Using the Task Scheduler in Windows

We have published PowerChurch Plus and the Windows Task Scheduler, which is a list of all of the different processes in PowerChurch Plus that can be automated. Setting up automated tasks will free up some of your work day by eliminating those repetitive chores. This feature is available to PowerChurch Plus desktop users only. Unfortunately, PowerChurch Online users aren't able to remotely schedule tasks on our servers.

The process to set up a scheduled task varies from one Windows version to the next. Below are links to articles on the Microsoft web site with instructions for each Windows version:

Windows Vista, Server 2008, 7
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP
Windows 2000

There are no Microsoft articles that we were able to find with specific instructions for using the Task Scheduler in Windows 8/8.1/Server 2012, so here is a quick tutorial, showing the scheduling of the PowerChurch Plus backup routine for Version 11.5:

1. On the tiled Start screen, type "schedule task". In the App Search results, click on the Task Scheduler item.
   
   
   
   
2. In the Actions pane on the right, click Create Basic Task. This opens the Create Basic Task wizard.
   
   
   
   
3. Enter a name and description for the new scheduled task. For example, "PowerChurch Backup" and "Nightly backup of PowerChurch Plus database". Click Next.
   
   
   
   
4. Select a trigger. This will control the frequency with which the scheduled task occurs. You can trigger it on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, monthly, or trigger it on events, such as when the computer starts up or shuts down. In this example, we'll choose Daily. Click Next.
   
   
   
   
5. Enter a start date and time. This will be the date and time of the first occurrence, such as tonight at midnight. Set it to recur every 1 days. Click Next.
   
   
   
   
6. On the Action step, choose Start a Program and click Next.
   
   
   
   
7. Click the Browse button found Next to the Program/Script field and browse to the PowerChurch Plus program directory (by default C:\PowerChurch\PCPLUS115\). Find and select the PCBackup115.exe program file.
8. Enter or copy the program directory path (C:\PowerChurch\PCPLUS115) into the Start In field and then click Next. Click Finish.

The task is now scheduled. If setting up the backup routine as we have done here, be sure to specify where the backup is to be saved in PowerChurch Plus.

To do this, go to File > Preferences > System Setup Options. Click on the Backup tab. Click the ellipsis (…) button to browse to the location you would like the backup to be saved. If browsing to an external drive or mapped network location, it must be connected and available when the scheduled task runs.

You can also set e-mail notifications to be sent every time the backup is completed or only if there is a problem. The e-mail notifications require that you have entered the e-mail setup options on the E-mail tab of the System Setup Options screen.