Scheduled Powershell Script wont run

Question

I have a ps1 script like below, it filters files and outputs a formatted HTML file.

$a = "<style>"
$a = $a + "BODY{background-color:peachpuff;}"
$a = $a + "TABLE{border-width: 1px;border-style: solid;border-color: black;border-collapse: collapse;}"
$a = $a + "TH{border-width: 1px;padding: 0px;border-style: solid;border-color: black;background-color:thistle}"
$a = $a + "TD{border-width: 1px;padding: 0px;border-style: solid;border-color: black;background-color:PaleGoldenrod}"
$a = $a + "</style>"

$b = Get-Date -Format u    

Get-ChildItem -Recurse K:\AppData\*.* -Filter *.CATPart | Where{$_.LastWriteTime -gt (Get-Date).AddDays(-6)} | sort LastWriteTime -descending | select name,LastWriteTime,Directory | convertto-html -head $a -body "<H2>CATIA PAST 7 DAYS -- $b </H2>" | out-file C:\aaa\catia_result.htm

I can run this script manually with no problem at all. but when I schedule it to run, it only gives me the formatted htm file without any filtered data in there. This is arguments I used in task scheduler:

powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "C:\aaa\RLTP_HTML_FINAL.ps1"

I tried change executionpolicy to Unrestricted , it still wont work. The task history shows the task completed, but there is no data in the HTML file.

I also tried to use a batch file call up powershell to run the script, it is the same result that it only works with manual operation but task scheduler.

Answer 1

Most likely, when you schedule the script to execute, it may not have a mapping to the K:\\ drive. Make sure that:

1. The K drive is mapped in the script, using the Get-PSDrive cmdlet
2. Your credentials that the scheduled task is set to use have access to the K:\\ drive

Alternatively , you could simply specify a UNC path, instead of referencing the K:\\ drive.

ps. Good job using -ExecutionPolicy Bypass . That helps to avoid any issues with the execution policy! :) It doesn't matter what the execution policy is set to, as long as you use that parameter.

If you want to capture any errors in your script, make this your last line:

Add-Content -Path $PSScriptRoot\error.log -Value $error;

You might see something about the K:\\ drive missing.