With Z-Cron you can plan the execution of commands, programs or scripts, at particular times, so that recurring tasks on your PC are run automatically on schedule. Z-Cron is a central coordinating point for the scheduling or automation of software. Z-Cron can also be installed a system service. A system service is a program that starts automatically when Windows was booted, and runs in the background until Windows is shut down. With the Z-Cron scheduler you can have programs of all kinds started automatically by the system even if no user is logged in – for example nightly data backups with Z-DBackup.

Example tasks that can be scheduled with Z-Cron:

• Starting and stopping of applications (also with parameters).
• Calling or saving of Websites.
• Loading documents.
• Starting, stopping and monitoring system services (professional version).
• Copying, moving and deleting files and directories.
• Cleanup of directories.
• Archiving and compressing files and directories.
• Switching computers in a network on or off.
• Automated switching of electrical devices, e.g. with Z-USBswitch.
• Establishing and disconnecting internet/VPN connections (Modem/ISDN).
• Putting computers to standby mode and waking them up automatically.

These tasks can be started automatically at the following points in time:

• Daily (every x days).
• Weekly (every x weeks at a weekday you can choose).
• Monthly (at the x calendar day or the x weekday of a month).
• Once.
• After the system startup.
• In regular intervals (e.g. every 5 minutes, every hour, etc.)

You can use Z-Cron scheduler in many different ways, for example:

• Regular data backup (for example with Z-DataDVD or Z-DATdump).
• Automatic switching of electrical equipment or devices (for example with Z-USBswitch/Z-ParSwitch).
• Automatic FTP data transfer (for example with Z-FTPcopyII).
• Defragmentation and Scandisk
• Virus scans
  

Z-Cron Scheduler Functions  

Z-Cron scheduler does not only start other applications but can also show popup windows with reminder text messages on the screen or shut down the system at a predefined time. The embedded tools can be easily used by either just writing the command's name into the input field (you have to use capital letters!) or using the button "Tools" for a tool selection menu.

Function/Link	Description	Freeware
ALARM	Shows the Z-Alarm-clock window for 4 minutes. The sound will be played with the built-in speaker, in contrast to the command Z-ALARM (2000/XP/Vista/7/8).
CHECKHTML	Check if a specific HTML page is available and if not, run a Z-Cron job.
CHECKPOINT	Create Windows System Restore Point.
CHECKURL	Check for internet connection and run a command if no connection has been established.
CLEANFILE	Scheduled deleting of files which are older than XX days. You can set the age of the files in an input field in the task's setup.
CLEANUPDIR	Delete all files and subdirectories in the selected directory which are older than XX days. You can set the age of the files using an input field in the task 's setup. This command works recursively.
COPYDIR	Copy a directory.
COPYFILE	Copy file(s).
DELETE	Delete file(s).
DESTROY	Close a window/application.
DOWNLOAD	Download file via HTTP protocol.
DYNIPMAIL	Check dynamic IP address and send e-mail if it changes.
EMPTY-TRASH	Empty Windows recycle bin on all drives.
GETCGI	Check for/run internet CGI script.
GETURL	File download using HTTP protocol.
HIBERNATE	Sets computer into hibernate mode with the possibility to reactivate it after a certain period of time.
HOSTPING	With this function you can send "PINGs" to a host name to test a computer's reaction time and availability.
INFO	Shows the saved info message on the screen for 4 minutes.
KILL	Quits a program.
KILLWIN	Quit a program given its window name.
KILLWIN-JOB	Quit a program given its window name and run a Z-Cron job afterwards.
LASTRUN	Launches a program and shuts down the computer after the program has finished.
LOCKMYPC	Lock computer/workstation.
LOGFILECLEAR	Delete Z-Cron log file.
LOGOFF	Log out of the system.
MAIL	Send email with SMTP.
MESSAGE	Send message to a computer or workgroup (Microsoft messenger service).
MOH-PLAY	Start Music on Hold (MoH).
MOH-STOP	Stop Music on Hold (MoH).
MONITOROFF	Switch off screen (Powersave).
MONITORON	Switch on screen (Powersave).
MOVEDIR	Move directory/folder.
MOVEFILE	Move file(s).
MP3-PLAY	Play MP3 media file.
MSSQL-DESK-START	Starting MSSQL desktop.
MSSQL-DESK-STOP	Ending MSSQL desktop.
NIC-START	Switch on a selected network card.
NIC-STOP	Switch off a selected network card.
NTPTIME	Synchronize system time with a NTP time server. You need access to a time server and must not use a firewall blocking UDP port 37 because time is adjusted using this port.
OPEN	The display is carried out with the application registered for the file type.
PAPER-SHUFFLE	Load a random picture from a specified folder and set it as the PC wallpaper (Freeware Version supports only 20 pictures).
PC-TIMER	Wake up the computer at a specified time.
PING	Command to send "PINGs" to an IP-Address to test a computer's reaction time and availability.
PLAY	Playing multi-Media file. The account is carried out with the application registered for the file type.
POWERCHANGE	Switch electrical device over the USB port.
POWERINTERVAL	Switches an electronic device on or off for a specified number of seconds.
POWEROFF	Switch off electrical device over the USB port.
POWERON	Switch on electrical device over the USB port.
POWERSWITCH	Switch electrical device on if it was off, off if it was on.
PRINTFILE	Print a file or document.
RAS-DIAL	Establish an internet/VPN connection with Dialup network connections (Modem/ISDN).
RAS-HANGUP	Disconnect internet/VPN connection.
REBOOT	Reboot computer.
REMOTE-SHUTDOWN	Shut down a remote computer (Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 or 8) in your network.
RMDIR	Delete a directory.
SCREENMAIL	Send screen as image via email.
SCREENSAVEON	Switch on screensaver.
SCREENSAVEOFF	Switch off screensaver.
SELFTEST	Virus self test.
SENDLOGFILE	Send Z-Cron log file as e-mail.
SERVICE-RESTART	Restarts the selected system service.
SERVICE-START	Starts the selected system service.
SERVICE-STOP	Stops the selected system service.
SERVICE-WATCH	Monitors the selected system service.
SETARCHIVBIT	Set archive bit.
SHUTDOWN	Shut down computer (only Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8).
SHUTDOWN-MESSAGE	Shut down computer with alert message (only Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8).
STANDBY	Sets the computer into Standby mode.
STARTREMOTE	Start a Z-Cron job on a computer in the network.
THERMO-OFF	Start job if temperature is below specified threshold.
THERMO-ON	Start job if temperature is above specified threshold.
TIMESTAMP	Write a timestamp into the log file.
TOUCHFILES	Change file timestamps (last access/last change).
UNZIP	Unzip ZIP file in the indicated directory.
VBSRIPT	Execute VBScript code.
VOLUMECONTROL	Change volume or set to "mute". Currently not supported on Windows Vista/7/8.
WAKEONLAN	Switch on computers in the local network.
WAKEUPONSTANDBY	Put computer into sleep mode and automatically wake it up at a specified time.
WALLPAPER	Change Windows desktop background picture.
WATCH	Monitors a program. If a monitored program "dies", it will be restarted.
WATCH-JOB	Program supervision starts a Z Cron job if the indicated program hasn't started.
WAVEPLAY	Play a .wav file.
Z-ALARM	Shows Z-Alarm clock window for 4 minutes and plays the file zcron.wav.
ZIPFILE	Save file into a ZIP file.
ZIPFOLDER	Save directory into a ZIP file.

Scheduler Freeware

Z-Cron is an ideal extension to my Z-DATdump program. Z-Cron is Freeware for private use which means that it runs on workstations (Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 and Windows 8) without limitations and it can be installed on servers (2000/2003/2008/2010/2011/2012) for testing purposes. The freeware version is limited to a trial period of 14 days on a Windows Server„ operating system! For commercial use or use on a Windows Server™ a server license is required!

This free Z-Cron version is exclusively intended for personal use on a single PC (workstation). Copying and redistribution of the complete program package is allowed for personal use only.

Commercial or professional use of this Z-Cron Freeware version is not allowed! For commercial use you have to buy a license!

Download freeware version Z-Cron

Order Z-Cron license