---
id: use-cron-expression
title: Advanced - Using a CRON Expression
description: Set up a CRON job to collect data on a specified schedule.
slug: /help/docs/send-data/installed-collectors/sources/script-source/use-cron-expression/
canonical: https://www.sumologic.com/help/docs/send-data/installed-collectors/sources/script-source/use-cron-expression/
---

import useBaseUrl from '@docusaurus/useBaseUrl';

If you're configuring a Script Source and need to specify a frequency that's different than any existing option, you can specify a CRON expression to collect data at a custom frequency.

:::note
For examples, see [CRON Examples and Reference](cron-examples-reference.md). 
:::

Sumo Logic supports the Quartz CRON framework.

To use a CRON Expression in a Script Source:

1. [**New UI**](/docs/get-started/sumo-logic-ui). In the Sumo Logic main menu select **Data Management**, and then under **Data Collection** select **Collection**. You can also click the **Go To...** menu at the top of the screen and select **Collection**. <br/>[**Classic UI**](/docs/get-started/sumo-logic-ui-classic). In the main Sumo Logic menu, select **Manage Data > Collection > Collection**. 
1. Click **Add Source** for the Collector you choose.
1. Select **Script** for the Source type.
1. Enter the source name, description (optional), source host, and source category.
1. For Frequency, choose **Other (CRON Expression)**, then type the expression.<br/><img src={useBaseUrl('img/send-data/other-cron-1.png')} alt="Choose Other (CRON Expression)" style={{border: '1px solid gray'}} width="600" />
1. If you'd like to set a timeout for your script, select **Specify a timeout for your command**. If you do not need a timeout, or if you're running a script once daily, we recommend that you leave this option deselected. Learn more in [Configuring a Script Source](/docs/send-data/installed-collectors/sources/script-source).
1. For Command, choose the type of command you're going to use. The options in this menu depend on the type of Collector you're using:
    * Mac/Linux Command options.<br/><img src={useBaseUrl('img/send-data/Script_Source_Mac_Commands.png')} alt="Mac/Linux Command option" style={{border: '1px solid gray'}} width="500" />
    * Windows Command options.<br/><img src={useBaseUrl('img/send-data/Script_Source_Win_Commands.png')} alt="Windows Command options" style={{border: '1px solid gray'}} width="500" />
1. For Script, do one of the following:
   * Choose **Type a path to the script to execute** if you have the script saved to a file location. For example:<br/><img src={useBaseUrl('img/send-data/script-path.png')} alt="Type a path to the script to execute" style={{border: '1px solid gray'}} width="600" />
   * Choose **Type the script to execute** if you'd like to enter the script directly in Logic. Then type the script in the text box. For example:<br/><img src={useBaseUrl('img/send-data/script.png')} alt="Type the script to execute" style={{border: '1px solid gray'}} width="600" />
1. For Working Directory, you'll only need to enter a path if your script refers to a file indirectly. So, enter the path of the file you'd like to collect if required; otherwise this option can remain blank.
1. Click **Advanced** to see options regarding timestamps and time zones:
   * **Timestamp Parsing**. By default **Extract timestamp information from log file entries** is selected, meaning that Sumo Logic will use the timestamp information from the data you collect. Deselecting this option turns off all timestamp parsing.
   * **Time Zone.** Select an option under **Use time zone from log file, but if none present use**. Or, if you'd like to override all time zones from data you collect, choose an option under **Ignore time zone and instead use**.
1. For **Multiline Processing**, by default only Boundary Regex is selected. To make any changes to this setting, select **Detect messages spanning multiple lines** only if the type of data you're collecting is suited to being collected as multiline log messages.
1. If you'd like to filter data being collected, set **Filter** options. See [Create a Processing Rule](/docs/send-data/collection/processing-rules/create-processing-rule) for more information.
1. Click **Save** to complete the Source setup.