Ways to perform scheduled tasks - Windows / .NET

My issue is pretty simple. I have an application that should be executed automatically once a day. I have no prior experience with this kind of scenario (some time ago I worked with IBM Control-M but guess that it is w开发者_C百科ay more complete, complex and expensive =))

I thought about two possible solutions:

• Creating a Task inside Windows Task Scheduler, which would execute the application;
• Implement the application as a Window Service which would run 24/7, but only would perform the needed actions depending on the current time.

Which are the advantages/disadvantages of each approach?

Is there another way to do this?

Thanks in advance.

If it only executes once a day (or so) then just do it as a regular command line app that is executed by the windows task scheduler. Task scheduler already has all of the UI necessary to determine when to kick off the program, pass in parameters and anything else related to the scheduling of the task.

The only real reason to do this type of function as a windows service is if it needs higher execution resolution than once a minute. However, the main downside to a windows service is that you would have to manage the logic for how often/when to kick it off. Another one is that the app is always running, which leaves open the possibility for leaked memory if your code has issues.

On Unix/Linux you would use a cron job schedule a task to be executed. MS Windows' version is called the Task Scheduler and it is already a service that run 24/7 and performs the needed actions depending on the time.

Create a repeating task with the Task Scheduler to run your application. Creating, installing and configuring a service application is not exactly trivial. It's a much more involved process than creating a standard Forms or command line app and you don't need to do it anyway.

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc164015.aspx
• http://www.dotnetmonster.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/dotnet-csharp/70633/Waitable-Timer-in-C

Another library that might be of interest is Quartz.NET