Wake the computer for a scheduled run

Wake the computer to run is a scheduled-task setting that lets a run happen while the computer is asleep: on Windows, Oda keeps a wake entry for the task that wakes the computer shortly before each run. It is on by default for new tasks. To create or change tasks, see Schedule recurring tasks; Scheduled runs and history covers what happens when a run starts.

What the wake entry does

• When you save a task with Wake the computer to run on, Oda registers one wake entry for it in Windows Task Scheduler, for your signed-in user.
• The entry is set to wake the computer about two minutes before the run's time, so the computer is awake when the run is due.
• The entry does nothing else: it wakes the computer and exits at once, and Windows allows it one minute. The task itself runs as any scheduled run does.
• Oda removes the entries when it closes and registers them again when it starts, so an entry exists only while Oda is running.

When waking works

Waking needs all of these:

• Windows. Waking is a Windows feature; on other systems the setting has no effect, and Oda registers no wake entry.
• Plugged in. The wake entry does not start on battery power, and it stops if the computer switches to battery. While the computer runs on battery, Oda does not keep the entry registered.
• Signed in. The entry runs only for your signed-in session; it does not wake the computer from the sign-in screen.
• Wake timers allowed. If Allow wake timers is turned off in the computer's power options, or only system timers are allowed, Windows does not wake the computer for the task.

Two situations stay asleep anyway:

• A Modern Standby computer may not wake for timers; many laptops sleep this way. The task shows This computer uses Modern Standby, which may not wake for scheduled tasks. Keep it plugged in and awake at the run time.
• A computer that is shut down does not start for a task. Waking brings the computer out of sleep, not out of a powered-off state, and a run also needs Oda running.

Check waking on your computer

Open the task from Scheduled in the sidebar and read its wake status. It reports four things for this computer, and what each means for the next run:

• whether waking is supported; on a computer without support, Oda registers no wake entry;
• whether wake timers are allowed in the computer's power settings; with them off, the next run cannot wake the computer;
• whether the computer uses Modern Standby, which may not wake for timers;
• whether the computer is on battery; on battery the entry is not kept, so the next run starts only if the computer is awake.

To see the entry itself:

1. Open Task Scheduler on Windows.
2. Look under the DataMind Oda folder: Oda's entries sit in a subfolder named with eight hexadecimal digits, such as 1a2b3c4d.
3. Each entry is described as Wakes the computer for the DataMind Oda scheduled task "…".

Pause, resume and delete

The wake entry follows the task:

• Pause removes the task's wake entry; Resume registers it again.
• Delete removes it for good. When no entries remain, Oda removes its folder from Task Scheduler too.
• To stop waking for one task, open it, choose Edit, turn Wake the computer to run off and save. The task then runs only while the computer is awake and Oda is running.

Oda registers and removes the entries as your signed-in user, with no administrator prompt, and the entries never run with administrator rights.

When the computer sleeps through a run

If wake timers are off, or the computer stays asleep, for example in Modern Standby, the slot passes and the run does not start. The run history records a skipped run with a reason you can read, such as The computer was asleep, and wake timers are turned off in the Windows power settings. Missed slots are not caught up; see Scheduled runs and history.

Questions, answered

Why did my computer not wake for a run?

Waking works only when the computer runs Windows, is plugged in, is signed in, and allows wake timers; a Modern Standby computer may not wake for timers, and a shut-down computer does not start. Check that Wake the computer to run is still on for the task and read its wake status. If the computer slept through a slot, the run history records the reason; see Scheduled runs and history. Common messages and what to do about them are listed in Troubleshooting.

Will a shut-down computer start for a scheduled run?

No. A wake entry wakes a computer that is asleep, not one that is shut down, and runs need Oda running. The slot is recorded as skipped instead.

Does waking work on battery power?

No. The entry starts only while the computer is plugged in, and it stops if the computer switches to battery; while you run on battery, Oda does not keep the entry registered. The task's wake status shows whether the computer is on battery.

Will the computer wake if I am signed out?

No. The entry runs only while you are signed in, so it does not wake the computer from the sign-in screen.

What does the Modern Standby note mean?

The note This computer uses Modern Standby, which may not wake for scheduled tasks. Keep it plugged in and awake at the run time. appears for a computer using Modern Standby, a low-power sleep mode on many laptops. Windows may not deliver timer wakes on these machines, so the computer may stay asleep at a run's time. If the run must happen while you are away, keep the computer awake at that time.

How can I check the wake entry for a task?

Open Task Scheduler on Windows and look under the DataMind Oda folder. Each entry sits in a subfolder named with eight hexadecimal digits and is described as Wakes the computer for the DataMind Oda scheduled task "…". The entries exist only while Oda is running.

Does waking need administrator rights?

No. Oda registers and removes the wake entries as your signed-in user, no administrator prompt appears, and the entries never run with administrator rights.

Can I turn waking off for one task?

Yes. Open the task, choose Edit, turn Wake the computer to run off and save. The task then runs only while the computer is awake and Oda is running. Turn it back on to register the wake entry again.

What happens to the wake entry when I pause or delete a task?

Pause removes the task's wake entry and Resume registers it again. Delete removes it for good.

Does the wake entry run my task?

No. The entry only wakes the computer and exits at once; Windows allows it one minute. The task itself runs as any scheduled run does.