Equivalent of Windows Task Scheduler?

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How do you do something like Windows Task Scheduler in OSX? That is, what is the OSX way to control timed tasks?

Thanks again!
 
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chron or Automator depending on what you're trying to do.
 
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I found Automator in "Apps", but don't see "Chron" in either Apps or Utilities. I simply need to see a list of all active timed tasks so that I can edit/delete/add timed tasks. I am assuming that there is one and only one such list that is then managed by one and only one background process - same as in Windows?
 
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CronniX looks like a great way to create and manage cron jobs at the "user level". But, it appears to have no knowledge of "system level" cron jobs. Is there any way that I can at least see what all of the cron jobs are?

I tried using the root user to look at the /private/etc/periodic/* folder, as well as all of my user folders, but none of the files in those folders lists a job that I know for a fact runs every 5 minutes (the Prey theft finder app). I see cron running in the Activity Monitor, but not Prey, and I have no idea where all of the settings are located that cron is reading. I only know of the ones I described above.

Suggestions?
 

vansmith

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It could very well be that what you're looking for is in fact execute through launchd and not cron. Unfortunately, launchd plist files are scattered all over - /System/Library/LaunchAgents, /System/Library/LaunchDaemons, /Library/LaunchDaemons, /Library/LaunchAgents and ~/Library/LaunchAgents. What are you looking for or what are you looking to set up?
 
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I'm simply trying to learn more about this important feature. The Prey app is giving me an excuse to learn about it.

Very interesting about "launchd". I checked the folders you suggested, and none of the .plist files in there have been modified in the time frame I would expect to see the Prey plist file (if it exists). Surely, there is a way to search for all .plist files in a given date range, but such a feature doesn't appear to be in the Finder app. Is there a way to do such a file name pattern + date search?
 
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