---
title: Scheduler
description: Learn about the Scheduler trigger
documentId: ipaas-legacy-scheduler-trigger
locale: en-US
---

With the **Scheduler** trigger, you can schedule the integration flow execution for a defined time period.

Next, learn how to add it to the canvas and configure its form.

## Add Scheduler to the canvas

<Steps>
  <Step>
  Click on the ![clicking cursor icon](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/triggers_Icon_b3edc4ff83.png) icon in the left editing menu;
  </Step>
  <Step>
  Select **Scheduler**.

  The ![](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/flow_Start_Icon_5e71220cc1.png) **Start** is replaced by the *trigger* as soon as you add it to the canvas.
  </Step>
  <Step>
  Configure its form.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="tip" title="TIP">
To delete the **Scheduler** from the canvas, select it and click the ![trash icon](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/remove_Icon_486c52eeeb.png) button.
Deleting the trigger will disable the **Test Mode** function.
</Callout>

## Configuring the form

<Steps>
  <Step>
  Select the trigger on the canvas.
  </Step>
  <Step>
  Click the edit icon ![pencil icon](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/edit_icon_34464736ca.png).
  </Step>
  <Step>
  Fill in the following form fields:
  
  * **Name**: enter the trigger name. The name cannot be used more than once in the same integration flow. By default, the field displays the name **Scheduler Trigger**.
  * **Cron Expression**: establish a recurrence pattern in the integration flow execution. Understand how a [Cron Expression](#cron-expression) works.

  ****
  By clicking the **Properties** icon ![list icon](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/properties_icon_2c777edb35.png) on the right, you can:

  1. Select previously registered variables.
  2. Select input or output *payloads* from previous *steps*.
  3. Create expressions using the Expression Builder.

  <Callout type="note" title="NOTE">
  Read more about [**Properties and Expression Builder**](/docs/integrations/ipaas-legacy-expression-builder).
  </Callout>
  ****

  * **Time Zone**: select the time zone. You can type or filter available options. The default time zone is UTC.
  </Step>
  <Step>
  Click **SAVE** to save changes. To exit the form without saving them, click the **X** in the upper right corner.
  </Step>
</Steps>

![schedulerTriggerScreen.png](https://creative-ball-51b3fc85c0.media.strapiapp.com/scheduler_Trigger_Screen_23ee22f5e7.png)

## Cron expression

A cron expression is a *string* that defines a **periodic schedule** following a specific format.

The **Cron Expression** field accepts schedules composed of the following fields:

```
<minute> <hour> <day of month> <month> <day of week>
```

### How to configure a cron expression

See below the special characters and values you can use in each field of the cron expression:

**Minute**

| Symbol | Description |
|---------|-----------|
| * | any value |
| , | value list separator (only specified values) |
| - | value range (all values included in the range) |
| / | incremental values (the number before the slash specifies when the interval starts and the number after the slash is the interval) |
| 0-59 | allowed values |

**Hour**

| Symbol | Description |
|---------|-----------|
| * | any value |
| , | value list separator (only specified values) |
| - | value range (all values included in the range) |
| / | incremental values (the number before the slash specifies when the interval starts and the number after the slash is the interval) |
| 0-23 | allowed values |

**Day of month**

| Symbol | Description |
|---------|-----------|
| * | any value |
| , | value list separator (only specified values) |
| - | value range (all values included in the range) |
| / | incremental values (the number before the slash specifies when the interval starts and the number after the slash is the interval) |
| 1-31 | allowed values |

**Month**

| Symbol | Description |
|---------|-----------|
| * | any value |
| , | value list separator (only specified values) |
| - | value range (all values included in the range) |
| / | incremental values (the number before the slash specifies when the interval starts and the number after the slash is the interval) |
| 1-12 | allowed values |
| JAN-DEC | individual alternative values |

**Day of week**

| Symbol | Description |
|---------|-----------|
| * | any value |
| , | value list separator (only specified values) |
| - | value range (all values included in the range) |
| / | incremental values (the number before the slash specifies when the interval starts and the number after the slash is the interval) |
| 0-6 | allowed values |
| SUN-SAT | individual alternative values |

<Callout type="tip" title="TIP">
To generate a cron expression, visit [Crontab guru](https://crontab.guru/).
</Callout>

### Examples

See some examples of cron expressions:

| Minute | Hour | Day of month | Month | Day of week | Meaning |
|--------|------|------------|-----|---------------|-------------|
| 30 | 10 | * | * | * | Every day at 10:30 |
| 0 | 15 | 15 | JUN | * | At 15:00 on June 15 |
| 0 | 17 | * | * | 6,0 | At 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays |
| 0 | * | * | * | * | Every hour |
| 0 | 0 | * | * | * | Once a day |
| 0 | */2 | * | * | * | Every 2 hours |
| 0 | 10/3 | * | * | TUE | Every 3 hours starting at 10:00 on Tuesday |