Before You Begin

The Windows task allows you to run a platform-specific application on a Windows machine. To run a Windows task, you must first complete the following tasks:

Install Universal Agent for Windows on a Windows machine.
Launch the Agent. When the Agent connects with the Controller, it automatically creates an Agent resource definition in the database.
Optionally, customize the Agent heartbeat and log levels, as described in Windows Agent Details Field Descriptions.

Built-In Variables

The following built-in variables can be used in a Windows task to pass data where appropriate:

Creating a Windows Task

Step 1	From the Automation Center navigation pane, select Tasks > Windows Tasks. The Windows Tasks list displays a list of all currently defined Windows tasks. Below the list, Windows Task Details for a new Windows task displays.
Step 2	Enter/select Details for a new Windows task, using the field descriptions below as a guide. Required fields display an asterisk ( * ) after the field name. Default values for fields, if available, display automatically. To display more of the Details fields on the screen, you can either: Use the scroll bar. Temporarily hide the list above the Details. Click the New button above the list to display a pop-up version of the Details.
Step 3	Click a Save button. The task is added to the database, and all buttons and tabs in the Task Details are enabled.

Note

To open an existing record on the list, either:

Click a record in the list to display its record Details below the list. (To clear record Details below the list, click the New button that displays above and below the Details.)
Clicking the Details icon next to a record name in the list, or right-click a record in the list and then click Open in the Action menu that displays, to display a pop-up version of the record Details.
Right-click a record in the a list, or open a record and right-click in the record Details, and then click Open In Tab in the Action menu that displays, to display the record Details under a new tab on the record list page (see Record Details as Tabs).

Windows Task Details

The following Windows Task Details is for an existing Windows task.

Depending on the values that you enter / select for these fields, and whether or not the Windows task has ever been launched, more (or less) fields may display. See the field descriptions, below, for a description of all fields that may display in the Windows Task Details.

Windows Task Details Field Descriptions

The following table describes the fields, buttons, and tabs that display in the Windows Task Details.

Field Name	Description
General	This section contains general information about the task.
Name	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Version	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Description	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Member of Business Services	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Resolve Name Immediately	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Time Zone Preference	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Hold on Start	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Hold Reason	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Virtual Resource Priority	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Hold Resources on Failure	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Details	This section contains assorted detailed information about the Agent / Agent Cluster selected for this task.
Cluster	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Variable	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Cluster	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Cluster Variable	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Broadcast	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Cluster Broadcast	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Cluster Broadcast Variable	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Credentials	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Credentials Variable	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Run with Highest Privileges	This option must be enabled in order to execute the task using an elevated privileges token, rather than one subject to User Account Control (UAC) restrictions. An elevated token allows a process to execute with all the privileges available to its specified credentials. For example, a task executed with an administrative account will behave as though it received permission via a UAC dialog to perform a privileged operation. This option will not give a user account privileges that have are not already granted to it. For example, taking ownership of a file is a privileged operation by default. A task will still fail even with this option selected if it is run with a regular user account that has not been granted the ability to change file ownership. Note This option only will affect tasks executed on Windows systems that support User Account Control (UAC). It will have no affect on tasks run on Windows releases prior to Vista (for example, Windows XP, Server 2003).
Windows Details	This section contains assorted detailed information about the task instance.
Command or Script	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found. If the Windows/Linux Scripts Permitted Universal Controller system property is set to false: Note For both command-based tasks that call a .vbs/.js file directly, and script-based tasks that also rely on the systems association with file extension, GUI-based wscript.exe is associated with the vbs and js file extensions. Without explicitly calling one or the other, the Controller would use wscript.exe. The Agent system may need to be adjusted to properly use the Windows Scripting Host from the scheduler/agent environment. The following command can be used to set the default script host to cscript.exe: `C:\tmp>cscript //h:cscript //s`
Command	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Script	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Parameters	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Runtime Directory	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Environment Variables	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Result Processing Details	This section contains assorted detailed information about result processing for this task.
Exit Code Processing	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Output Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Scan Output For	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Output File (for Exit Code Processing)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Exit Codes	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Automatic Output Retrieval	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait For Output	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Failure Only	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Start Line	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Number of Lines	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Scan Text	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Output File (for Automatic Output Retrieval)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Retry Options	This section contains specifications for retrying the task.
Retry Exit Codes	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Maximum Retries	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Retry Indefinitely	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Retry Interval (Seconds)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Suppress Intermediate Failures	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait / Delay Options	This section contains specifications for waiting to start and/or delaying on start the task.
Wait To Start	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Duration In Seconds	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Delay On Start	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Delay Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Delay Duration In Seconds	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Workflow Only	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Time Options	This section contains time-related specifications for the task.
Late Start	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Nth Amount	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Offset Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Percentage Offset ( + )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Duration Offset ( + )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Duration Offset Unit	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Nth Amount	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Offset Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Percentage Offset ( - )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Duration Offset ( - )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Duration Offset Unit	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Nth Amount	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
User Estimated Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Critical Path Options	This section contains Critical Path-related specifications for the task.
CP Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
CP Duration (Resolved)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
CP Duration Unit	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Workflow Execution Options	This section contains Execution Restriction specifications for the task if it is within a Workflow.
Execution Restriction	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Restriction Period	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Before Date	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Before Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
After Date	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
After Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Date List	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Statistics	This section contains time-related statistics for task instances of the task.
First Execution	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Last Execution	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Last Instance Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Lowest Instance Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Average Instance Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Highest Instance Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Number of Instances	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Metadata	This section contains Metadata information about this record.
UUID	Universally Unique Identifier of this record.
Updated By	Name of the user that last updated this record.
Updated	Date and time that this record was last updated.
Created By	Name of the user that created this record.
Created	Date and time that this record was created.
Buttons	This section identifies the buttons displayed above and below the Task Details that let you perform various actions.
Save	Saves a new task record in the Controller database.
Save & New	Saves a new record in the Controller database and redisplays empty Details so that you can create another new record.
Save & View	Saves a new record in the Controller database and continues to display that record.
New	Displays empty (except for default values) Details for creating a new task.
Update	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Launch Task	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
View Parents	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Copy	Creates a copy of this task, which you are prompted to rename.
Delete	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found. Note You cannot delete a task if it is either: Specified in an enabled Trigger. The only task specified in a disabled Trigger.
Refresh	Refreshes any dynamic data displayed in the Details.
Close	For pop-up view only; closes the pop-up view of this task.
Tabs	This section identifies the tabs across the top of the Task Details that provide access to additional information about the task.
Variables	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Actions	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Virtual Resources	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Mutually Exclusive	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Instances	Lists all instances of the task.
Triggers	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Notes	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Versions	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.

Viewing a Windows Task Instance

When a Windows task is launched, the Controller creates a task instance record of that task.

A task instance contains detailed information about a single execution of that task.

You can access a task instance from:

Instances tab on the Windows Task Details for that task
Activity Monitor
Task Instances list

Windows Task Instance Details

The following Windows Task Instance Details contains information on the execution of the task shown in the Windows Task Details.

Windows Task Instance Details Field Descriptions

The following table describes the fields, buttons, and tabs that display in Windows Task Instance Details.

Field Name	Description
General	This section contains general information about the task instance.
Instance Name	Name of this task instance.
Instance Number	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Description	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Member of Business Services	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Task	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Source Version	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Launch Source	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Source Instance	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Invoked by	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Execution User	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Calendar	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Time Zone Preference	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Virtual Resource Priority	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Hold Resources on Failure	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Status	This section contains information about the current status of the task instance.
Status	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Exit Code	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Status Description	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Operational Memo	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Evaluation Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Critical	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Until Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Queued Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Trigger Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Launch Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Start Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
End Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
CPU Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Process ID	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Details	This section contains assorted detailed information about the Agent / Agent Cluster selected for this task.
Cluster	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Variable	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Cluster	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Agent Cluster Variable	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Credentials	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Credentials Variable	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Run with Highest Privileges	This option must be enabled in order to execute the task using an elevated privileges token, rather than one subject to User Account Control (UAC) restrictions. An elevated token allows a process to execute with all the privileges available to its specified credentials. For example, a task executed with an administrative account will behave as though it received permission via a UAC dialog to perform a privileged operation. This option will not give a user account privileges that have are not already granted to it. For example, taking ownership of a file is a privileged operation by default. A task will still fail even with this option selected if it is run with a regular user account that has not been granted the ability to change file ownership. Note This option only will affect tasks executed on Windows systems that support User Account Control (UAC). It will have no affect on tasks run on Windows releases prior to Vista (for example, Windows XP, Server 2003).
Windows Details	This section contains assorted detailed information about the task instance.
Command or Script	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found. If the Windows/Linux Scripts Permitted Universal Controller system property is set to false: Note For both command-based tasks that call a .vbs/.js file directly, and script-based tasks that also rely on the systems association with file extension, GUI-based wscript.exe is associated with the vbs and js file extensions. Without explicitly calling one or the other, the Controller would use wscript.exe. The Agent system may need to be adjusted to properly use the Windows Scripting Host from the scheduler/agent environment. The following command can be used to set the default script host to cscript.exe: `C:\tmp>cscript //h:cscript //s`
Command	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Script	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Parameters	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Runtime Directory	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Environment Variables	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Result Processing Details	This section contains assorted detailed information about result processing for this task.
Exit Code Processing	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Output Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Scan Output For	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Output File (for Exit Code Processing)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Exit Codes	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Automatic Output Retrieval	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait For Output	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Failure Only	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Start Line	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Number of Lines	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Scan Text	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Output File (for Automatic Output Retrieval)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Retry Options	This section contains specifications for retrying the task.
Retry Exit Codes	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found. .
Maximum Retries	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Retry Indefinitely	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Retry Interval (Seconds)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Current Retry Count	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Suppress Intermediate Failures	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Next Retry Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait / Delay Options	This section contains specifications for waiting to start and/or delaying on start the task.
Wait To Start	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Wait Duration In Seconds	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Delay On Start	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Delay Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Delay Duration In Seconds	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Time Options	This section contains time-related specifications for the task instance.
Late Start	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Started Late	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Nth Amount	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Start Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Computed Late Start Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Finished Late	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Offset Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Percentage Offset ( + )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Duration Offset ( + )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Duration Offset Unit	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Nth Amount	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Late Finish Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Computed Late Finish Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Finished Early	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Offset Type	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Percentage Offset ( - )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Duration Offset ( - )	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Duration Offset Unit	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Day Constraint	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Nth Amount	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Early Finish Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Projected Late	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Critical Path Options	This section contains Critical Path-related specifications for the task.
CP Duration	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
CP Duration (Resolved)	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
CP Duration Unit	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Workflow Execution Options	This section contains Execution Restriction specifications for the task if it is within a Workflow.
Execution Restriction	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Restriction Period	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Before Date	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Before Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
After Date	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
After Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Date List	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Statistics	This section contains time-related statistics for the task instance.
User Estimated End Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Lowest Estimated End Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Average Estimated End Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Highest Estimated End Time	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Projected End Time	System-supplied; projected end time of the task instance, calculated by the Controller based on the projected end time of its predecessor (or the maximum projected end time of all its predecessors, if more than one path exists to that task instance) plus its estimated critical path duration.
Metadata	This section contains Metadata information about this record.
UUID	Universally Unique Identifier of this record.
Updated By	Name of the user that last updated this record.
Updated	Date and time that this record was last updated.
Created By	Name of the user that created this record.
Created	Date and time that this record was created.
Status History	History of all statuses that the task instance has gone through.
Buttons	This section identifies the buttons displayed above and below the Task Instance Details that let you perform various actions.
Update	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Force Finish	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Hold	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Skip	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Re-run	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
View Parent	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Retrieve Output	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Delete	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Refresh	Refreshes any dynamic data displayed in the Details.
Close	For pop-up view only; closes the pop-up view of this task instance.
Tabs	This section identifies the tabs across the top of the Task Instance Details that provide access to additional information about the task instance.
Virtual Resources	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Exclusive Requests	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Output	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.
Notes	Unable to render {include} The included page could not be found.

Running a Windows Task

You can run a Windows task:

Manually, by clicking the Launch Task or Launch Task with Variables button in the Windows tasks list or Windows Task Details Action menu.
As part of a Workflow.
Specify triggers that run the task automatically based on times or events.

Monitoring Task Execution

You can monitor all system activity from the Activity Monitor and can view activity history from the History list.