Execute application

Launch an executable or non-executable file as part of a task. Available in Activation, Schedule, Backup, and On Completion steps.

This action launches an external application (executable or non-executable) at a defined point in the task. It may be necessary to run the Task Processor with system administrator permissions for this action to execute correctly.

The action is available in the Activation, Schedule, Backup, and On Completion steps. The File Filters section below applies only when the action is placed within the Backup step.

Application

Condition
The event that triggers this action. When this action is part of the On Completion step, the condition can be set to Always, All previous steps successful, Any previous step produced an error, or No files were processed — see On Completion for details. In all other steps (Activation, Schedule, Backup), the condition is fixed at Always and cannot be changed.
Application
The full path to the file to be executed. Executable files (EXE, COM, BAT) are launched as applications. Non-executable files (e.g. DOC, TXT) are opened with the associated default application, which can be configured in Windows Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Choose defaults by file type.
Run in
A local or LAN folder (not an FTP folder) in which the executable will be launched. Not required for non-executable files.

This is particularly useful when a command line parameter refers to a file in a different folder than the application's installation folder. By setting Run in, you can specify only the filename as a parameter rather than the full path. If left blank, the application runs from the folder where it is located.

Parameters
Command line parameters passed after the application filename. Only application-specific parameters, macros, and commands are permitted. If the application supports multiple parameters, separate them with a semicolon (;) with no spaces before or after.
Timeout
A time limit in whole seconds for how long the task will wait for the application to close (see Wait until completion below). When the timeout expires, the task continues regardless of whether the file is still running. The default is 180 seconds; if left blank, 180 seconds is applied automatically. A value of 0 means the task waits indefinitely.

This setting takes effect only when Wait until completion is enabled.

Wait until completion
When enabled, the task does not proceed until the launched file is fully closed:
  • Executable files (EXE, COM, BAT) — closed means unloaded from system memory.
  • Non-executable files (e.g. DOC, TXT) — closed means no longer open in any application.
Use with caution as a file that hangs or takes a long time may significantly delay task performance. Use the Timeout setting to limit the wait.

File Filters

These settings are available only when this action is placed within the Backup step. They restrict the action to a specific subset of files being transferred.

Apply action only to
The action applies only to files whose names match the listed filenames or file masks; all other files are ignored. Works together with Disapply action to (below).

Filenames and masks must overlap with any masks set in Source → File Filters → Optional filters → Include the listed files only, and must not be entirely excluded by masks set in Source → File Filters → Optional filters → Exclude the listed files. Otherwise the action will not apply.

Disapply action to
The action does not apply to files whose names match the listed filenames or file masks; it applies normally to all other files. Works together with Apply action only to (above).

Miscellaneous

Display title
A custom name displayed in the Task Scenario instead of the default title.
Enabled
When enabled, this action is active and runs as part of the Task Scenario. When disabled, the action remains in the Task Scenario but is completely ignored. Disabled actions are shown struck out to distinguish them from enabled ones.