One of the promised features of RichCopy is its ability to schedule file copy jobs. It would be nice if you could synchronize your folders or migrate a file server overnight when nobody is using the files. Unfortunately, it looks like the version 4.0.217 of RichCopy has a bug that prevents it from delivering the promised functionality. When I tried to create a schedule for one of my jobs the job was run immediately or not at all. Even if the schedule functionality in RichCopy worked, it would only allow you to run the task once at specified time.

RichCopy and Windows Scheduled Tasks

Fortunately, it is very easy to use RichCopy from the command line. If you combine command line execution with Windows Scheduled Tasks you have a winning combination and you will have plenty of options to run your RichCopy jobs. You can schedule it to run daily, weekly, monthly, only on specific days in a week, when you log-on, etc.
To schedule a RichCopy job go to Start/Control Panel/Scheduled Tasks and start the Add Scheduled Task wizard.

  • When asked to select the program you want to run, scroll down to RichCopy or click the Browse button and find it on disk.
  • Select the desired schedule.
  • Before you finish the Wizard select the check box for "Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish." The job properties window will appear.
  • Go to edit box Run and append command line parameters at the end of the line.

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19 Responses to “RichCopy Scheduled Jobs”

  1. Nigel Thomas 03. Dec, 2009 at 8:33 am #

    Thanks for sharing this, is it possible to run the schedule task without launching rich copy GUI each time? Ideally just run it in the background?

  2. Branko 03. Dec, 2009 at 7:03 pm #

    Unfortunately I haven’t found a way to hide the GUI. To build RichCopy command line parameters you can use the GUI to help you.

  3. Paolo 13. Sep, 2010 at 8:15 am #

    when i go to box “run” i got already domain name\administrator on it, if i add command line parameters at the end of the line and try to run schedule , nothing happen…. it’s just prompt for administrator password….what I done wrong?
    Please help, and thanks for your time…..

  4. branko 13. Sep, 2010 at 3:31 pm #

    Hi Paolo

    The run box should look something like this (replace /PARAMETERS with your actual parameters)
    “C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Rich Tools\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy 4.0.lnk” /PARAMETERS

    The user name should be in the edit box “Run as:”

    Send me a message with a screen shot to branko@servermigrator.com and I will be happy to help you.

  5. Paolo 30. Sep, 2010 at 10:58 am #

    Hi Branko
    Really big thanks to you, it works!!!!
    I was trying to past parameter on “run as” and not on “run”….
    Thank you very much for your support you are a star!!!!

  6. branko 01. Oct, 2010 at 3:36 pm #

    Hi Paolo

    You are welcome.
    I’m happy to hear we found a solution.

  7. Michael 22. Dec, 2010 at 6:40 am #

    Hello:

    I’m trying to run Rich Copy as a task in the Server 2008 scheduler; it is having none of it. The task runs successfully but alas, no bueno; nothing happens. I’ve copied the command line switches from the advanced GUI, as detailed above, still nothing. Anyone run into this problem?

    Thanks

    Michael

  8. branko 22. Dec, 2010 at 7:11 am #

    Hi Michael,

    Could you please post the complete command you use to schedule the task? It could be that you are missing an argument or two. Most often the source and destination locations are not passed as command line parameters.

    You can also send it to my e-mail address (branko@servermigrator.com).

    BR

  9. Lucas 30. Dec, 2010 at 5:40 am #

    Im having the same issue. I try to run the program and it starts but the closes straight away and says the task is finished.

    Any help?

    The Command Im using is –
    “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Rich Tools\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy.exe” / “E:\datastore\chris” “D:\”

  10. branko 30. Dec, 2010 at 9:00 pm #

    Hi Lucas

    It looks like you have one slash too many.

    Try with the command below:

    “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Rich Tools\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy.exe” “E:\datastore\chris” “D:\”

  11. Matt Eitrem 24. Jan, 2011 at 10:11 pm #

    Is there a way to use the richcopy configuation profiles(.rcx) with the scheluled task? Also the options dialog in the GUI of rich copy has a command line parameters box that lists current settings, can these be copied and pasted in the scheduler?

  12. branko 25. Jan, 2011 at 6:31 am #

    Hello Matt,

    You can copy the command line parameters from the options dialog and use them in scheduler.

    When you use configuration profiles make sure that the file is not stored on a temporary folder, that might not exist anymore when the task is scheduled.
    Check also that the account you are using to run the task has access to the configuration file.

  13. Rick 18. Jun, 2011 at 7:53 am #

    Hi Branko,
    I’ve got a headache with Richcopy exclude directories option… I wanna add task to Tsk Schedule of Windows 7 and don’t works…
    If you sets on Task Schedule GUI text box Settings–>Programs/script:
    “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Rich Tools\RichCopy 4.0\RichCopy.exe”
    and in text box Add arguments:
    “\\stores\backs” “F:\BackRick\stores” /FED “Downloads”;”FreePop”;”Outlook” /TS 10 /TD 20 /TP 40 /FC 505 /QA /QP “C:\Users\adminbu\Desktop\TaskSched\adminbu.log” /UE /US /UD /UC /UFC /UCS /USC /USS /USD /UPR /UET
    then Richcopy runs but ignores the arguments for exclude the second and thrid directories (FReePop and Outlook) and yes it do excludes directory “Downloads”.

    I mean: only reads the first argument…

    Also, if I sets only that runs the profile file .rcx in text box Settings–>Programs/script, Richcopy don’t starts and stays hanged…

    If I adds to that setting the arguments:
    “\\stores\backs” “F:\BackRick\stores” /FED “Downloads”;”FreePop”;”Outlook” /TS 10 /TD 20 /TP 40 /FC 505 /QA /QP “C:\Users\adminbu\Desktop\TaskSched\adminbu.log” /UE /US /UD /UC /UFC /UCS /USC /USS /USD /UPR /UET
    makes the same that I told you before…

    But if you don’t executes Richcopy from Task Schedule and runs from it self, then work fine the same arguments tells above, altough in aleatory mode, some times works fine and others not… Some times excludes three directories, and others only excludes the first one….

    Any idea??? Thanks!!!

  14. branko 21. Jun, 2011 at 5:16 pm #

    Hi Rick,

    Try to remove remove quotation marks when you pass folder to be excluded. As you don’t use spaces in folder names they are not needed:

    /FED Downloads;FreePop;Outlook

    Make sure that the account you are using to run the scheduled task has appropriate permissions on all folders. Make sure it has write permissions on file C:\Users\adminbu\Desktop\TaskSched\adminbu.log

    BR

  15. Rick 23. Jun, 2011 at 6:32 am #

    Perfect!!! Now it works!!!!
    Thousand of thanks :)

  16. Rich 27. Jun, 2011 at 6:32 pm #

    For the entire command line output, click View, Advanced, then Actions, Copy Options. Enter all your required specs for the job, (Source and Destination, threads, security, logging etc.) then click the Others tab in the left section. The commandline output is displayed at the bottom.

  17. Giri 26. Jul, 2011 at 4:08 pm #

    Hi Branko,

    I need to copy the files from different sources and destinations. For Example: From S1 to D1 and S2 to D2. How can i achieve this using RichCopy in a single attempt. Please suggest.

    Thanks in Advance.

  18. branko 28. Jul, 2011 at 3:01 pm #

    Hi Giri,

    I don’t think it is possible to implement your scenario in one attempt. I would create a batch file with two richcopy calls and use it instead.

  19. Jon 16. Nov, 2011 at 2:49 pm #

    Hi guys and gals,

    I have set up richcopy to run as a scheduled task. that works fine. my issue is that richcopy launches, but then does not proceed to start the copy process. I see all the source and destination information so i know it loaded the correct options…how do i make it start!? thanks!

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