schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces

[Jonathan Miller]

I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task. One of the
parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to run is in
the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets created but will
not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the task in the
GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an escape sequence
or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay on the
file name?

Here is what I'm doing:

schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM

As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the commandline
recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created the double
quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then when I try
to run the task it won't run because it needed those double quotes. Any
suggestions would be appreciated here.

 

[SBS Rocker]

Re: schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces

Take your command line and insert it into a text file and save it as a .bat
file. Use the Task Scheduler to run the bat file.


"Jonathan Miller" <webmaster at accs dot net> wrote in message
news:3AC649EB-1224-4CC5-9DD9-18C9F4A6C899@microsoft.com...
>I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task. One of the
> parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to run is
> in
> the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets created but
> will
> not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the task in
> the
> GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an escape
> sequence
> or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay on the
> file name?
>
> Here is what I'm doing:
>
> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
> Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM
>
> As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the
> commandline
> recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created the
> double
> quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then when I
> try
> to run the task it won't run because it needed those double quotes. Any
> suggestions would be appreciated here.
>

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces


"Jonathan Miller" <webmaster at accs dot net> wrote in message
news:3AC649EB-1224-4CC5-9DD9-18C9F4A6C899@microsoft.com...
>I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task. One of the
> parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to run is
> in
> the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets created but
> will
> not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the task in
> the
> GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an escape
> sequence
> or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay on the
> file name?
>
> Here is what I'm doing:
>
> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
> Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM
>
> As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the
> commandline
> recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created the
> double
> quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then when I
> try
> to run the task it won't run because it needed those double quotes. Any
> suggestions would be appreciated here.
>

You basically gave the answer yourself: Add more quotes to compensate
for the stripped ones.
schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
Files\Test\Test.exe"""" /RU SYSTEM

 

[Jonathan Miller]

Re: schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces

So it takes four sets of quotes?!? I tried 2 and even 3, but not four.
Thanks!

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>
> "Jonathan Miller" <webmaster at accs dot net> wrote in message
> news:3AC649EB-1224-4CC5-9DD9-18C9F4A6C899@microsoft.com...
> >I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task. One of the
> > parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to run is
> > in
> > the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets created but
> > will
> > not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the task in
> > the
> > GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an escape
> > sequence
> > or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay on the
> > file name?
> >
> > Here is what I'm doing:
> >
> > schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
> > Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM
> >
> > As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the
> > commandline
> > recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created the
> > double
> > quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then when I
> > try
> > to run the task it won't run because it needed those double quotes. Any
> > suggestions would be appreciated here.
> >
>
> You basically gave the answer yourself: Add more quotes to compensate
> for the stripped ones.
> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
> Files\Test\Test.exe"""" /RU SYSTEM
>
>
>

 

[Jonathan Miller]

Re: schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces

Okay! The four sets of quotes worked. Now the problem I have is putting
parameters in there. There parameters can't be inside of the quotes that
show up in the schedule task. However, they do need to be contained in
quotes in the command-line so it knows that it all goes together. All of my
attempts have failed so far. Any ideas?

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>
> "Jonathan Miller" <webmaster at accs dot net> wrote in message
> news:3AC649EB-1224-4CC5-9DD9-18C9F4A6C899@microsoft.com...
> >I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task. One of the
> > parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to run is
> > in
> > the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets created but
> > will
> > not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the task in
> > the
> > GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an escape
> > sequence
> > or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay on the
> > file name?
> >
> > Here is what I'm doing:
> >
> > schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
> > Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM
> >
> > As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the
> > commandline
> > recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created the
> > double
> > quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then when I
> > try
> > to run the task it won't run because it needed those double quotes. Any
> > suggestions would be appreciated here.
> >
>
> You basically gave the answer yourself: Add more quotes to compensate
> for the stripped ones.
> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
> Files\Test\Test.exe"""" /RU SYSTEM
>
>
>

 

[Meinolf Weber (Myweb)]

Re: schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces

Hello Jonathan Miller webmaster at accs dot net,

Did you try to change it like:

schtasks /create /RU SYSTEM /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
Files\Test\Test.exe""""

Best regards

Meinolf Weber (Myweb)
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

> Okay! The four sets of quotes worked. Now the problem I have is
> putting parameters in there. There parameters can't be inside of the
> quotes that show up in the schedule task. However, they do need to be
> contained in quotes in the command-line so it knows that it all goes
> together. All of my attempts have failed so far. Any ideas?
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
>> "Jonathan Miller" <webmaster at accs dot net> wrote in message
>> news:3AC649EB-1224-4CC5-9DD9-18C9F4A6C899@microsoft.com...
>>
>>> I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task. One
>>> of the
>>> parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to
>>> run is
>>> in
>>> the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets created
>>> but
>>> will
>>> not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the
>>> task in
>>> the
>>> GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an escape
>>> sequence
>>> or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay
>>> on the
>>> file name?
>>> Here is what I'm doing:
>>>
>>> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
>>> Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM
>>>
>>> As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the
>>> commandline
>>> recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created
>>> the
>>> double
>>> quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then
>>> when I
>>> try
>>> to run the task it won't run because it needed those double quotes.
>>> Any
>>> suggestions would be appreciated here.
>> You basically gave the answer yourself: Add more quotes to compensate
>> for the stripped ones.
>> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
>> Files\Test\Test.exe"""" /RU SYSTEM

 

[Jonathan Miller]

Re: schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces

Yes I did. That works great if you don't want to pass any parameters to the
program you are running with the scheduled task. So if my test.exe requires
a /input=test.txt paramter it doesn't work.

"Meinolf Weber (Myweb)" wrote:

> Hello Jonathan Miller webmaster at accs dot net,
>
> Did you try to change it like:
>
> schtasks /create /RU SYSTEM /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
> Files\Test\Test.exe""""
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber (Myweb)
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
>
> > Okay! The four sets of quotes worked. Now the problem I have is
> > putting parameters in there. There parameters can't be inside of the
> > quotes that show up in the schedule task. However, they do need to be
> > contained in quotes in the command-line so it knows that it all goes
> > together. All of my attempts have failed so far. Any ideas?
> >
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> >
> >> "Jonathan Miller" <webmaster at accs dot net> wrote in message
> >> news:3AC649EB-1224-4CC5-9DD9-18C9F4A6C899@microsoft.com...
> >>
> >>> I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task. One
> >>> of the
> >>> parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to
> >>> run is
> >>> in
> >>> the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets created
> >>> but
> >>> will
> >>> not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the
> >>> task in
> >>> the
> >>> GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an escape
> >>> sequence
> >>> or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay
> >>> on the
> >>> file name?
> >>> Here is what I'm doing:
> >>>
> >>> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
> >>> Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM
> >>>
> >>> As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the
> >>> commandline
> >>> recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created
> >>> the
> >>> double
> >>> quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then
> >>> when I
> >>> try
> >>> to run the task it won't run because it needed those double quotes.
> >>> Any
> >>> suggestions would be appreciated here.
> >> You basically gave the answer yourself: Add more quotes to compensate
> >> for the stripped ones.
> >> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
> >> Files\Test\Test.exe"""" /RU SYSTEM
>
>
>

 

[Meinolf Weber (Myweb)]

Re: schtasks doesn't run programs with spaces

Hello Jonathan Miller webmaster at accs dot net,

Ok, but the /RU system is used from schtasks not from your test.exe So the
parameter for test.eex has to be specified also in the quotes for me.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber (Myweb)
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

> Yes I did. That works great if you don't want to pass any parameters
> to the program you are running with the scheduled task. So if my
> test.exe requires a /input=test.txt paramter it doesn't work.
>
> "Meinolf Weber (Myweb)" wrote:
>
>> Hello Jonathan Miller webmaster at accs dot net,
>>
>> Did you try to change it like:
>>
>> schtasks /create /RU SYSTEM /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR
>> """"C:\Program Files\Test\Test.exe""""
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber (Myweb)
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>>> Okay! The four sets of quotes worked. Now the problem I have is
>>> putting parameters in there. There parameters can't be inside of
>>> the quotes that show up in the schedule task. However, they do need
>>> to be contained in quotes in the command-line so it knows that it
>>> all goes together. All of my attempts have failed so far. Any
>>> ideas?
>>>
>>> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Jonathan Miller" <webmaster at accs dot net> wrote in message
>>>> news:3AC649EB-1224-4CC5-9DD9-18C9F4A6C899@microsoft.com...
>>>>
>>>>> I need to use the schtasks.exe to create a new scheduled task.
>>>>> One
>>>>> of the
>>>>> parameters allows you to specify the filename. The file I want to
>>>>> run is
>>>>> in
>>>>> the Program Files folder. I specify the path, the task gets
>>>>> created
>>>>> but
>>>>> will
>>>>> not run! The only way to fix it is to open the properties of the
>>>>> task in
>>>>> the
>>>>> GUI and add double quotes around the whole path! Is there an
>>>>> escape
>>>>> sequence
>>>>> or something I can use in the command line so that the quotes stay
>>>>> on the
>>>>> file name?
>>>>> Here is what I'm doing:
>>>>> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR "C:\Program
>>>>> Files\Test\Test.exe" /RU SYSTEM
>>>>>
>>>>> As you can see I have double quotes around the path so that the
>>>>> commandline
>>>>> recognizes it as one parameter. However, when the task is created
>>>>> the
>>>>> double
>>>>> quotes are stripped off the filename stored with the task. Then
>>>>> when I
>>>>> try
>>>>> to run the task it won't run because it needed those double
>>>>> quotes.
>>>>> Any
>>>>> suggestions would be appreciated here.
>>>> You basically gave the answer yourself: Add more quotes to
>>>> compensate
>>>> for the stripped ones.
>>>> schtasks /create /SC DAILY /ST 02:30:00 /TN test /TR """"C:\Program
>>>> Files\Test\Test.exe"""" /RU SYSTEM