Task Actions

The work items performed by a task are called actions. A task can have a single action or a maximum of 32 actions. Be aware that when multiple actions are specified, they are executed sequentially.

Types of Actions

The following table of actions describes the type of work or actions that can be accomplished by a task.

Type of Action	Description
ComHandler Action	This action fires a COM handler.
Exec Action	This action executes a command-line operation such as starting Notepad.
E-mail Action	This action sends an email when a task is triggered.
Show Message Action	This action shows a message box with a specified message and title.

Specifying Actions

The actions of a task are specified when the task is defined and stored in a collection of actions used by the Task Scheduler service. The following table lists links to reference topics for the APIs and XML elements that are associated with actions.

For more information and examples about how to use the Task Scheduler interfaces, scripting objects, and XML, see Using the Task Scheduler.

Interface APIs for C++ Development

API	Description
Actions Property of ITaskDefinition	Gets or sets the actions performed by the task.
IActionCollection	Contains the actions performed by the task.
IComHandlerAction	Represents an action that fires a handler.
IExecAction	Represents an action that executes a command-line operation.
IEmailAction	Represents an action that sends an email message.
IShowMessageAction	Represents an action that shows a message box.

Scripting Object APIs for Scripting Development

API	Description
TaskDefinition.Actions	Gets or sets the actions performed by the task.
ActionCollection	Contains the actions performed by the task.
ComHandlerAction	Represents an action that fires a handler.
ExecAction	Represents an action that executes a command-line operation.
EmailAction	Represents an action that sends an email message.
ShowMessageAction	Represents an action that shows a message box.

XML Elements

Element	Description
Actions	Defines the actions performed by the task.
ComHandler	Represents an action that fires a handler.
Exec	Represents an action that executes a command-line operation.
SendEmail	Represents an action that sends an email message.
ShowMessage	Represents an action that shows a message box.

Using Variables in Action Properties

Some action properties that are of type BSTR can contain $(Arg0), $(Arg1), ..., $(Arg32) variables in their string values. These variables are replaced with the values that are specified in the params parameter of the IRegisteredTask::Run and IRegisteredTask::RunEx methods or are contained within the event trigger for the task. The following table lists the action properties that can use variables in their string values.

Action	Properties
COM Handler Action	C++: ClassId Property of IComHandlerAction Data Property of IComHandlerAction Scripting: ComHandlerAction.ClassId ComHandlerAction.Data
Email Action	C++: Body Property of IEmailAction Server Property of IEmailAction Subject Property of IEmailAction To Property of IEmailAction Cc Property of IEmailAction Bcc Property of IEmailAction ReplyTo Property of IEmailAction From Property of IEmailAction Scripting: EmailAction.Body EmailAction.Server EmailAction.Subject EmailAction.To EmailAction.Cc EmailAction.Bcc EmailAction.ReplyTo EmailAction.From
Exec Action	C++: Arguments Property of IExecAction WorkingDirectory Property of IExecAction Scripting: ExecAction.Arguments ExecAction.WorkingDirectory
Show Message Action	C++: Title Property of IShowMessageAction MessageBody Property of IShowMessageAction Scripting: ShowMessageAction.Title ShowMessageAction.MessageBody

Related topics

About The Task Scheduler