, between the hours of 8:00 and 10:15. You specify the time range using a 24-hour clock.  If you prefer, you can choose to have the action run on the last day of the month, regardless of how many days there are in the month.

Fields:

Run this action once a month on day __ of the month

Identifies the day of the month on which the system is to run this action automatically.  Click one of the available radio buttons:

on day _ of the month.  This action will be run on the exact day specified.

on the last day of the month.  This action will be run on the last day of the month regardless of how many days there are in the month (28, 29, 30, or 31).

Start this action between the hours of (HH:MM)

Identifies the exact hour (HH) and minute (MM) on which this action is to start.  Fields to enter the earliest and latest date and time during which this action can be started are provided.


Parameters

The path the system can use for command line arguments to be sent to the application.  For example, if you want to launch notepad.exe and have it automatically open the readme.txt file, you would put readme.txt in the Parameters field.


Priority

Both actions and action items have available the Action Default priority, and three other priorities: Above Normal, Normal, and Below Normal.  Action items can assume the same priority as the Action object that contains them--in other words, they take on the Action's Default priority.  Or they can override it, using one of the three other priority settings.

Note: If the action occurs during normal business hours, it should be assigned a below normal priority so as to not affect the user’s perceived workstation performance.

When assigning a priority to an action or action item, note that if two or more actions/action items have the same priority, the first one defined (the one that appears in the list first) has precedence over the others.


Prompt the User before Rebooting

(NetWare* Administrator snap-in Scheduler only) Allows the user to decide whether the workstation is to be rebooted now that the associated scheduled action has run.  For this check box to be available, you must check the Reboot after Completion check box.


Properties Button

Allows you to view or edit the properties of an action item.


Randomly Dispatch Action during Scheduled Time Period

(NetWare* Administrator snap-in Scheduler only) Directs the system to send this action to the associated workstations in a random manner during the scheduled time.


Reboot after Completion

(NetWare* Administrator snap-in Scheduler only) Reboots the associated workstation after the scheduled action has run.  Optionally, you can also check the Prompt the User before Rebooting check box to let the user decide whether the workstation is to be rebooted after the scheduled action has run.


Remove Button

Removes an action item from the list.  Warning:  You cannot undo this action.


Run Items in Order Listed

If you want each action item to run to completion before the next one is executed, then check this check box.  You can then click an action item and use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to rearrange the existing order of the action items in the list.

If this check box is checked, the order in which you arrange these action items overrides the individual action item's priority settings.  If this check box is not checked, all action items are executed in the order specified by their individual priority, even though one action item does not necessarily have to complete before the next one begins.


Schedule Tab

Clicking this tab opens the Schedule page.  From this page, you choose when the action is to run and provide details that the system needs regarding when the action runs.  For example, you can have the action run whenever a specific event (such as user login) occurs by choosing the Event option.

You can choose the following scheduling options:

Event

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Yearly

For details on each of these scheduling options, choose from the above links, or click the Schedule tab for an action, click a scheduling option, and then use the What's This help.


Scheduler Help Contents
Scheduler Help

Understanding

The Scheduler

How to Access the Scheduler

The General Tab

The Action Items Tab

The Schedule Tab

The Advanced Tab

Setting Up

Action Items

When Actions Should Run

Managing

Access to the Scheduler

Action Item Properties

Actions and Action Items

Scheduling of an Action to Run


Scheduler Help for Action Properties Page on Workstation
Scheduler

This is the opening screen of the workstation-based Scheduler.  It displays a list of actions currently scheduled to run.  It also contains several buttons which you can choose from in order to use the Scheduler.

For more information on using the Scheduler, click any of the links in the Related Topics section below.

Related Topics

Understanding Scheduler

Adding an Action

Removing an Action

View/Edit Details/Properties of an Action/Action Item

Disabling an Action

Enabling an Action

Running a Scheduled Action Task Now


Scheduling an Action to Run

To schedule an action to run, complete the instructions in the following procedures, depending on whether you are using the NetWare* Administrator Scheduler snap-in or the workstation Scheduler.

Important:  The schedule you define applies to every action item contained in the action and overrides the Package schedule.

The following procedures assume that you have first:

1.	Added an action.

2.	Added one or more action items to the action.

3.	Chosen the action to schedule.

Scheduling an Action Using the NetWare Administrator Scheduler Snap-in or the Workstation Scheduler:

1.	Click Properties or Details and then the Schedule tab.

2.	Click the desired scheduling option.

See Setting Up When Actions Should Run to help you decide which option to choose.

3.	Configure the time for the action.

4.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Understanding Scheduler

General Tab

Action Items Tab

Advanced Tab

* Novell trademark.  ** Third-party trademark.  For more information, see Trademarks.


Setting Up When Actions Should Run

The Schedule tab contains five scheduling options: Event, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly.  The option you choose and the settings you associate with it determine when the action is run.

You can use only one scheduling option at a time.  For example, if the Daily option is selected, all other options are ignored.  The option that you choose is a basic default schedule setting.  You can interrupt this default setting, however, by using additional options found on the Advanced Tab.

Note:  The Scheduler ignores the scheduling information until the action can be started successfully.  Also, the time units are shown according to military time format (for example, 9:00 for 9 am. and 13:30 for 1:30 pm).

For more information on each of the available scheduling options, use the What's This help on the Schedule Tab.


Terminate Action if Still Running After _ Minutes
Terminate Action If Still Running after __ Minutes

Terminate the action if it is still running after the number of minutes you specify.  The action is then rescheduled to run at the next scheduled time.

To set a time limit on how long the action should run, check this check box.  The number of minutes, which you specify in the Minutes field, should be the total time required by the action itself as well as by all action items associated with the action, where applicable.  If you do not specify sufficient time for the action and all associated action items to run, your action items might not have enough time to complete their tasks.

This option is available only through the Add action item or action item Properties.


Time to Start
Start the Action between the Hours of (HH:MM)

Defines a block of time when the action item can start up.  It does not specify when the action item should be terminated.  The format of the times is HH:MM, where H = Hours and M = Minutes.

To change the times, press on the up or down arrow to the right of each field.


Trademarks
Trademarks, Copyright, Disclaimer, and Patents

Copyright © 1996-1997 Novell, Inc.  All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, stored on a retrieval system, or transmitted without the express written consent of the publisher.

U.S. Patent Nos. 5,157,663; 5,349,642; and 5,455,932.  U.S. Patent Application No. 5,572,528. U.S. and International Patent Pending.

Novell, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents or use of this documentation and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.  Further, Novell, Inc. reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes to its content, at any time, without obligation to notify any person or entity of such revisions or changes.

Further, Novell, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to any software, and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.  Further, Novell, Inc. reserves the right to make changes to any and all parts of Novell software, at any time, without any obligation to notify any person or entity of such changes.

Novell Trademarks

NDS is a trademark of Novell, Inc.

NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Novell is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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Understanding the Scheduler

The Scheduler, which usually displays on screen as the Action Properties dialog box, allows you to set up different actions to run on one or more workstations.  An action is an object that contains a list of one or more action items (for example, EXEs, DLLs, ActiveX**, and JavaScript**).  These action items can be on the workstation or the network.  If you are using the workstation Scheduler when you set up the action, the action applies only to the workstation you are running the workstation Scheduler from.

Note: The scheduler has two interfaces: one for the administrator and the other for any user. For more information about the administrator's interface, please see Accessing the Scheduler.

Note:  The Scheduler is compatible with Microsoft’s SAGE for Windows 95** and can, therefore, run SAGE-aware programs.

Actions and action items can be given a priority to run, allowing you to specify which action or action item should run first, second, etc.  You can also schedule actions to automatically run when a workstation event occurs or periodically at a certain time.

You determine the amount of time each action and/or action item has to complete.  If the action cannot occur at the specified time, you can indicate whether to discontinue it, retry it every minute, or to have it rescheduled.

So that actions have the proper rights to modify the workstation's environment, you assign to each one the appropriate workstation access rights (impersonates rights).  Also, you can specify if an action should dial up a number before any action item runs (workstation Scheduler only).

A user does not have to be logged in to the workstation (NT only) or the network for the action to happen.  That is, the workstation can be at the NetWare* login window and the action will run in the background.  This allows the action to take place even when no one is at the workstation.

But the workstation must be on for the action to occur.  If it is not on when an action starts, the Scheduler reschedules the action within a block of time called the startup block of time.  If the workstation is not turned on within this time, you can indicate that the action be retried every minute, rescheduled to occur during the next interval, or dropped.

If the action does not complete within a specified amount of time, you can indicate that the action should be terminated.  Also, if the action completes successfully, you can indicate that the action should be discontinued (not rescheduled).


Weekly Scheduling

Allows you to schedule your action to occur on a particular day of the week.  For example, on Monday start the action between 8:00 and 10:15 (8 am. and 10:15 am).

Fields:

EventRun this action once a week on

Identifies day of the week the system is to run this action automatically.

EventStart this action between the hours of (HH:MM)

Identifies the exact hour (HH) and minute (MM) this action is to start.


What to do if an action item runs too long
What to Do If an Action Runs Too Long

You can set a time limit on how long an action should run.  The number of minutes, which you specify in the Minutes field, should be the time required by the action items.  If this time is too short, your action items might not have enough time to complete their tasks.

If your action items are set to run in order, then the number of minutes to specify is the total time required by all action items.  If the action items are not set to run in order, then the number of minutes to specify is the longest time required by an action item.

To specify the amount of time the action has to run to completion:

1.	Check the Terminate Item if Still Running check box.

2.	Specify the number of minutes by clicking the Up or Down arrows of the Minutes field.

Related Topic:

Advanced Option Tab


What to do if the action fails to complete or run

What occurs when a scheduled action does not run depends on which of the following you chose:

Disable the action.  This prevents the action from running again.

Retry every minute (as long as it is within the specified time to start block).  All other scheduling information is ignored until the action can be started successfully.

Ignore the error and reschedule the action to start up at the next scheduled interval.  For example, if the action is scheduled to run every Monday and the action fails to run this Monday, the scheduler reschedules it to run next Monday.

Related Topic:

Advanced Tab


What to Do When the Action Completes

Once the action completes, you have several options you can choose from by checking the associated check boxes.

Options

Disable the Action after Completion

Causes the system to disable the action after it runs so that it cannot be run again.

Terminate Action if Still running after __ Minutes

Stops the action from running once it has been running for the number of minutes you choose in the Minutes filed.  This feature prevents an action which has stopped responding/running without completing from continuously tying up the system.  However, checking this box only affects actions which are not currently running, thus you cannot use this check box to terminate an action which has already been loaded by the Scheduler and is currently running.  Also, if the action you are running, such as a DOS batch file,  opened a DOS window, the DOS window is not automatically closed after the action has completed, unless you added the /c parameter in the Parameters field when you originally added the action item.

Randomly Dispatch Action during Scheduled Time Period

Causes the system to determine when it is best to run the action within the time period you established.

Reboot after Completion

Causes the system to reboot the workstation after the action has run.

Prompt the User Before Rebooting

Causes the system to prompt the workstation's user for approval before rebooting the user's workstation.  This option is available only if you first check the Reboot after Completion check box.


Working Directory

This field is automatically filled in when you browse for an action item.  It is set to the directory that the action item is in.  You can specify a different working directory by entering the path in this field.


Yearly Scheduling

Allows you to determine the time and the day of the month to perform the action.  For example, on every fourth day of March, start the action between 8:00 and 10:15 am.

Fields:

Run the Action Once a Year on Day __ of __

Specifies which day of the month (choose from 1 to 31, depending on which month you choose) and which month of the year the action is to run.

Start the Action between the Hours of __ and __

Using a 24-hour clock, specify the hour and minute of the earliest time this action is to be started, and then the hour and minute of the latest time this action is to be started.  For example, choose 17:30 to begin the action no earlier than 5:30 pm and 20:00 to begin the action no later than 8:00 pm.