---
title: "[Automations guides and connectors] - Scheduler by Automate"
description: Guide for using the Scheduler by Automate connector to configure timed automation triggers, intervals, and execution parameters.
url: https://www.contentstack.com/docs/developers/automation-hub-connectors/scheduler-by-automation-hub
product: Automate
doc_type: guide
audience:
  - developers
  - automation-builders
version: unknown
last_updated: 2026-03-25
---

# [Automations guides and connectors] - Scheduler by Automate

This page explains how to use the Scheduler by Automate connector to set up timed automation triggers with different interval options (Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Custom/Cron). It is intended for users configuring automation triggers and should be used when you need to run actions on a schedule.

## Scheduler by Automate

Setting up timed automations is essential for streamlining repetitive tasks. This guide walks you through using the Scheduler by Automate to configure automation triggers, define time intervals, and customize execution parameters.

Whether you are scheduling actions to run every minute, hour, or day, this guide provides clear instructions to ensure your automations are set up effectively.

## Set up the Scheduler by Automate Trigger

Perform the following steps to configure the Scheduler by Automate trigger:
- Click **Configure** **Trigger** from the left navigation panel.
- Within the **Configure Trigger** step, click the **Scheduler by Automate** connector.
- Under the **Choose** **Trigger** tab, select the **Scheduler by Automate** trigger. This allows you to schedule the activation time for your trigger event.
- On the **Scheduler by Automate Configure Trigger** page, enter the details given below:  
      **Time Zone:** Enter a time zone. By default, **Etc/UTC **is selected.
- **Trigger Interval:** Select the time interval unit to define the interval for scheduling the trigger. Options include **Minutes**, **Hours**, **Days**, **Weeks**, **Months**, and **Custom (Cron)**.**Note:** By default, the interval is set to **Minutes**.

### When the user selects Minutes Trigger Interval

Select **Minutes** from the **Trigger** **Interval** drop-down.
- In the **Minutes** **Interval** field, enter the interval in minutes between each trigger.For example, entering **1** will schedule the trigger to run every **1** **minute**.
- Optionally, enable the **Show** **Optional** **Fields** toggle button to view the **Metadata** field. Enter custom data that will be accessible during the automation process.

### When the user selects Hours Trigger Interval
- Select **Hours** from the **Trigger** **Interval** drop-down.
- In the **Hours Interval** field, enter the interval in hours between each trigger.For example, entering **1** will schedule the trigger to run every **1 hour**.
- Optionally, enable the** Show Optional Fields** toggle button to view the **Trigger** **at** **Minute** and **Metadata** fields.

In the **Trigger at Minute** field, enter the minute** (0–59) **past the hour when the trigger should run.

In the **Metadata** field, provide the data to be accessed while the automation runs.

For example, setting **6** for **Hours** **Interval** and **30** for **Trigger** **at** **Minute** schedules the trigger to execute** every 6 hours at 30 minutes past the hour**.

### When the user selects Days Trigger Interval
- Select **Days** from the **Trigger** **Interval** drop-down.
- In the **Days** **Interval** field, enter the interval in days between each trigger.For example, entering **1** will schedule the trigger to run every **1 day**.
- Optionally, enable the **Show Optional Fields **toggle button to view the **Trigger at Hour**, **Trigger at Minute**, and **Metadata** fields.In the **Trigger at Hour** field, select the hour of the day to run the trigger, i.e., 1 am, 2 am, etc. Enter the minute** (0–59)** past the hour when the trigger should run in the **Trigger** **at** **Minute** field. In the **Metadata **field, provide the data to be accessed while the automation runs.

For example, setting **2** for **Days** Interval, **9 am** for **Trigger at Hour**, and **15** for **Trigger at Minute** schedules the trigger to run **every 2 days at 9:15 am**.

### When the user selects Weeks Trigger Interval
- Select **Weeks** from the **Trigger** Interval drop-down.
- In the **Trigger on Day of the Week** field, select the days of the week to run the trigger. You can add multiple days by clicking the** + Add Trigger on Day of the Week** button.For example, selecting **Sunday** will schedule the trigger to run **every** **Sunday**.
- Optionally, enable the **Show Optional Fields** toggle button to view the **Trigger at Hour**, **Trigger at Minute**, and **Metadata** fields.In the **Trigger at Hour **field, select the hour of the day to run the trigger, i.e., 1 am, 2 am, etc. Enter the minute **(0–59)** past the hour when the trigger should run in the **Trigger at Minute** field. In the **Metadata** field, provide the data to be accessed while the automation runs.

For example, selecting **Monday** for **Trigger on Day of Week**, **3** **pm** for **Trigger** **at** **Hour**, and **30** for **Trigger at Minute** schedules the trigger to run **weekly on Mondays at 3:30 pm**.

### When the user selects Months Trigger Interval
- Select **Months** from the **Trigger** **Interval** drop-down.
- In the **Months** **Interval** field, enter the interval in months for the trigger.For example, entering **1** will schedule the trigger to run every **1** **month**.
- Optionally, enable the **Show Optional Fields** toggle button to view the **Trigger at Day of Month**, **Trigger** **at** **Hour**, **Trigger** **at** **Minute**, and **Metadata** fields.In the **Trigger at Day of Month** field, enter the day of the month (1–31) for the trigger. If the day does not exist in a month, the trigger will not run (for example, **30** will **not** run in **February**).

In the **Trigger** **at** **Hour** field, select the hour of the day to run the trigger, i.e., 1 am, 2 am, etc. Enter the minute **(0–59)** past the hour when the trigger should run in the **Trigger** **at** **Minute** field. In the **Metadata** field, provide the data to be accessed while the automation runs.

For example, setting **3** for **Months** **Interval**, **28** for **Trigger at Day of Month**, **9 am **for **Trigger** **at** **Hour**, and **0** for **Trigger** **at** **Minute** schedules the trigger to run every **3 months on the 28th day at 9:00 am**.

### When the user selects Custom (Cron) Trigger Interval
- **Unix Cron Format: **0 */6 * * * (this means the trigger event is to be activated every 6 hours). For examples on Unix Cron format values, check the [Crontab guru | Cron Examples](https://crontab.guru/examples.html) page.Refer the below table for more details on the Unix Cron format:

| Cron Format | Field Name | Allowed Names |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ********* | minute | 0-59 |
| ********* | hour | 0-23 |
| ********* | day of month | 1-31 |
| ********* | month | The months of the year can be represented numerically from 1 to 12, where 1 is January, 2 is February, and so on. They can also be represented as three-character strings in uppercase, lowercase, or mixed-case formats based on their English names: JAN, jan, Jan; FEB, feb, Feb, etc. |
| ********* | day of week | The days of the week can be represented numerically from 0 to 7, where 0 or 7 is Sunday, 1 is Monday, and so on. They can also be represented as three-character strings in uppercase, lowercase, or mixed-case formats based on their English names: MON, mon, Mon; TUE, tue, Tue, etc. |

**Additional Resource:** For more information, refer to the [Cron job format and time zone](https://cloud.google.com/scheduler/docs/configuring/cron-job-schedules) document.
- Optionally, enable the** Show Optional Fields** toggle button, to display the **Metadata** field. Metadata can be utilized during the execution of automation.
- Click the **Proceed** button.
- Click the **Test Trigger** button to test the configured trigger.
- Click the **Save** **and** **Exit** button.

**Note:** After configuring the trigger, reconfiguring another trigger will prompt you to revert to the previous trigger configuration. You can restore the last configuration by clicking the Revert Changes button.

This sets up your **Scheduler** **by** **Automate** trigger.

## Common questions

### What trigger interval options are available in Scheduler by Automate?
Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Custom (Cron).

### What is the default time zone and default interval?
By default, **Etc/UTC **is selected for **Time Zone**, and the interval is set to **Minutes**.

### What is the Metadata field used for?
Metadata can be utilized during the execution of automation and will be accessible during the automation process.

### What happens if I reconfigure another trigger after setting this one up?
Reconfiguring another trigger will prompt you to revert to the previous trigger configuration, and you can restore the last configuration by clicking the Revert Changes button.