batch script, put to sleep until certain time

Question

I have an issue with my program that occurs once or twice every 6 hours. So I was wondering if there is any way I can get the batch script to constantly run in the background, and only execute the command it is given at 6 in the morning, at noon, at 6 in the afternoon and at midnight.

my script is just one command which is

"C:\Program Files\WinSCP\WinSCP.com" /command "open %INPUT%" "get /etc/logs/*" "get /etc/network/interfaces" "bye"

I have been breaking my neck and can't seem to figure out a way to get the program to sleep and not use up cpu until a certain time of day.

Answer 1

The Batch file below execute the command at 6, 12, 18 and 0 hours:

@echo off
:waitNextRun
for /F "delims=:" %%h in ("%time%") do set hour=%%h
set /A mod6=hour %% 6
if not %mod6% == 0 goto waitNextRun

"C:\Program Files\WinSCP\WinSCP.com" /command "open %INPUT%" "get /etc/logs/*" "get /etc/network/interfaces" "bye"

:waitNextHour
for /F "delims=:" %%h in ("%time%") do if %hour% == %%h goto waitNextHour
goto waitNextRun

However, this Batch file does not run "in the background", but as a normal Batch file. You may minimize its CPU use by starting it via this command:

START "Run WinSCP every six hours" /MIN /LOW theBatchFile