Cant get powershell script to run if scheduled task user logged off

Question

TIA for any help!

4 years ago I wrote an outlook signature generation power shell script that we use and it has worked great for years. Recently it has grown to probably 20 different templates and it sometimes take quite a while to run so I kind of redesigned it so that the signatures are generated at night after hours on a server, and then when the users login, all i do is copy the signatures to thier computer rather than generating them on the fly. Makes the login quicker.

The problem I am having is that I can not get the email signature generation script to run when i have the schedule task set to "Run whether the users is logged on or not".

1. I have trimmed down my script to bare minimum to test this and for this post. This script pulls all kinds of data from AD and uses it to generate the script, then saves as RTF, HTML, and TXT versions for use for outlook.

Here is the test that I can get to work absolutely fine when the scheduled task is set to "Run only when user is logged on"

Start-Transcript -path "C:\PowershellLogs\test-template.log" -append  

$fullPath = "C:\SignatureTemplates\Test.docx"  
$ReplaceAll = 2  
$FindContinue = 1  
$MatchCase = $False  
$MatchWholeWord = $True  
$MatchWildcards = $False  
$MatchSoundsLike = $False  
$MatchAllWordForms = $False  
$Forward = $True  
$Wrap = $FindContinue  
$Format = $False  
$MSWord = New-Object -ComObject word.application  
$MSWord.Documents.Open($fullPath)  
$ReplaceText = 'John'  

$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText,$MatchCase,$MatchWholeWord,$MatchWildcards,$MatchSoundsLike,$MatchAllWordForms,$Forward,$Wrap,$Format,$ReplaceText,$ReplaceAll)      

$MSWord.ActiveDocument.Save()  
$MSWord.ActiveDocument.Close()  

Stop-Transcript  

When I set to Run only when user is logged on - I get this in the transcript file. Word hangs and before too long with the loop through the users, the server crashes.

Log file transcript

---

Windows PowerShell transcript start
Start time: 20220822135022
Username: username i have set to run (it has log on as a batch permissions / local admin for testing)
RunAs User: username i have set to run
Configuration Name:
Machine: SERVERNAME (Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.17763.0)
Host Application: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Powershell.EXE .\test.ps1
Process ID: 7408
PSVersion: 5.1.17763.2931
PSEdition: Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1.17763.2931
BuildVersion: 10.0.17763.2931
CLRVersion: 4.0.30319.42000
WSManStackVersion: 3.0
PSRemotingProtocolVersion: 2.3
SerializationVersion: 1.1.0.1

---

Transcript started, output file is C:\PowershellLogs\test-template.log
You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
At C:\Templates\test.ps1:25 char:1

• $MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText,$MatchCase,$MatchWholeWord,$ ...
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [], RuntimeException
• FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull
  You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
  At C:\Templates\test.ps1:25 char:1
• $MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText,$MatchCase,$MatchWholeWord,$ ...
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [], RuntimeException
• FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull

You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
At C:\Templates\test.ps1:27 char:1

• $MSWord.ActiveDocument.Save()
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [], RuntimeException
• FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull
  You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
  At C:\Templates\test.ps1:27 char:1
• $MSWord.ActiveDocument.Save()
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [], RuntimeException
• FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull

You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
At C:\Templates\test.ps1:28 char:1

• $MSWord.ActiveDocument.Close()
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [], RuntimeException
• FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull
  You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
  At C:\Templates\test.ps1:28 char:1
• $MSWord.ActiveDocument.Close()
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [], RuntimeException
• FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull

---

Windows PowerShell transcript end
End time: 20220822135024

---

I couldnt attached the word doc i used as template but i have a screen shot. Its just a simple template word doc, that we run the outlook sig generation script to create signatures 233674-capture.jpg

Answer 1

Think i fixed it. This is absolute garbage MS. I spent hours trying to figure out if it was my code and found some random google that you have to add a folder called desktop here and it works. What the... come on!

C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\Desktop

https://superuser.com/questions/579900/why-cant-excel-open-a-file-when-run-from-task-scheduler

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38180162/powershell-doesnt-run-as-scheduled-task-when-run-whether-user-is-logged-on-or

Answer 2

Are you using Microsoft Exchange (on-site) or Microsoft 365 (cloud)? If so, you may be able to use the Hub Transport to apply a signature. If the value you want to include in the signature is found in the AD user object you can try this: corporatesignatures.htm

It's not surprising that you're having a problem using MS Word to do the work. Microsoft doesn't recommend installing MS Office on servers. There are too may security problems. Also, services haven't been able to interact with the desktop since Windows Vista (that was, I think, the last time services ran alongside user applications; again, big security problems if they do).

If you don't (or can't) use the Hub Transport, you could also create the TXT, HTML, and RTF signatures once using MS Word and then modify those instead of depending on Office apps to do work on servers. You can find several examples of doing that by searching for "powershell outlook signature script without using word".

Answer 3

We have about 20 different signature templates depending on the department. Some departments have 3-4 signatures depending on the work they are doing. Honestly how we have done it for year works really well and it wasnt until recently I decided to redesign it. Ill scrub my code and show you what we do and then you can critique it.

Answer 4

First PS just pulls AD attributes, and group membership to determine which signatures you get, then runs the individual scripts for each template. I have only posted the first script and the default template script. Like I mentioned there is about 20 other templates. For each template we have a word doc with the field and the script finds and replaces and then saves the signatures. We make the sigs read only so that people cant change them.

Word doc templates look similar to this with company logo etc.

First script gets AD variables, checks for last time AD was updated etc, so that it only pushes new sig when needed etc.

#AD Variables  
$UserName = $env:username  
$Filter = "(&(objectCategory=User)(samAccountName=$UserName))"  
$Searcher = New-Object System.DirectoryServices.DirectorySearcher  
$Searcher.Filter = $Filter  
$ADUserPath = $Searcher.FindOne()  
$ADUser = $ADUserPath.GetDirectoryEntry()  
$ADLastMod = $ADUser.whenChanged -replace '[/,:]',''  
$SignatureVersion = $ADLastMod  
  
#Local Environment variables  
$AppData=(Get-Item env:appdata).value  
$SigPath = '\Microsoft\Signatures'  
$LocalSignaturePath = $AppData+$SigPath  
  
#Copy version file  
If (-not(Test-Path -Path $LocalSignaturePath\$SignatureVersion))  
{  
New-Item -Path $LocalSignaturePath\$SignatureVersion -ItemType Directory  
}  
Elseif (Test-Path -Path $LocalSignaturePath\$SignatureVersion)  
{  
Write-Output "Latest signature already exists"  
break  
}  
  
#Check signature path (needs to be created if a signature has never been created for the profile  
if (-not(Test-Path -path $LocalSignaturePath)) {  
 New-Item $LocalSignaturePath -Type Directory  
}  
  
#Get Active Directory information for current user  
$ADDisplayName = $ADUser.DisplayName  
$ADTitle = $ADUser.title  
$ADStreetAddress = $ADUser.streetaddress  
$ADCity = $ADUser.l  
$ADState = $ADUser.st  
$ADZip = $ADUser.postalCode  
$ADTelePhoneNumber = $ADUser.TelephoneNumber  
$ADFaxNumber = $ADUser.facsimileTelephoneNumber  
$ADEmailAddress = $ADUser.mail  
$ADDescription = $ADUser.description  
$ADCustomAttribute1 = $ADUser.extensionAttribute2  
$Company = $ADUser.Company  
$ADLicenseNumber = $ADUser.carLicense  
$MangerDisplayName = ([adsi]"LDAP://$($ADUser.manager)").DisplayName  
$MangerEmail = ([adsi]"LDAP://$($ADUser.manager)").mail  
$MangerPhone = ([adsi]"LDAP://$($ADUser.manager)").TelephoneNumber  
  
#Group Template variables  
$grp_CS = "CN=grp-CS-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_IS = "CN=grp-IS-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_PD = "CN=grp-PD-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_UW = "CN=grp-UW-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_SI = "CN=grp-SI-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_SP = "CN=grp-SP-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_FN = "CN=grp-FN-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_IN = "CN=grp-IN-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_UM = "CN=grp-UM-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_CO = "CN=grp-CO-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_CU = "CN=grp-CC-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_DO = "CN=grp-DO-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
$grp_EO = "CN=grp-EO-Template,OU=Departments,OU=Groups,DC=CONTOSO,DC=LOCAL"  
  
#Run Default Template for Everyone  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\Default-Template.ps1  
  
#Run CS Template Script  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_CS){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\CS-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run IS Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_IS){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\IN-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run PD Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_PD){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\PD-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run UW Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_UW){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\UW-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run SI Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_SI){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\SI-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run SP Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_SP){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\SP-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run FN Signatute Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_FN){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\FN-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run IN Signatute Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_IN){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\IN-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run UM Signatute Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_UM){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Tempates\UM-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run CO Signatute Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_CO){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Tempates\CO-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run CC Signatute Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_CC){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Tempates\CC-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run DO Signatute Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_DO){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\DO-Template.ps1  
}  
  
#Run EO Signatute Template  
If ($ADUser.memberOf -contains $grp_EO){  
\\CONTOSO.local\Templates\EOI-Template.ps1  
}  
  

----

Example of follow on script that replaces everything in the word doc template and then saves the signatures and pushes to outlook sig folder etc.

#Set Signature Template to Default Template  
$SigSource = "\\contoso.local\Templates\Default.docx"  
$SignatureName = 'Contoso-Default'  
  
$ForceSignature = '0' #Set to 1 if you don't want the users to be able to change signature in Outlook  
  
#Copy signature templates from source to local Signature-folder  
Write-Output "Copying Signatures"  
$fullPath = $LocalSignaturePath+'\'+$SignatureName+'.docx'  
Copy-Item "$Sigsource" $fullPath -Recurse -Force  
  
$ReplaceAll = 2  
$FindContinue = 1  
$MatchCase = $False  
$MatchWholeWord = $True  
$MatchWildcards = $False  
$MatchSoundsLike = $False  
$MatchAllWordForms = $False  
$Forward = $True  
$Wrap = $FindContinue  
$Format = $False  
  
#Insert variables from Active Directory to rtf signature-file  
$MSWord = New-Object -ComObject word.application  
$MSWord.Documents.Open($fullPath)  
  
#User Name $ Designation   
$FindText = "DisplayName"   
$Designation = $ADCustomAttribute1.ToString() #designations in Exchange custom attribute 1  
If ($Designation -ne '') {   
 $Name = $ADDisplayName.ToString()  
 $ReplaceText = $Name+', '+$Designation  
}  
Else {  
 $ReplaceText = $ADDisplayName.ToString()   
}  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#Title  
$FindText = "Title"  
$ReplaceText = $ADTitle.ToString()  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#Defaults  
$DefaultAddress = "1234 Some Street, Ste 100"  
$DefaultCity = "Some City"  
$DefaultState = "Some State"  
$DefaultZip = "Some Zip"  
$DefaultTelephone = "(800)555-1212"  
$DefaultCompany = "Some Company, Inc"  
  
#Company  
If ($Company -ne '') {   
       $FindText = "Company"  
    $ReplaceText = $Company.ToString()  
   }  
   Else {  
    $FindText = "Company"  
    $ReplaceText = $DefaultCompany  
    }  
 $MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#LicenseNumber  
If ($ADLicenseNumber -ne "") {   
 $FindText = "LicenseNumber"  
 $ReplaceText = $ADLicenseNumber.ToString()  
   }  
Else {  
 $FindText = "Lic # LicenseNumber"  
    $ReplaceText = " "  
 }  
    $MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#Street Address  
If ($ADStreetAddress -ne '') {   
       $FindText = "Address"  
    $ReplaceText = $ADStreetAddress.ToString()  
   }  
   Else {  
    $FindText = "Address"  
    $ReplaceText = $DefaultAddress  
    }  
 $MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#City  
If ($ADCity -ne '') {   
    $FindText = "City"  
       $ReplaceText = $ADCity.ToString()  
   }  
   Else {  
    $FindText = "City"  
    $ReplaceText = $DefaultCity   
   }  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#State  
If ($ADState -ne '') {   
    $FindText = "State"  
       $ReplaceText = $ADState.ToString()  
   }  
   Else {  
    $FindText = "State"  
    $ReplaceText = $DefaultState   
   }  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#Zip  
If ($ADZip -ne '') {   
    $FindText = "Zip"  
       $ReplaceText = $ADZip.ToString()  
   }  
   Else {  
    $FindText = "Zip"  
    $ReplaceText = $DefaultZip   
   }  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#Telephone  
If ($ADTelephoneNumber -ne "") {   
 $FindText = "PhoneNumber"  
 $ReplaceText = $ADTelephoneNumber.ToString()  
   }  
Else {  
 $FindText = "PhoneNumber"  
    $ReplaceText = $DefaultTelephone  
 }  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#FaxTelephone  
If ($ADFaxNumber -ne "") {   
 $FindText = "FaxNumber"  
 $ReplaceText = $ADFaxNumber.ToString()  
   }  
Else {  
 $FindText = "Fax: FaxNumber"  
    $ReplaceText = " "  
 }  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#EmailAddress  
If ($ADEmailAddress -ne "") {   
 $FindText = "emailaddress"  
 $ReplaceText = $ADEmailAddress.ToString()  
   }  
Else {  
 $FindText = "Email:"  
    $ReplaceText = " "  
 }  
$MSWord.Selection.Find.Execute($FindText, $MatchCase, $MatchWholeWord, $MatchWildcards, $MatchSoundsLike, $MatchAllWordForms, $Forward, $Wrap, $Format, $ReplaceText, $ReplaceAll )  
  
#Save new message signature   
Write-Output "Saving signatures"  
#Save HTML  
$saveFormat = [Enum]::Parse([Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.WdSaveFormat], "wdFormatHTML");  
$path = $LocalSignaturePath+'\'+$SignatureName+".htm"  
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name IsReadOnly -Value $false  
$MSWord.ActiveDocument.saveas([ref]$path, [ref]$saveFormat)  
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name IsReadOnly -Value $true  
      
#Save RTF   
$saveFormat = [Enum]::Parse([Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.WdSaveFormat], "wdFormatRTF");  
$path = $LocalSignaturePath+'\'+$SignatureName+".rtf"  
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name IsReadOnly -Value $false  
$MSWord.ActiveDocument.SaveAs([ref] $path, [ref]$saveFormat)  
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name IsReadOnly -Value $true  
  
#Save TXT      
$saveFormat = [Enum]::Parse([Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.WdSaveFormat], "wdFormatText");  
$path = $LocalSignaturePath+'\'+$SignatureName+".txt"  
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name IsReadOnly -Value $false  
$MSWord.ActiveDocument.SaveAs([ref] $path, [ref]$SaveFormat)  
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name IsReadOnly -Value $true  
  
$MSWord.ActiveDocument.Close()  
$MSWord.Quit()  
  
#Office 2016 signature  
If (Test-Path HKCU:Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0)  
  
{  
Write-Output "Setting signature for Office 2016"  
  
If ($ForceSignature -eq '0')  
  
{  
Write-Output "Setting Office 2016 as available"  
  
$MSWord = New-Object -ComObject word.application  
$EmailOptions = $MSWord.EmailOptions  
$EmailSignature = $EmailOptions.EmailSignature  
$EmailSignatureEntries = $EmailSignature.EmailSignatureEntries  
$MSWord.Quit()  
  
  
}  
  
If ($ForceSignature -eq '1')  
{  
Write-Output "Setting signature for Office 2016 as forced"  
    If (Get-ItemProperty -Name 'NewSignature' -Path HKCU:'\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\MailSettings') { }   
    Else {   
    New-ItemProperty HKCU:'\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\MailSettings' -Name 'NewSignature' -Value $SignatureName -PropertyType 'String' -Force   
    }   
    If (Get-ItemProperty -Name 'ReplySignature' -Path HKCU:'\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\MailSettings') { }   
    Else {   
    New-ItemProperty HKCU:'\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\MailSettings' -Name 'ReplySignature' -Value $SignatureName -PropertyType 'String' -Force  
    }   
}  
  
}  
  
  

Like I mentioned - im sure there are third part products but has worked great. We did this as a login script but its getting to be a lot, so the plan is to move this over to a server to generate all signatures after hours etc, and then replace the login with just a file copy script to local PC to set outlook sigs. Im not a programmer - just write this to solve a problem.