Classic Mode (Syntax)

Classic mode syntax is very simple, but not very flexible; nevertheless, its capabilities are more then adequate for starting application at required times. Classic mode's obvious advantage is its compatibility with Unix crontab format.

In order to start an application in classic mode, one has just to specify the desired time of startup in cron format and (after a blank space) the command that should be executed:

<time_in_cron_format> <command>

Example:

# application 'chime.exe' is started at  12:15 every week day
15 12 * * 1-5 * c:\xxx\chime.exe
# the  pdf file named in the task is opened daily 
# at 12:00 ad at  17:00
0 12,17 * * * * cmd /c "e:\home\re.pdf"
# the command file named in the task is executed every 5 minutes
*/5 * * * * * d:\fido\bat\blstbbs.cmd

Comments in classic mode begin with character '#' and continue until the end of line. Crontab file may contain any number of empty lines, which are ignored by the parser. Leading spaces and tab characters are also ignored.

It is possible to set values of environment variables in classic mode. Local environment variables (i. e. variables available only to application started by nnCron) are defined with word SET. System (global) environment variables, available to the entire software installed on a computer, are defined with word SYS-SET.

# local environment  variables
SET varname=string value to the end of line
# or
SET varname="string value"

# system (global) environment variables
SYS-SET varname=string value to the end of line
# or
SYS-SET varname="string value"

See Working with Environment Variables for a more detailed discussion of the subject.

Though the classic mode allows to start programs at any times and with any desired frequency, nnCron also supports another, more powerful mode. It is called Extended mode and provides numerous additional capabilities.