Investment Studio > Views > Downloads > Downloader > Scheduled updates

Setting up automated updates of Investment Studio's database is simply a matter of submitting one or more download command lines for scheduled execution. Under Windows 95, this requires the use of a third party task scheduler. Since all later Windows versions include a built-in task scheduler, this section focuses on its use. If you are using Windows 95, please refer to your third party task scheduler's documentation.

To schedule automated updates using the Windows Task Scheduler, you need to:

  1. Open the Task Scheduler. By default, this is done from Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks in the Windows Start Menu. There may also be a Scheduled Tasks entry in the Windows Control Panel. If you can't find the Task Scheduler in either location, look in your Windows directory: it should contain a directory called Tasks, containing an entry entitled "Add Scheduled Task". If it's not there, you need to install the task scheduler from your Windows CD-ROM before you can continue.
  2. Launch the Scheduled Task Wizard. To do so, double-click Add Scheduled Task in the Task Scheduler.
  3. In the Scheduled Task Wizard, select any of the listed programs. It doesn't matter which one you select at this point, since you're going to modify the command line in step 6.
  4. Enter a name for the task (e.g. "Investment Studio database update") and select a schedule (e.g. Daily). Don't worry about the apparent lack of control at this point; the details are entered on the next page(s). Submit the information requested by the wizard until you get to a page announcing that you have successfully scheduled your task and sporting a Finish button. Don't click it yet!
  5. Mark the check box labeled "Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish", then click Finish.
  6. On the page labeled Task, enter your command line in the field labeled Run. Assuming for instance that Investment Studio's installation directory is "C:\Program Files\Investment Studio", you would use the command line

    "C:\Program Files\Investment Studio\download" /c

    to queue all active download lists for updating. If you don't know Investment Studio's location on your system, you can look at the Properties sheet for the shortcut which you normally use to launch Investment Studio (right-click the shortcut to open it) or search for InvestmentStudio.exe using Find or Search (depending on Windows version) in the Windows Start Menu.

  7. Optionally modify the Schedule or other Settings. Note in particular that you can set up the computer to wake up (from stand-by mode) when it's time to run the task (look under Schedule > Power Management).
  8. Click OK to finish.

To modify an existing task, select it in the Task Scheduler and press Enter (or double-click it, or right-click it and select Properties).

To remove an existing task, select it and press Del (or right-click it and select Delete).