How to set task scheduler's arguments from Power Shell

Question

I want to set "Add arguments" in the task scheduler. Because we have a lot of windows servers and have to set add arguments on each server. I know it has to manage command for task scheduler "tasks" but I don't know how to add only "Add arguments". I want to know the command that can do what I want to do (first sentence). Please ask me anything what you want to know about this problem. Thank you.

Task scheduler administration is better on-topic in ServerFault. That being said, take a look at scheduler's [XML](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa383609(v=vs.85).aspx) schema. — vonPryz, Jan 16 '17 at 13:07
Please give us a more detailed description of the problem. Thx — Moerwald, Jan 16 '17 at 13:17
@vonPryz You could have provided [a link to Server Fault](http://serverfault.com/). New users haven't necessarily heard about it. — Donald Duck, Jan 16 '17 at 13:19
In PowerShell, I'd use cmdlets from `ScheduledTasks` and `PSScheduledJob` modules rather than `schtasks.exe`. — JosefZ, Jan 16 '17 at 14:05
I don't want to set task's arguments manually because it takes long time so I need to make bat file.However I am not sure about how to set task's arguments from command. Also I confuse about PowerShell and command prompt.. — tekun, Jan 16 '17 at 14:30

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 16 '17 at 14:24

1

You'll need to modify the task action, not the task itself:

# Retrieve task
$Task = Get-ScheduledTask -TaskName "myScheduledTask"

# Retrieve action, modify argument
$Task.Actions[0] = "new arguments string go here"

# Update task
Set-ScheduledTask $Task

answered Jan 16 '17 at 14:24

Mathias R. Jessen

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Thank you ! Also can I set arguments of tasks using command prompt? – tekun Jan 16 '17 at 14:35

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:33

Learn by example (copied & pasted from an open elevated cmd window; note that ^^> is my admin command prompt):

^^> schtasks /query /TN SO_31969962 /V /FO LIST | findstr /R /C:"^Task To Run:" /C:"Start In"
Task To Run:                          D:\bat\SO\31969962.bat "1 st" second
Start In:                             D:\bat\SO\files

^^> schtasks /change /TN "\SO_31969962" /TR "D:\bat\SO\31969962.bat \"first\" second"
SUCCESS: The parameters of scheduled task "\SO_31969962" have been changed.

^^> schtasks /query /TN SO_31969962 /V /FO LIST | findstr /R /C:"^Task To Run:" /C:"Start In"
Task To Run:                          D:\bat\SO\31969962.bat "first" second
Start In:                             N/A

^^>

Here the Task To Run: … line corresponds to

Unfortunately, schtasks.exe fails in specifying “start-in” directory as you can see in above example (read entire thread of this link, google for schtasks start in directory).

Following PowerShell code snippet changes both Arguments and WorkingDirectory:

$Task = Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath '\' -TaskName 'SO_31969962'
$Task.Actions[0].Arguments        = 'bubu "foo bar"'
$Task.Actions[0].WorkingDirectory = '"D:\bat\Unusual Names"'
Set-ScheduledTask -InputObject $Task | Out-Null

Edit: following commented batch script shows possible approach of how-to construct a valid PowerShell one-line command (no need to run an existing .ps1 script):

@ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL EnableExtensions DisableDelayedExpansion

    rem related to D:\PShell\SO\41677069_ScheduledTask_Admin.ps1

    rem show current parameters of a task (before change) 
schtasks /query /TN "\SO_31969962" /V /FO LIST | findstr /R /C:"^Task To Run:" /C:"^Start In"

    rem set auxiliary variables (note properly escaped inner double quotes)
set "_taskGet=$Task = Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath '\' -TaskName 'SO_31969962'"
set "_taskArg=$Task.Actions[0].Arguments = '\""foo bar\"" bubu'"
set "_taskDir=$Task.Actions[0].WorkingDirectory = '\""D:\odds and ends\""'"
set "_taskSet=Set-ScheduledTask -InputObject $Task"

    rem apply auxiliary variables (used merely to keep next line readable)
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -command "%_taskGet%;%_taskArg%;%_taskDir%;%_taskSet%"

    rem show current parameters of a task (after change)
schtasks /query /TN "\SO_31969962" /V /FO LIST | findstr /R /C:"^Task To Run:" /C:"^Start In"

Result (read powershell /? or Get-Help 'about_powershell.exe' -ShowWindow; read also about_Execution_Policies):

^^> powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "D:\PShell\SO\41677069_ScheduledTask_Admin.ps1"

^^> D:\bat\SO\41677069_ScheduledTask_Admin.bat
Task To Run:                          D:\bat\SO\31969962.bat bubu "foo bar"
Start In:                             "D:\bat\Unusual Names"

TaskPath                                       TaskName                          State
--------                                       --------                          -----
\                                              SO_31969962                       Disabled


Task To Run:                          D:\bat\SO\31969962.bat "foo bar" bubu
Start In:                             "D:\odds and ends"

^^>

I will try to use power shell cuz start in parameter is not work in command prompt. — tekun, Jan 17 '17 at 14:20

How to set task scheduler's arguments from Power Shell

2 Answers2