Setting Up an Auto Tasks User in Windows and Student Manager

Before Auto Tasks can run unattended from Windows Task Scheduler, it's best practice to create a dedicated Windows user account and a matching Student Manager login just for running tasks. This keeps scheduled tasks independent of any individual employee's account, and avoids problems if that person's password changes or their account is disabled.

TIP

This is a one-time setup performed by an administrator on the computer that will run the scheduled tasks. See Auto Tasks for day-to-day creation and management of tasks themselves.

Step 1. Create a Windows User for Auto Tasks

1. Open Windows Settings > Accounts > Other Users

2. Click Add Someone Else to this PC

   

3. Click I don't have this person's sign-in information

   

4. Click Add a user without a Microsoft account

   

5. Give the account a username such as ACEware AutoTasks and set a password

Step 2. Give the User Batch Job Rights

The Windows account needs the Log on as a batch job right so Task Scheduler can run it without anyone logged in.

1. Search for Local Security Policy in the Windows search box and open it

   

2. Go to Local Policies > User Rights Assignment > Log on as a batch job

   

3. Add the user, using the format COMPUTERNAME\ACEware AutoTasks

   

Step 3. Create the Matching Student Manager User

1. Shift+Right-click the Student Manager shortcut and select Run as different user

   

2. Enter COMPUTERNAME\ACEware AutoTasks — be sure to include the COMPUTERNAME\ prefix so Windows doesn't look for the user in a network domain — and enter the password from Step 1

   

3. Student Manager now launches as the ACEware AutoTasks Windows user. Log in with ACE_LOG.

   Important

   If you see unusual messages or errors launching Student Manager this way, make sure the new Windows user has read/write rights to the Manager folder.

4. Go to Password Maintenance and create a Student Manager user, e.g. AUTOTASK, with a password and whatever access level the tasks require (typically ADMIN if the tasks include System Maintenance)

   

Step 4. Set AUTOTASK as the Auto Tasks User

1. Go to Database Admin > Auto Tasks and click More

2. Click Set user for Auto Tasks on this computer

   

3. Enter the Student Manager username and password you created in Step 3

   

4. Verify that a tasklogin file has been created at: C:\Users\ACEware AutoTasks\AppData\Local\Student_Manager\

   

Step 5. Configure the Task Scheduler

In the Windows Task Scheduler task's General tab, set the user to COMPUTERNAME\ACEware AutoTasks.

Leave Do not store password unchecked, and enter the password from Step 1 when prompted. The task will now run as the Windows user ACEware AutoTasks, which is configured to use the Student Manager user AUTOTASK to run the Auto Task.

Important

Because the task runs as a different user, no Student Manager window will appear while it runs. If you click Run in Task Scheduler and nothing seems to happen, check the Event Log in Student Manager.

Step 6. Store the Passwords

Save the Windows and Student Manager passwords you created in Steps 1 and 3 somewhere other technicians can find them, along with any other relevant setup details — for example:

C:\Users\ACEware AutoTasks\AppData\Local\Student_Manager\taskuserinfo.txt

Important

Restrict access to this file to the ACEware AutoTasks user and administrators only.