Time Specifiers
As their name implies, time specifiers are used to specify when and how often a task should be executed. Time specifiers are placed in the beginning of a task before the Action: section.
In most cases, word Time: is used to specify the starting time and frequency of task execution.
Time: <time in cron format>
A task may contain more then one instance of word Time:; in this case, the action will be performed at each of the specified moments.
Actually, a task may contain no Time: section at all, which would have the same effect as an instruction to run the task each minute. Time: section is often omitted as unnecessary in task which are supposed to be started only manually. In this case, the task should deactivated with NoActive option.
Example:
#( test_task
\ task is started on nnCron startup and at the beginning of every hour
Time: START-TIME
Time: 0 * * * * *
Action:
\ ... performing some useful actions
)#
#( test_task1
\ the task is started at 10:00 on weekdays and at 12:00 at weekends
Time: 0 10 * * 1-5 *
Time: 0 12 * * 6,7 *
Action:
\ ... performing some useful actions
)#
#( test_task2
\ 'Time:' section is absent, so the task
\ will be executed every minute
Action:
\ ... performing some useful actions
)#
#( test_task3
\ task is going to be started manually, so 'Time:' section is not required
NoActive
Action:
\ ... performing some useful actions
)#
This construct is used to specify at what time(s) a task will be executed. Time should be in "cron format", i. e.
Time: <Minutes> <Hours> <Days> <Months> <Weekdays> <Years>
Example:
\ each Monday at 11:10 Time: 10 11 * * 1 * \ at the beginning of every hour Time: 0 * * * * *
Use this word to start a task immediately after nnCron startup.
Example:
#( test_start_time
\ displaying a message immediately after nnCron is started
Time: START-TIME
Action:
TMSG: "nnCron is up!" 3
)#
See also description of "nonstandard" character '?' in nnCron's cron format and START-TIME? word.
Minutes: <mm>
Hours: <hh>
Days: <DD>
Months: <months>
Weekdays: <week_days>
Years: <years>
If the majority of fields in the argument of Time: is filled with asterisks (*), it will be perhaps more convenient to use "verbal notation", where you specify only those fields which contain some numerical values and omit asterisks.
Examples:
\ the same as 'Time: 30 * * * * *' Minutes: 30
\ the same as 'Time: 0 12 * * 6,7 *' Minutes: 0 Hours: 12 Weekdays: 6,7
Please note that when you are using this type of notation you cannot use more than one time specification.
Examples:
\ one cannot use more than one time specification \ when using "verbal notation" Minutes: 0 Minutes: 30 \ error!
\ one cannot use more than one time specification \ when using "verbal notation" Minutes: 0 Time: * 12 * * * * \ error!
See also: