Automating routine computer tasks: Windows and Mac

Few of today’s users remember the reckless 90s and computers of the time. Automation of tasks and then was possible, you can remember at least our faithful old autoexec.bat – a file that ran every time you turn on the computer, took control and automated the routine work.

Now, of course, everything is not quite so, but there are many programs with which any PC user will be able to solve for free the problem of automation of their own computer. This article will look at several modern applications created for similar purposes.

Why you need programs to automate your computer

Every day, each user performs a lot of routine operations – launches antivirus, archives data, downloads files, watches his mail, etc.

What about those who constantly send out a lot of messages, print documents, delete legacy files and check their hard drive?

This is quite tedious, so you want maximum automation of actions for constantly repetitive processes. There are several programs that can take over this feature. With their help, you can organize not only the above actions, but also to clean the system registry from unnecessary junk, constantly update data, etc.

Important information. Such automated programs are better to run during the night hours, when the computer and network are not loaded, to unload their working hours as efficiently as possible.

Windows Job Planner

The task of automating computers running the Windows operating system is not that difficult to solve. After all, there is a built-in program – Job Planner.

If you have Windows installed on your computer, you don’t need to download anything, just find and run this app. Here’s how to do it:

Click on the Start button;
In the open menu, choose a clause such as the “Control Panel”;
The panel opens, it needs to choose “Administration”;
In the open window, find the Job Planner sub and start it with two clicks.
You can also automate Windows in older versions of the system, such as the 7th, by simply typing in the command line the command:

In the Start button menu, choose “All Programs”;
Find “Standard” on the list;
Open the “Team Line” sub-
In the team line you open, type in the name of the Taskschd.msc file and click on Enter.
In the 10th version of Windows, it’s easier to do that. The name of the Taskschd.msc file is typed in the Run window and then “OK” is clicked.

List of the app’s main commands:

Create a simple task – the process is done with the help of a master;
Create a task – in this case, everything will be created “manually”;
Importing a task – imported some other, previously created and exported task, this is often used in local networks to synchronize the actions of several computers;
Show all the tasks you’re doing to see exactly which tasks are running and running;
Turn on the job log – the planner’s journal records all the automation activities;
Create/delete a folder – you can create or delete your folders in the planner to work;
Export – With this command, a task created on this computer can be exported to another computer or simply remembered for further action.

How to create your task project in a Windows planner

You can create an automated task of running a defragment program that will run, for example, every Wednesday at 3 a.m. To do this, you need to follow the following sequence of actions:

Go to the job planner’s main window, run the Create a Task command;
In the open dialogue window on the Common tab, you need to fill out the Task Name and Task Description fields, and you can make the necessary settings in the security settings at the bottom of the window;

Go to the Triggers tab and click “Create”;
“Start the task” item to leave unchanged – “On schedule”;
Next, in the Settings subsection, select “Weekly”;
The start and end of the defragmentation program is specified;
Then a tick “Repeat every week on Wednesday” is ticked and the number of weeks specified;

Next, you can fill in some “Additional Options”;
Go to the Actions tab and click on “Create”;
The “Action” item – “Running the program” to leave unchanged;
Click on the Review and select the defragment program file you want to play, or write the path manually c:Windows’System32/Defrag.exe, click “OK”;

Go to the Conditions tab and specify the conditions you need, then save;

Go to the Settings tab, choose the ones you need to save, too.

That’s it, the task is ready. But you have to be careful with spyware – they can use the job planner for their own purposes.

Software automation with xStarter

This application allows you to automate processes with user-generated macros, you don’t have to have programming techniques, everyone can do it. Any activity in the operating system is recorded by the program in special files, reproducing which you can always get the desired result.

A special addition to the application called Job Scheduler for Firebird/Interbase is designed to work with database servers, it can run scripts in the language of s-L, restore old databases, etc.

In this way, xStarter has more features than a standard Windows job planner. From the app, you can create executable .exe files on your own, which are easily transferred to any other computer.

Web Pilot can be used to remotely control other computers on the local network.

In addition to these innovations, the xStarter app has the following advantages:

You can track the status of the file system, and if you change it, the user will be alerted.
Automation of e-mail work
organization with FTP and HTTP.
The xStarter program will help you improve your performance by a third.
Macro Scheduler
If you need really effective application automation, then the Macro Scheduler app is what you need.

This program is conditionally free, that is, involves a certain period – 30 days for free use, then you can buy a paid working version.

In this application, you can also create your own macros simply by recording the sequence of actions. For more knowledgeable and advanced users, it is possible to write code in the language of MacroScript in a visual editor – this is to create more complex job options.

The Professional version allows you to compile code into an executable .ehe file that can be run on different Windows PCs. In total, there are three versions of the Macro Scheduler program – Lite, Standard and Professional. Of course, the Professional version is the most “advanced”, but the most expensive – 195$.

If you have experience in creating macros, working with the program will not be any more difficult for you. All your actions after the Record button is pressed will be recorded in the editor. After the recorded script is pressed, the recording can be played by clicking the Start button.

The software code of the written script can be manually corrected, but you need to know the language of MacroScript. You can also insert fragments written on VBScript into the code.

But in most cases, it’s enough to use the templates of existing scripts with Macro Scheduler Automation Tool. There you will find templates working with text files and images, registry, memory buffer, with different devices, etc.

AutoTask 2000 review

This app is also classified as conditionally free. You can download the 30-day free version of the program here http://www.cypressnet.com/Products/autotask/autotask.htm.

After 30 days, you need to buy a working package of The AutoTask program for $60. This application has a very simple interface, it is very easy to work with even a beginner.

In AutoTask, you can record a macro execution scenario, just like in previous applications. This is done with the help of a master, which greatly simplifies the task.

In addition, the program allows you to create complex structured task schedules that can be edited as needed. Each action is set separately, the parameters and conditions are chosen. You can test them directly from the task editor.

After reviewing this application, you can conclude that it is very convenient to use, do not need any specific skills or knowledge of any programming language. But alas, sometimes with the execution of tasks can be a little difficult because of the complex structure of the schedule.

Workspace Macro Pro

You can download this automated program here https://workspace-macro-pro-automation-edition.en.softonic.com/.

It also belongs to the category of conditionally free. It has a variety of features, from standard built-in templates to manually constructing a task with a visual constructor.

The app also allows macro recording by recording a sequence of user’s actions on a computer. Everything is like in previous programs, plus a simple and friendly interface. True, there is no Russian-language version of the program, but is it a significant disadvantage?

Creating a macro based on existing templates is simple enough, you just need to click on Templates and choose the desired version of the template. You can then add a created macro to your Schedule.

Macros can also be written down. To do this, click on the Record button in the File menu. To stop recording, you need to click on Stop.

To create a macro in a visual constructor, the Team Create a macro using Macro Editor performs. This designer doesn’t have advanced features, but it’s a good fit for the standard use.

Automator Program
Finally, you can consider an automation program for a Mac or iMac. After all, it is not Windowse, but one…

Of course, such a program exists in the macOS environment and it is called Automator. You can use it to create a variety of jobs that will be automatically performed by your computer if you have certain user-specific conditions.

The Automator app from Launchpad opens. From the list of all tasks you can choose one – process, program, service, plug-in printing, folder action, reminder, plug-in capture of the image.

If you choose the Service template, you’ll open a new window where you can create a new process. Create it simply: just drag into the free window area with the actions on the left that you want to do automatically.

Working with Automator is very easy for even an unprepared user, because this is the feature of all Apple software products.

Instead of concluding
Of course, it is possible to organize your work productively and efficiently. We hope that the above computer automation programs will help you in this. It is up to you to decide which one to choose. Good luck.