CronIco v0.92 - a WinCron add on
Related Links
|
WinCron | | WinCron homepage | |
WinCron/LOG | | manages your WinCron log files (still beta ;) | |
|
1. Introduction
I was in need of a simple task scheduler for win95, so I searched the internet for schedulers - and found several
ones. Then I found WinCron. I really liked the idea of the flat schedule text file (and of course the freeware
concept ;). But I disliked the missing function of minimizing it to the system tray.
And so i've started to program this add on - and put much more features in it than just
minimizing to the system tray.
2. How to...?
Launch (each) WinCron with the /hide option then launch CronIco
cronico [/interval=x] [/port[=x]] [/tcpdelay=x] [/bind=x] [/dateformat=x] [/noflash] [/multiple]
/interval=x check for WinCron windows every x seconds, disable with x=0 (default x=900)
/port[=x] enable CronIco/TCP and listen on port 7059 or on port x (default=do not listen on any port)
/tcpdelay=x wait x seconds before allowing next tcp connect (default x=60)
/bind=x bind to a specific IP (default=do not bind to specific IP)
/dateformat=x use specified date format in tcp output (default x=dd.mm.yyyy_hh:nn:ss)
/noflash do not show a flashing icon if no WinCron is found (default=show a flashing icon)
/multiple allow multiple instances of CronIco (default=allow only one instance of CronIco)
CronIco checks for "WinCron" titled windows every specified interval. If no WinCron is found then
the program's icon turns red (use /noflash for disabling the flashing icon).
You can make all WinCrons visible or hide them, just press the right mouse button or double click
over the CronIco icon in the system tray. Double click on the icon to hide/show the WinCron window -
if there is more than one WinCron running, then a popup menu with all wincrons found will show up instead.
Check your WinCron status over the internet via TCP by enabling the TCP interface (see 4. CronIco/TCP interface)
3. Launch CronIco within your schedule file
WinCron 1.91 now supports the @launch command, so you can start CronIco with this line at the top of your schedule/crontab file:
@launch C:\wincron\cronico.exe /port /noflash
... your normal schedule lines, e.g.:
30 04 * * * C:\wincron\task1.bat
4. CronIco/TCP interface
With the TCP interface enabled you can now
check your WinCron status via TCP/IP:
/port[=x] enable CronIco/TCP and listen on port 7059 or on port x (default=do not listen on any port)
/bind=x bind to a specific IP (default=do not bind to specific IP)
/tcpdelay=x wait x seconds before allowing next tcp connect (default x=60)
/dateformat=x use specified date format in tcp output (default x=dd.mm.yyyy_hh:nn:ss)
Use /dateformat=x to specify the date format in the tcp output. Valid date/time identifiers are: d,dd,m,mm,yy,yyy,h,hh,n,nn,ss
Note: Use "_" instead of a blank char!
Example:
CronIcCo.exe /port /bind=192.168.102.34 /tcpdelay=120 /dateformat=m.dd.yyyy_hh:n:ss
Listens on 192.168.102.34:7059 for incoming connections. Use now the telnet command to
connect to CronIco/TCP:
telnet 192.168.102.34 7059
You will receive the following output:
200 CronIco/TCP v0.92 (w)2000 by cydo@rype.de
201 3.08.2000 14:1:07
202 89D6EDED15E0E140
205 1 WinCron running
300 WinCron OK At 16:26:41
301 [ ] /ContinueOnError
301 [+] /Log
301 [ ] /NoUpdate
301 Log file length: 8kB
301 Using: C:\wincron\schedule.txt
302 1,WinCron OK At 16:26:41,8,0,1,0,8kB,C:\wincron\schedule.txt
500 Closing connection
Explanation of line codes:
200: program information
201: system time (use /dateformat to change time format)
202: system time in 8 Byte Windows-OLE2 time format (in hex format)
205: number of Wincrons running ("x WinCron running")
300: WinCron status line (as displayed on the wincron mainform)
301: human readable WinCron options
302: computer readable WinCron options (WinCronNr, status, heartbeat, ContError, Log, NoUpdate, LogSize, crontabfile)
500: Closing connection
5. Registration
CronIco is inexpensive shareware. It costs only $100. You may register via credit card and... ah. hmm. ok.
Hell no, CronIco is a quick and dirty addon so it's freeware as WinCron is (uhm, did i say that WinCron
is a quick and dirty program, too? No! I didn't. Ok, so move on.)
6. Download
crico092.zip (150kb) CronIco v0.92
7. WinCron compliance
CronIco was developed and tested with WinCron 1.91
CronIco is year 2000 compliant.
CronIco is freeware.
8. How to run WinCron as a Windows service
Step1: Download FireDaemon (FreeWare) from http://www.formida.com.au/
Step2: Install FireDaemon and restart computer
Step3: type firedaemon -i wincron "C:\wincron" "C:\wincron\wincron.exe" "crontab.txt /Hide /Log"
Step4: type net start wincron
Step5: read FireDaemon documentation (... this should be step 1.5 - shame on me;)
9. Contact & Disclaimer (partly copied from WinCron.txt ;)
I hope that this program is useful to you. I can make
no claim as to this software's stability or value. It
is being offered as is. Use at your own risk. If you
find it useful, all I ask is that you please email me
at cydo@rype.de
and if you didn't already done email to
the author of WinCron at graysteel@erols.com, too,
just so we know that those tools are useful to someone.
The Author reserves all copyrights.
Permission is granted to any individual or institution
to use, copy, or redistribute this executable so long
as it is not modified and that it is not sold for
profit. Also, feel free to email any suggestions for
revisions to the program.
10. History
Version 0.92
added /bind for binding to a specific IP on multihomed computers
changed /interval=0 for disabling timer based update
binary files compressed with UPX - The Ultimate Packer for eXecutables
UPX homepage http://wildsau.idv.uni-linz.ac.at/mfx/upx.html
Version 0.91
added computer readable line code in TCP output (code 302)
added "heartbeat" TCP output (but function still disabled)
Version 0.9
changed /port or /tcp activates now CronIco/TCP (with default port 7059)
added /dateformat for user formatted tcp date output
added /multiple (allow multiple instances of CronIco)
Version 0.8b
changed "hide/show all" only when more than 1 wincron running
Version 0.8a
added 'exit' in the pop up menu
Version 0.8
added "heartbeat" function (but currently disabled: beta test mode)
changed "ThunderRT" to "ThunderRT6" for VB6 wincron.exe 1.91
changed TCP date format to "dd.mm.yyyy hh:mm:ss" (year 2000 compliant)
Version 0.7
improved window/popupmenu handling
Version 0.6
added flashing icon
fixed wrong pop up window
added all WinCron informations to CronIco/TCP output
changed CronIco/TCP output (prepared for CronIco/Remote)
CronIco/TCP port is now closed during tcp delay proc
complete code rewrite
Version 0.5
added hideOnMinimize (if you minimize an WinCron then it hides from the taskbar)
Version 0.4a
better tcp delay proc performance
found bug(WinNT): activating/hiding single cronwindows may not always work
and may result in showing up the wrong cronwindow, so better use only the
"show all"/"hide all" functions.
Version 0.4
improved parameter parser
Version 0.3
added popup status
added CronIco/TCP
Version 0.2
added the "show all" and "hide all" popupmenu
Version 0.1
added enumWindow & tray icon
added tray hint