Scheduling Python script using Python CronTab on Windows 7

Question

I want to schedule a python script using the python-crontab module on Windows platform. Found the following snippet to work around but having a hard time to configure. Script name cronTest.py:

from crontab import CronTab
file_cron = CronTab(tabfile='filename.tab')
mem_cron = CronTab(tab="""
* * * * * command
""")

Let's say, for example, I want to print date & time for ever 5 mins using the following script, named dateTime.py:

import datetime
with open('dateInfo.txt','a') as outFile:
    outFile.write('\n' + str(datetime.datetime.now()))

How do I execute dateTime.py and setup the cron job for every 5mins through cronTest.py.

Did you try putting */5 * * * * <PATH_TO_PYTHON> <PATH_TO_dateTime.py> in place of * * * * * command and running cronTest.py again? — pgngp
– pgngp, Commented Jan 18, 2018 at 1:39
I tried replacing command with path to my script it didn't work, I guess I need to know what exactly I should pass to tab in cron = CronTab(tab=""" */5 * * * * python <path to script>""") my_cron=cron.new(command='python D:\Pyhon\currentDate.py') my_cron.minute.every(1) — g1devops
– g1devops, Commented Jan 18, 2018 at 2:41
You might have to specify the complete path to python in your crontab. — pgngp
– pgngp, Commented Jan 18, 2018 at 4:17

Burak Kaymakci · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-13 18:43:22Z

4

Did you run the embedded scheduler? See Running the Scheduler section in the documentation:

tab = CronTab(tabfile='MyScripts.tab')
for result in tab.run_scheduler():
    print "This was printed to stdout by the process."

Because windows doesn't have a crontab process, you have to either feed your crontabs into an existing daemon or use this run_scheduler within your process to create a daemon for yourself.

edited Sep 13, 2020 at 18:43

Burak Kaymakci

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answered Jan 19, 2018 at 21:28

Martin Owens -doctormo-

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3 Comments

Lukasavicus Over a year ago

I don't understand one thing: What should be the "MyScripts.tab", in the problem presented by @g1devops it will be the file dateTime.py ?

J. Gwinner Over a year ago

Windows does have a scheduler, however - in fact, since Windows 95. I was sort of hoping to find a cross platform python scheduler, which is how I ended up here. Oh well.

Martin Owens -doctormo- Over a year ago

If you know how it works, and how python could interact with it, perhaps it's a feature that could be added.

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