Program behaves differently when run as a scheduled task

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The absolute same program, with same logged in user, runs correctly when invoked directly, but behaves differently when run as a scheduled task.

What am I missing? Any suggestions welcome, thank you in advance.

Edited to add program description:
The program is kind of like a console app - it downloads a file from an ftp url for further process. Specifically, the ftp download does not take place, when run from the scheduler. I know that the authentication has succeeded, but no file is downloaded.

What I have tried:

Some users in StackOverflow and MSDN suggest this might be due to user permissions. To check this out, I logged in as admin, created task as admin and configured the task to run as admin. Still same (wrong) result.

Posted 25-May-18 7:54am

ChandraRam

Updated 25-May-18 8:56am

v2

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[no name] 25-May-18 13:56pm

"but behaves differently", can you explain this more?

Anyway one big difference I think is, the program startet by Task Scheduler will run in session 0, because started by the Task Scheduler Service.

Similar issues I faced for (maybe) comparable situations, especially while printing from session 0.

ChandraRam 25-May-18 14:02pm

Thank you for the reply.

The program is a console app - it downloads a file from an ftp url for further process. Specifically, the ftp download does not take place, when run from the scheduler. I know that the authentication has succeeded, but no file is downloaded.

[no name] 25-May-18 14:20pm

You are very welcome. I have no experience with console apps.
Session 0 does not allow user interactions vs. console apps.... Sorry no idea at the Moment :( but keen on to follow this thread :-)

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Patrice T · Answer 1 · 2018-05-25T08:57:00

Solution 1

Quote:
The program is kind of like a console app - it downloads a file from an ftp url for further process. Specifically, the ftp download does not take place, when run from the scheduler. I know that the authentication has succeeded, but no file is downloaded.

Change your app to log its activity to a log file, so that you can check what was done afterward.
Include each steps with information allowing you to check if a step was correct or not.
For example, include dialog with FTP server.
This should help you to narrow the search.

Posted 25-May-18 8:57am

Patrice T

Comments

ChandraRam 25-May-18 15:00pm

Thank you.

It already creates an activity log, which is how I know that the authentication passed. There is no error returned at the ftp download command, just that no file is downloaded.

Patrice T 25-May-18 15:05pm

Change your program to write a dummy file where the downloaded file should go to ensure the scheduled program have writing permissions on that directory.

ChandraRam 25-May-18 15:12pm

The program is able to write the activity log, so I guess write permissions on that folder exist.

Patrice T 25-May-18 15:20pm

Log is in same directory ?

ChandraRam 25-May-18 15:21pm

Yes, it is.

Patrice T 25-May-18 15:25pm

make a strip down app with only the ftp download, so that you can share code.
The stripped down app must exhibit the problem.

ChandraRam 25-May-18 15:35pm

Thank you, will do that and share code here.

[no name] 25-May-18 15:05pm

Only for a test, maybe worth to try: Create a c:\temp with full Access to everyone and make sure that this will be the Destination for ftp download

ChandraRam 25-May-18 15:14pm

I have tried it after setting the permissions as full access to everyone - no luck. The program is able to create the activity log, so it can't be that it is unable to write to that folder.

[no name] 25-May-18 15:31pm

Maybe this helps: Google[^]

ChandraRam 25-May-18 15:35pm

Thank you.

[no name] 25-May-18 15:39pm

It was me with the 3. It is only a comment and far away from a solution, sorry.

Patrice T 25-May-18 15:46pm

A neutral 3 is fine for me.
I know, it is only advices to help track down the problem.
But is there a real solution to this question ?

[no name] 25-May-18 15:49pm

"But is there a real solution to this question ?":
I hope so, I'm fighting with similar Problems :-)

Patrice T 25-May-18 15:54pm

I hope so, but without source code or access to the PC, it is difficult to get what is wrong.