> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.inferencelab.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Scheduled tasks

> Run a prompt on a cron — hourly, daily, weekly, or anything in between.

A **scheduled task** is a prompt Foundry runs on a cron. Set it up once, the answers show up in your chat history when they're due.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ironaai/jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma/foundry/images/tasks/list.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jz9FK1T3e0dey9ma&q=85&s=20e88267d768243011256e7cbdf12e56" alt="Scheduled Tasks page — tabs for Scheduled and Completed runs, plus buttons for Triggers and New schedule." width="3456" height="1872" data-path="foundry/images/tasks/list.png" />
</Frame>

## Create a task

Sidebar → **Scheduled Tasks** → **New task**. Fill in:

| Field | What it does |
| - | - |
| **Name** | A short label. Shows in the list and as the chat title. |
| **Description** | Optional. What this task is for — for future-you. |
| **Prompt** | The instruction the assistant gets each run. |
| **System prompt** *(optional)* | Always-applied context (persona, constraints, formatting). |
| **Connectors** | Pick which connected services this task can use. Foundry also auto-suggests connectors based on prompt keywords. |
| **Schedule** | Hourly / Daily / Weekly / Custom (5-field cron). |
| **Timezone** | Defaults to your account timezone. |
| **Max runs** | Lifetime cap. Default: **10**. |

Hit **Save** and the task is live.

## Schedule presets

| Preset | Cron equivalent | Typical use |
| - | - | - |
| **Hourly** | `<min> * * * *` | Light monitoring. |
| **Daily** | `<min> <hour> * * *` | Daily briefs, summaries. |
| **Weekly** | `<min> <hour> * * <dow>` | Weekly digests. |
| **Custom** | Any 5-field cron | Anything else. |

5-field cron is `minute hour day-of-month month day-of-week`.

## What happens on each run

1. Cron fires. Foundry opens a fresh chat under the task's name.
2. The system prompt + prompt are sent to the assistant.
3. The assistant runs — using the connectors you selected — and writes the reply.
4. A [browser notification](/foundry/chat/notifications) fires (if enabled). The chat appears in **Recent** with an unread badge.

You can review every run from the task detail page — every fired run is preserved.

## Editing and pausing

* Open the task → **Edit** to change prompt, schedule, or connectors.
* Toggle **Active** off to pause without deleting.
* **Archive** to hide; **Delete** to remove permanently.

## Tips

* **Constrain the output format** in your prompt — *"reply in 3 bullets, max 30 words each"*. Daily briefs that respect your time get read; ones that ramble don't.
* **Use system prompt for persona + constraints**, prompt for the task itself. Keeps the task definition tidy.
* **Start with a tight `max runs` cap** while you iterate. Bump it once the task is solid.

## Limits

* Default lifetime cap is **10 runs** — change it explicitly if you want more.
* Cron resolves at minute granularity.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Tasks overview" icon="list-check" href="/foundry/tasks/overview">
    Scheduled vs event-based.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tutorial" icon="play" href="/foundry/tutorials/automate-with-tasks">
    Build a daily brief.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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