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Some of the Cognite extractors are distributed as a Windows service or as executable files. This article explains how you can run the Cognite extractors in Windows Task Scheduler. This is useful when you need to start the extractor when the machine reboots, restart the extractor if it terminates, or run the extractor on a schedule.

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Installing the extractor

Install the extractor in an installation directory where the executable file or Python program and dependencies are stored. The extractor can be instantiated in multiple deployments, for instance, one per source system. Each deployment requires a separate working directory to read configuration files, store state, and write logs.
You need interactive sign-in permissions to run a task.

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Run as a service

The Windows Task Scheduler is an alternative to native Windows services. In this example, we’ll use the Task Scheduler to run the OPC UA extractor executable file as a service.

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Before you start

1

Unzip the extractor

Unzip the extractor in an installation directory. For example: C:\Cognite\opcua-extractor.
2

Create a working directory

Create a working directory for the source system. For example: AControlSystem.
3

Configure the extractor

Open the config folder and configure config.yml based on the example file found in the same folder.

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Create a task

1

Create a basic task

Open the Task Scheduler, select Create Basic Task > enter a name > select Next.
2

Configure the trigger

In Task Trigger, select When the computer starts.
3

Set the action

In Action, select Start a program.
4

Configure the program

In Start a Program, insert the full path to the .exe file in Program/script, and add the working directory in Start in. Enter any command line arguments in Add arguments. For example, for PI extractor version 1.
5

Open properties dialog

In Summary, select Open the Properties dialog for this task when I click Finish, and then select Finish. Note that you can also modify properties later from the main window.
6

Configure general settings

On the General tab, select Run whether user is logged on or not.
7

Configure task settings

On the Settings tab, clear Stop the task if it runs longer than and, optionally, select If the task fails, restart every:.
8

Save the task

Select OK and if prompted, enter the password for the user. Save the task. The task is now listed under Active tasks in the main window:
The status Ready indicates that a task is ready to start but not running.

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Start a task

To start a task, right-click and select Run, or select Run from the Actions pane.

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Run batch extractors on a schedule

1

Access trigger properties

Under Action, select Properties > Triggers.
2

Configure the schedule

Select Edit trigger and configure the schedule settings.
Enable Stop the task if it runs longer than….
Last modified on January 27, 2026