AT Command
Where's your head at? Use the AT Command to automate
processes..
Since the days of Windows NT there has existed an extremely useful, if lesser known command for automating tasks. Behold the modest but most-worthy
AT Command. In a nutshell the utility allows you to specify, "AT a certain time, on certain date[s], do this.."
To use this utility, the Windows
Task Scheduler Service must be running [Administrative Tools, Services on Start menu, or type NET START at the command line].
AT can be linked to DOS type commands or batch files and is commonly used for tasks such as
time synching and file backups. AT runs at the Command Prompt under Windows NT/2000/XP/Net. Typing
AT /? brings up the usual
command switch help screen indicating the various options. Simple typing the
AT command on its own, will show if any instructions are present in the schedule.
The official method of using the AT command is described in Microsoft Knowledge Base
Article 313565. Needless to say it only tells half the story and still requires further explanation and example. Here is one I prepared earlier, which will run the batch file,
timeset.bat every day at 10pm:
Notice that the scheduler automatically assigns a task ID. To check on the task details, simply type the
AT Command:
In the above example, the batch file
timeset.bat must be locatable by Windows, either by typing the full path to its containing directory, or putting it within a directory which is in the Windows
PATH Statement.
With a bit of practice with the switches. the AT Command is relatively straightforward to use and is an extremely powerful tool. Why, even a monkey could do it..
Note:
The Windows 2003 AT command is inherited from Windows NT and many of the limitations (bugs) still remain. See
AT Command Problems for more information.
If like me, you get the shits with Microsoft's crapworthy implementation of a task scheduler, you may like to consider a better third-party alternative, like the excellent shareware
System Scheduler from Splinterware.
