Windows 任务计划程序(Windows Task Scheduler)是Windows操作系统的一个方便的部分，可让您自动化和计划应用程序和各种脚本，以按照您希望的方式和时间运行。在高级用户的手中，您可以使用该工具发挥真正的魔力，但这并不是世界上最用户友好的体验！
幸运的是，有很多第三方Windows 任务计划程序(Windows Task Scheduler)可供选择。其中一些使任务变得简单，另一些则添加了更高级的功能。
高级任务计划程序(Advanced Task Scheduler)（39.95 美元）
Advanced Task Scheduler 是一个共享软件(shareware)应用程序，您可以试用 30 天，看看它是否适合您。虽然它可能不是免费的，但应用程序的基本版本只需 39.95 美元，并且提供了一套不错的功能。
如果您有多个工作站要维修，它会很快变得昂贵。然而，拥有一台需要更好自动化的单台机器的家庭用户可能会觉得价格标签对于所提供的功能来说是值得的。
高级任务计划程序(Advanced Task Scheduler)可以启动应用程序、运行脚本、执行批处理文件，并且通常无需您在场即可完成工作。您可以为所有用户安排任务，甚至可以安排在没有人登录时发生的“隐藏任务”。
高级任务计划程序(Advanced Task Scheduler)可以做的事情列表很长，但值得注意的功能包括：
- 杀死进程。
- 复制、移动和删除文件。
- 从HTTP和FTP源下载。
- 发送特定的键序列。
各种计划类型也有很大的灵活性，可以在某些条件出现时触发操作。其中包括一些非常有用的功能，例如计算机处于空闲状态、未(not )处于空闲状态或按下某个热键时。时间表(Schedule)频率也很全面。从一分钟跑一次到每年跑一次。
如果您想要更多深奥的选项（例如随机运行某些东西），您必须为专业版付费，但我们认为大多数人会接受基本包。
任务到黎明(Task Till Dawn)（免费）
Task Till Dawn是一个完全免费的Windows 任务计划程序(Windows Task Scheduler)替代品，实际上可用于Windows和 macOS。更好的是，您可以在应用程序的两个版本之间传输许多相同的工作流程。
如果您有多个工作站需要同一组自动化任务，例如备份，您可以设置一个，然后使用 Task Till Dawn 的导出功能轻松将其复制到任何其他机器。
还可以按类型对任务进行分组，以简化自动化任务的管理和管理。
您可以使用Task Till Dawn(Task Till Dawn)做一些非常简洁的事情。开发人员提供的一些关键示例包括：
- 启动时自动连接到网络驱动器。
- 打印(Print)您发送到特定文件夹的任何文件。
- 插入后立即从连接的USB设备复制文件。
该应用程序还有一个便携式(portable)版本，因此您可以从USB驱动器运行它！总而言之，对于一个完全免费的应用程序，Task Till Dawn是我们见过的最灵活和用户友好的替代方案之一。
Z-Cron 调度(Z-Cron Scheduler)器（免费供个人使用）
Z-Cron是一个带有免费软件版本的任务调度程序，它几乎具有普通用户需要的所有功能。但是，有专门为工作站和服务器计算机设计的付费版本，用于专业环境。它仅供个人免费使用，这是开发人员的一种非常友好的姿态。
Z-Cron几乎可以完成您期望的Windows任务调度程序应该做的事情。您可以在任何预定时间启动软件，使用特定参数运行它们，然后在工作完成后停止它们。它相当容易使用，是Windows 任务计划程序(Windows Task Scheduler)的一个很好的替代品，大多数用户可能不需要为花哨的版本付费。
顾名思义，RoboIntern是一个旨在自动化日常生产力磨削的软件包。与通用任务计划程序不同，RoboIntern专门设计用于自动执行Excel、Access和Word中的任务。它还可以用电子邮件、文件管理和ODBC(ODBC)（开放式数据库连接(Open Database Connectivity)）数据库做很多简洁的事情。
还有一个脚本选项，以便您可以编写复杂的操作以满足您的特定需求。RoboIntern太聪明了，很难相信这个程序是完全免费的。从技术上讲，它是捐赠软件，但在撰写本文时，捐赠页面尚未启动并运行。
所以，你可以做什么？首先(First)，RoboIntern可以直接挖掘主要的Microsoft Office应用程序并执行操作。让很多人兴奋的是能够自动将数据从Excel导入Access中。我们真正喜欢的另外两个功能允许您自动生成电子邮件并提供自动报告创建。
RoboIntern具有巨大的潜力，但这里没有真正做到公正的空间。幸运的是，您可以免费找到自己！
系统调度程序(System Scheduler)（免费版，30 美元专业版选项）
System Scheduler是另一种免费的Windows 任务计划程序(Windows Task Scheduler)替代品，可能是此列表中最直接的替代品。似乎Splinterware编写这个小应用程序是为了或多或少地替代Windows原版。您也可以在同一台计算机上运行这两个程序而不会出现问题。系统计划程序(System Scheduler)不以任何方式依赖于Windows 任务计划程序。(Windows Task Scheduler)这一切都靠自己的力量完成。
该程序的免费版本包括一些有趣的能力。在个人时间管理方面，您可以编程弹出提醒，让您知道您想参加的事情。您可以在特定时间启动应用程序，然后重播一系列按键和鼠标点击以让它们执行特定任务。它还有一个简洁的“窗口(Window)观察者”功能。
基本上，当弹出特定窗口（例如错误消息）时，您可以将其用作触发器。也许当您的FTP连接中断时，您可以关闭弹出的窗口并重新连接。通过这种方式，您可以确保在系统无人值守时重要进程不会失败。
该软件还有一个专业版，您需要为此付费。然而，专业(Pro)版的System Scheduler有很多好处。特别是(Especially)它作为系统服务运行的能力。这意味着即使没有人登录，它也可以执行任务。
付费版本的许多高级功能实际上对普通用户也很有用。您可以试用评估版，然后确定添加的花里胡哨是否值得 30 美元的要价。我们认为答案是肯定的，但每个用户都必须自己决定。
准时！
如果您执行了大量重复性任务或您一直忘记的任务，那么获得一个好的任务调度程序可以改变您的计算体验。通过智能使用这些应用程序自动化您的部分工作流程，您可以为自己腾出更多时间，并确保您不会错过定期备份等重要工作。
虽然我们认为这些是目前最好的 Windows任务计划程序(Task Scheduler)替代品，但请随时在评论中提出您自己的建议。告诉(Tell)我们您使用哪些调度程序以及您喜欢它们的原因！
5 Best Windows Task Scheduler Alternatives
The Windows Task Scheduler is a handy part of the Windows operating system that lets you automate and schedule apps and various scripts to run how and when you want them to. In the hands of a power user you can work real magic with the tool, but it’s not the most user-friendly experience in the world!
Luckily there are plenty of third-party Windows Task Scheduler alternatives to choose from. Some of them make the task easy, others add even more advanced features.
Advanced Task Scheduler is a shareware application which you can try for 30 days to see if it works for you. While it may not be free, the basic version of the applications costs as little as $39.95 and offers a decent set of features for the money.
If you have multiple workstations to service, it can get expensive quickly. However home users with a single machine that needs better automation might feel the price tag is worth it for the features on offer.
Advanced Task Scheduler can launch applications, run scripts, execute batch files and generally get stuff done without you having to be there. You can schedule tasks across all users and even schedule “hidden tasks” that happen when no one is logged in.
The list of things that Advanced Task Scheduler can do is quite lengthy, but notable features include:
- Killing processes.
- Copying, moving and deleting files.
- Downloading from HTTP and FTP sources.
- Sending specific key sequences.
There’s also plenty of flexibility with the various schedule types that can trigger actions when certain conditions arise. These include some pretty useful ones such as the computer being idle, it not being idle or when a certain hot key is pressed. Schedule frequency is also comprehensive. Starting from running once a minute all they way up to running once a year.
If you want more esoteric options (such as running something at random times) you’ll have to pay for the professional edition, but we think most people are going to be just fine with the basic package.
Task Till Dawn is a completely free Windows Task Scheduler alternative that’s actually available for both Windows and macOS. Even better, you can transfer many of the same workflows between the two versions of the app.
If you have multiple workstations which need the same set of automated tasks, such as backups, you can set up one and then use Task Till Dawn’s export function to easily copy it to any other machine.
Tasks can also be grouped by type, to make management and administration of automated tasks easy.
You can do some pretty neat stuff with Task Till Dawn. Some of the key examples from the developer include:
- Auto-connected to network drives at startup.
- Print any files you send to a particular folder.
- Copy files from a connected USB device as soon as you plug it in.
There’s also a portable version of the app, so you can run it from a USB drive! All in all, for a completely free app, Task Till Dawn is one of the most flexible and user-friendly alternatives we’ve seen.
Z-Cron is a task scheduler with a freeware version which has just about all the features the average user will need. However, there are paid versions designed specifically for workstation and server computers, used in professional contexts. It’s only free for personal use, which is a very kind gesture from the developer.
Z-Cron can do pretty much what you expect a Windows task scheduler should. You can start software at any predetermined time, run them with specific parameters and then stop them when the job is done. It’s fairly easy to use, is a great drop-in replacement for the Windows Task Scheduler and most users probably don’t have to pay for the fancy version.
As the name suggests, RoboIntern is a software package that aims to automate the daily productivity grind. Unlike a general-purpose task scheduler, RoboIntern is specifically designed to automate tasks in Excel, Access and Word. It can also do a bunch of neat stuff with emails, file management and ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) databases.
There’s also a scripting option so that you can program complex operations to fit your very specific needs. RoboIntern is so clever, it’s hard to believe that the program is completely free. Technically it’s donationware, but at the time of writing the donations page was not yet up and running.
So what can you do? First of all, RoboIntern can dig right into the main Microsoft Office apps and perform operations. One that will get plenty of people excited is the ability to automatically import data from Excel into Access. The other two features we really like allow you to generate emails automatically and offer automated report creation.
RoboIntern has a mountain of potential, but there’s no room to really do it justice here. Luckily you can find out for yourself for free!
System Scheduler (Free Version With $30 Pro Option)
System Scheduler is another free Windows Task Scheduler alternative and might be the most direct replacement in this list. It seems that Splinterware wrote this little application to be a more or less drop-in replacement for the Windows original. You can also run both programs on the same computer without issue. System Scheduler is not dependent on the Windows Task Scheduler in any way. It does it all on its own steam.
The free version of the program includes some interesting abilities. In terms of personal time management, you can program popup reminders to let you know of things you wanted to attend to. You can launch applications at specific times and then replay a series of keypresses and mouse clicks to get them to do specific tasks. It also has a neat “Window watcher” feature.
Basically, when a specific window pops up (such as an error message) you can use it as a trigger. Perhaps when your FTP connection is broken, you can dismiss the window that pops up and reconnect. This way you can make sure important processes don’t fail while the system is unattended.
There’s also a professional version of the software, for which you will need to pay. There are however significant benefits to the Pro version of System Scheduler. Especially its ability to run as a system service. Which means it can perform tasks even if no one is logged in.
Many of the advanced features of the paid version are actually useful to average users as well. You can try out an evaluation version and then decide if the added bells and whistles are worth the $30 asking price. We think the answer is yes, but every user will have to decide for themselves.
Right On Time!
If you do plenty of repetitive tasks or tasks that you keep forgetting about, getting a good task scheduler can transform your computing experience. By automating parts of your workflow with smart use of these applications, you can make more time for yourself and ensure you don’t miss important jobs such as regular backups.
While we think these are some of the best Windows Task Scheduler alternatives out there, feel free to make your own suggestions in the comments. Tell us which schedulers you use and why you love them!
