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I need to schedule several tasks to run, where each needs to run at a specific local time in a different city. For example, one job might need to run at 19:00 New York City, and another needs to run at 08:00 Berlin.

The problem is not only does daylight savings change the UTC time these jobs will run, but different cities adjust their clocks on different days, so the offset between different cities is also constantly changing.

Is there any way to do this in Windows without writing custom scripts? Is there any commercial software package that can handle this?

fixer1234
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Chuu
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6 Answers6

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This answer indicates Windows Task Scheduler 'New Trigger' window has a checkbox Synchronize across time zones. When it's checked:

the task is scheduled by UTC only. (All times are still shown as local time, but are stored as UTC.)

So basically create the task, create the trigger, check that box, set the time, BE SURE to subtract the timezone difference for the current location of the machine running the task.

Ex: the task is being setup on a server in California which is PST (Pacific Standard Time) so UTC -8 so we'd add 8hr to California/PST time to get UTC time. Say I want this to run at 6pm in New York which is EST, itself UTC -5 meaning add 5hr to NY/EST to get UTC time; so 6pm would be 11pm UTC. So on the California server task we want it to be 11pm UTC, however the task shows California time, but we know California time is UTC -8 so we simply set task to start at 3pm. This is all providing that checkbox is as that user advises. I can't seem to find official Microsoft documentation on it. It's clearly very confusing

gregg
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Have you looked at the windows task scheduler? It can get quite sophisticated on the scheduling.

There is quite a good tutorial in https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-automated-task-using-task-scheduler-windows-10 . If that link dies, just google for "windows task scheduler".

I've never used it on time zones, but it does look like it has a time zone feature.

cup
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You can schedule a variety of different tasks in the Task Scheduler at specific times. To do this, you go to the Task Scheduler >>Action >>Create Task

There you can experiment with the task

The Task Scheduler has many different actions you can experiment with. I don't know if they can run in different time zones, but you can make tasks go off at your local time zone.

Emily E
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I think it's possible without additional apps. You may add clocks to the taskbar's notification area. I know that works on Windows 10. You'll have separate clocks for different time zones. This way you can add reminders and events in the calendar in the time zone you need.

luke_dean
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Why would you need the tasks run from one particular host? why not just run the tasks on each system and if needed host the script sources on one network associated volume. when the script finishes it can set whatever notifications and write them back out to the share or Each host already maintains its own time sync for local needs.

It would seem that you are making your work harder by including an unnecessary restriction.

Rowan Hawkins
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If you are a pro python coder, then you might be able to do what you are aiming for. I am not that good of a python coder so i can't help with the code.

You could maybe run it on a Linux based system, or you can hold virtual operating systems that are for each timezone.

Alireza Ghaffarian
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