Boot Trigger Example (Scripting)

This scripting example shows how to create a task that is scheduled to execute Notepad when the system is booted. The task contains a boot trigger that specifies a start boundary and delay time for the task to start after the system is booted. The task also contains an action that specifies the task to execute Notepad. The task is registered using the Local Service account as a security context to run the task.

The following procedure describes how to schedule an executable such as Notepad to start when the system is booted.

To schedule Notepad to start when the system is booted

1. Create a TaskService object. This object allows you to create the task in a specified folder.
2. Get a task folder and create a task. Use the TaskService.GetFolder method to get the folder where the task is stored and the TaskService.NewTask method to create the TaskDefinition object that represents the task.
3. Define information about the task using the TaskDefinition object. Use the TaskDefinition.Settings property to define the settings that determine how the Task Scheduler service performs the task and the TaskDefinition.RegistrationInfo property to define the information that describes the task.
4. Create a logon trigger using the TaskDefinition.Triggers property. This property provides access to the TriggerCollection object. Use the TriggerCollection.Create method (specifying the type of trigger that you want to create) to create a boot trigger. As you create the trigger, set the StartBoundary and EndBoundary properties of the trigger to activate and deactivate the trigger. You can also specify a value for the Delay property of the boot trigger.
5. Create an action for the task to execute by using the TaskDefinition.Actions property. This property provides access to the ActionCollection object. Use the ActionCollection.Create method to specify the type of action that you want to create. This example uses an ExecAction object, which represents an action that starts an executable.
6. Register the task using the TaskFolder.RegisterTaskDefinition method. The task is registered using the Local Service account as a security context to run the task.

The following VBScript example shows how to schedule a task to execute Notepad 30 seconds after the system is booted.

'---------------------------------------------------------
' This sample schedules a task to start notepad.exe 30 seconds after
' the system is booted.
'---------------------------------------------------------

' A constant that specifies a boot trigger.
const TriggerTypeBoot = 8
' A constant that specifies an executable action.
const ActionTypeExecutable = 0   

'********************************************************
' Create the TaskService object.
Set service = CreateObject("Schedule.Service")
call service.Connect()

'********************************************************
' Get a folder to create a task definition in. 
Dim rootFolder
Set rootFolder = service.GetFolder("\")

' The taskDefinition variable is the TaskDefinition object.
Dim taskDefinition
' The flags parameter is 0 because it is not supported.
Set taskDefinition = service.NewTask(0) 

'********************************************************
' Define information about the task.

' Set the registration info for the task by 
' creating the RegistrationInfo object.
Dim regInfo
Set regInfo = taskDefinition.RegistrationInfo
regInfo.Description = "Task will execute Notepad when " & _
    "the computer is booted."
regInfo.Author = "Author Name"

' Set the task setting info for the Task Scheduler by
' creating a TaskSettings object.
Dim settings
Set settings = taskDefinition.Settings
settings.StartWhenAvailable = True

'********************************************************
' Create a boot trigger.
Dim triggers
Set triggers = taskDefinition.Triggers

Dim trigger
Set trigger = triggers.Create(TriggerTypeBoot)

' Trigger variables that define when the trigger is active.
Dim startTime, endTime
startTime = "2006-05-02T10:49:02"
endTime = "2006-05-02T10:52:02"

WScript.Echo "startTime :" & startTime
WScript.Echo "endTime :" & endTime

trigger.StartBoundary = startTime
trigger.EndBoundary = endTime
trigger.ExecutionTimeLimit = "PT5M"    ' Five minutes
trigger.Id = "BootTriggerId"
trigger.Delay = "PT30S"                ' 30 Seconds   

'***********************************************************
' Create the action for the task to execute.

' Add an action to the task. The action executes notepad.
Dim Action
Set Action = taskDefinition.Actions.Create( ActionTypeExecutable )
Action.Path = "C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"

WScript.Echo "Task definition created. About to submit the task..."

'***********************************************************
' Register (create) the task.
const createOrUpdateTask = 6
call rootFolder.RegisterTaskDefinition( _
    "Test Boot Trigger", taskDefinition, createOrUpdateTask, _
    "Local Service", , 5)

WScript.Echo "Task submitted."

Related topics

Using the Task Scheduler