Scheduler Trigger

The Scheduler Trigger allows you to run your AI agent automatically at defined times or intervals—without any user interaction.

It is ideal for recurring, time-based workflows such as reports, monitoring, cleanups, reminders, and background automation.

Overview

With the Scheduler Trigger, your agent can run:

• At regular intervals (every few minutes, hours, days)
• At fixed times (daily, weekly, monthly)
• Using Cron expressions for advanced scheduling

Each scheduled execution:

• Runs independently
• Uses the same agent instructions and tools
• Executes based on the selected timezone

This makes the Scheduler perfect for hands-free automation.

When Should I Use Scheduler?

Use the Scheduler Trigger when:

• No user interaction is required
• Tasks must run automatically on time
• Work needs to happen in the background

Common use cases

• Daily / weekly reports
• Periodic data sync
• Monitoring & alerts
• Maintenance jobs
• Scheduled notifications
• Monthly reconciliation or billing

Configure Scheduler Trigger

Step 1: Add Scheduler Trigger

1. Go to DronaHQ → Agents → Triggers
2. Click + Add Trigger
3. Select Scheduler

Step 2: Basic Configuration

Name

• Provide a clear, descriptive name
  Examples:
  • Daily Sales Report
  • Weekly Health Check
  • Monthly Cleanup Job
• The name helps identify the trigger in logs and UI
• Required field

Timezone

• Select the timezone in which the schedule should run
• The agent executes strictly according to this timezone

Examples

• Asia/Calcutta
• America/New_York
• Europe/London

info

Always choose the timezone carefully.
All schedules—including Cron—are evaluated using this timezone.

Step 3: Configure Frequency

You can configure schedules in two ways:

Option	Best For
Interval	Simple, human-friendly schedules
Cron	Advanced, precise control

Interval Schedule (Recommended for Most Users)

The Interval option lets you create schedules without writing Cron expressions.

Scheduler Interval

Repeat Every

Choose how often your agent should run:

• Minute – Every N minutes
• Hour – Every N hours
• Day – Once per day at a fixed time
• Week – On selected day(s) at a fixed time
• Month – On a specific date each month

Interval Examples

Every 5 Minutes

• Repeat Every: Minute
• Interval: 5

Every Hour

• Repeat Every: Hour
• Time: at 0 minutes

Daily at 9:00 AM

• Repeat Every: Day
• Time: 9:00 AM

Weekly on Sunday at Midnight

• Repeat Every: Week
• Day: Sunday
• Time: 12:00 AM

Monthly on the 1st at Midnight

• Repeat Every: Month
• Day: 1st
• Time: 12:00 AM

tip

The Interval scheduler always shows a human-readable preview so you can verify the timing before saving.

Cron Schedule (Advanced)

Use Cron when you need:

• Complex rules
• Business-hour logic
• Multiple days or ranges
• Fine-grained control

Scheduler Cron

Cron Expression Format

Cron expressions consist of five fields:

┌───────────── minute (0–59)
│ ┌───────────── hour (0–23)
│ │ ┌───────────── day of month (1–31, L, ?)
│ │ │ ┌───────────── month (1–12 or JAN–DEC)
│ │ │ │ ┌───────────── day of week (1–7 or SUN–SAT, ?)
│ │ │ │ │

*  *  *  *  ? 

Cron Symbols

Symbol	Meaning
*	Any value
-	Range
,	List
/	Step value
?	No specific value

Important Cron Rule

danger

Day-of-Month vs Day-of-Week

You cannot specify both fields at the same time.

• If you define day-of-month, set day-of-week to ?
• If you define day-of-week, set day-of-month to ?

Valid

• 0 9 * * ? → Every day at 9 AM
• 0 9 ? * MON → Every Monday at 9 AM

Invalid

• 0 9 1 * MON

Common Cron Examples

Every 2 Minutes

*/2 * * * ?

Every Day at 9:30 AM

30 9 * * ?

Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9 AM

0 9 ? * MON,WED,FRI

First Day of Every Month

0 0 1 * ?

Weekdays (Jan–Sep) at 9:30 AM

30 9 ? 1-9 MON-FRI

Schedule Preview

As you type a Cron expression, the scheduler shows a human-readable explanation.

Example

*/2 * * * ?
→ Every 2 minutes

Always verify this preview before saving.

Step 4: Save Configuration

1. Review the schedule preview
2. Confirm timezone and timing
3. Click Save

Once saved, the scheduler will automatically trigger your agent.

Best Practices

• Prefer Interval unless Cron is required
• Always double-check the timezone
• Use clear, descriptive trigger names
• Test your agent logic before using long intervals
• Monitor tracing regularly
• Be mindful of daylight saving changes (if applicable)

Next Steps

• Monitor tracing to confirm runs
• Combine Scheduler with:
  • Webhook Trigger for hybrid automation
  • WhatsApp Trigger for proactive messaging