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Running a batch file through the Task Scheduler
Its running fine, completes everything expected
Then continues to run without end for no reason
Batch File contains:
-> "C:{PATH}\bin\runapp.cmd"
Runapp contains:
-> cd "C:{PATH}\"
-> java -cp {FILE NAME}.jar; {PACKAGE NAME}
-> exit /b
Maybe it is because my user is not an admin yet im trying to run with highest privileges:
If it was this, how could i get around this to allow the tas to run while user isnt signed in... i already tried using the admin account on the laptop!
The action appears as follows:
Java file it executes just creates a file, which its doing fine... But not ending the task, any suggestions?????
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(256, 74%, 34%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ERM%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Does everything work if you remove the "/B? switch from the DOS "exit" command?
/B Specifies to exit the current batch script instead of CMD.EXE. If executed from outside a batch script, it quits CMD.EXE.
thanks for the suggestion, added that in but it turns out it was down to some of my java in the file i was executing... but i cant accept my own answer
I don't see anything in there that has to do with PowerShell. Also, I'm not sure I understand what you mean to do with constructs like "cd "C:{PATH}\". Are you trying to access environment variables?
C:\Users\richm>cd "C:{PATH}\"
The system cannot find the path specified.
PowerShell tag comes from it not having a tag for the task scheduler
"{PATH}" is just because i don't want to say the full path of folders and files on my computer since it is a work computer.
It is replacing parts of the file path that i don't want known.
Batch File contains:
-> "C:{PATH}\bin\runapp.cmd"
So your scheduled task runs BatchFile.cmd which in turn calls runapp.cmd?
Add the /c switch to the arguments so that cmd.exe terminates when the batch file completes.
C:\>cmd /?
Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter
CMD [/A | /U] [/Q] [/D] [/E:ON | /E:OFF] [/F:ON | /F:OFF] [/V:ON | /V:OFF]
[[/S] [/C | /K] string]
/C Carries out the command specified by string and then terminates
You should also capture stdout and stderr so that you can troubleshoot any execution messages.
the batch file extension is ".bat"
after trying your suggestion it still runs without end:
Then there must something else in your bat file that is hanging. Add some echo statements and then check the .log file.
@echo %date% %time% Test.bat is starting.
call c:\temp\foo1.bat
@echo %date% %time% Calling foo2.
call c:\temp\foo2.bat
@echo %date% %time% Test.bat is ending.
If things are potentially hanging, be sure to check Task Manager and kill hung/orphan processes.
"pslist /t" will indent based on parent/child processes. That might help you to "see" that cmd.exe called something and it's still running.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/pslist
Thanks for the tip, as i checked its hanging on "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\cmd.exe"
Would you perhaps know how to force close it please?
I have a line in runapp.cmd that is trying to force the exit, but that doesnt seem to be working
Start by killing all hung cmd.exe's. In task scheduler verify that it indicates that the task is not running.
Test with a simple bat file first. Verify that works first.
@echo %date% %time% Test.bat is starting.
whoami.exe
@echo %date% %time% Test.bat is ending.
Then modify to call another bat file. I think that you will need to use the call statement.
@echo %date% %time% Test.bat is starting.
@echo %date% %time% Calling foo1.
call c:\temp\foo1.bat
@echo %date% %time% Test.bat is ending.
Foo1.bat.
@echo %date% %time% Foo1.bat is starting.
whoami.exe
@echo %date% %time% Foo1.bat is ending.
I don't typically use "exit" or "exit /b" for a simple bat file that only has a few statements and no branching to labels.
Verify that the mechanics of calling a bat file work, and then add in your application statements.
Have done, no luck im afraid, thanks though
Does the log file contain the final echo entry?
I dont seem to have a log file
Never mind found the answer, and posted it in this thread as a separate answer.
Thanks for your time anyway, the suggestion about checking what was still running really helped thanks!
Answer Found in the end:
-> my java was using a Java swing component called "JOptionPane.showMessageDialog"
-> this wasn't closing preventing the file from closing
Heavy sigh.
Why would you want a scheduled task that interacts with the desktop? Especially when you've elected to run the task whether the user is logged on or not?!!
I guess he never noticed the dialog box when he ran it interactively!!! So sad.
I don't know Rich, some days I have to question why I'm doing this. I think I'm being clear about what I'm telling users, but apparently I'm not getting through.