Windows Task Scheduler example

This example shows how to schedule a SQL Clone task using PowerShell and Windows Task Scheduler. The example creates a new task that'll run daily and remove any images older than a week that have no clones.

Before you follow this example, make sure:

• The SQL Clone PowerShell cmdlets have been installed (these can be downloaded from the settings page in SQL Clone)
• The PowerShell script you'd like to schedule has been saved to a file. In this example we'll be using the script from Purge old images which don't have clones, which has been saved as D:\SQL Clone scripts\RemoveOldImages.ps1

To schedule a task:

1. Start Windows Task Scheduler by opening the Start menu and typing Task Scheduler. 

   Task Scheduler can also be opened using the Control Panel under System and Security > Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler

2. Right click on the Task Scheduler Library and select Create Basic Task…:
    
3. Enter a name and optional description and click Next:
    
4. Make sure Daily is selected and click Next:
    
5. Select the time when you'd like to run the task and click Next:
    
6. Make sure Start a program is selected and click Next:
    

7. Enter PowerShell as the Program/script and enter -File followed by the path to the saved PowerShell script under Add arguments and click Next:

   If the path to the PowerShell file contains any spaces, make sure the path is enclosed in quotation marks.

   

8. Select the Open the Properties dialog for this task when I click Finish check box and click Finish:
    

9. In the Properties window under Security options:

   • verify that the user listed has permission to use SQL Clone
   • select the option to Run whether user is logged on or not
    
10. Press OK and enter the password for the user when prompted.