feat(cron): enhance delivery modes and job configuration

- Updated isolated cron jobs to support new delivery modes: `announce` and `none`, improving output management.
- Refactored job configuration to remove legacy fields and streamline delivery settings.
- Enhanced the `CronJobEditor` UI to reflect changes in delivery options, including a new segmented control for delivery mode selection.
- Updated documentation to clarify the new delivery configurations and their implications for job execution.
- Improved tests to validate the new delivery behavior and ensure backward compatibility with legacy settings.

This update provides users with greater flexibility in managing how isolated jobs deliver their outputs, enhancing overall usability and clarity in job configurations.

Author: tyler6204

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Web UI: add Agents dashboard for managing agent files, tools, skills, models, channels, and cron jobs.
 - Cron: add announce delivery mode for isolated jobs (CLI + Control UI) and delivery mode config.
 - Cron: default isolated jobs to announce delivery; accept ISO 8601 `schedule.at` in tool inputs.
+- Cron: hard-migrate isolated jobs to announce/none delivery; drop legacy post-to-main/payload delivery fields and `atMs` inputs.
 - Cron: delete one-shot jobs after success by default; add `--keep-after-run` for CLI.
+- Cron: suppress messaging tools during announce delivery so summaries post consistently.
+- Cron: avoid duplicate deliveries when isolated runs send messages directly.
+- Subagents: discourage direct messaging tool use unless a specific external recipient is requested.
 - Memory: implement the opt-in QMD backend for workspace memory. (#3160) Thanks @vignesh07.
 - Security: add healthcheck skill and bootstrap audit guidance. (#7641) Thanks @Takhoffman.
 - Config: allow setting a default subagent thinking level via `agents.defaults.subagents.thinking` (and per-agent `agents.list[].subagents.thinking`). (#7372) Thanks @tyler6204.

apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/CronJobEditor+Helpers.swift

@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@ extension CronJobEditor {
         self.wakeMode = job.wakeMode
 
         switch job.schedule {
-        case let .at(atMs):
+        case let .at(at):
             self.scheduleKind = .at
-            self.atDate = Date(timeIntervalSince1970: TimeInterval(atMs) / 1000)
+            if let date = CronSchedule.parseAtDate(at) {
+                self.atDate = date
+            }
         case let .every(everyMs, _):
             self.scheduleKind = .every
             self.everyText = self.formatDuration(ms: everyMs)
@@ -36,19 +38,22 @@ extension CronJobEditor {
         case let .systemEvent(text):
             self.payloadKind = .systemEvent
             self.systemEventText = text
-        case let .agentTurn(message, thinking, timeoutSeconds, deliver, channel, to, bestEffortDeliver):
+        case let .agentTurn(message, thinking, timeoutSeconds, _, _, _, _):
             self.payloadKind = .agentTurn
             self.agentMessage = message
             self.thinking = thinking ?? ""
             self.timeoutSeconds = timeoutSeconds.map(String.init) ?? ""
-            self.deliver = deliver ?? false
-            let trimmed = (channel ?? "").trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
-            self.channel = trimmed.isEmpty ? "last" : trimmed
-            self.to = to ?? ""
-            self.bestEffortDeliver = bestEffortDeliver ?? false
         }
 
-        self.postPrefix = job.isolation?.postToMainPrefix ?? "Cron"
+        if let delivery = job.delivery {
+            self.deliveryMode = delivery.mode == .announce ? .announce : .none
+            let trimmed = (delivery.channel ?? "").trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+            self.channel = trimmed.isEmpty ? "last" : trimmed
+            self.to = delivery.to ?? ""
+            self.bestEffortDeliver = delivery.bestEffort ?? false
+        } else if self.sessionTarget == .isolated {
+            self.deliveryMode = .announce
+        }
     }
 
     func save() {
@@ -88,15 +93,25 @@ extension CronJobEditor {
         }
 
         if self.sessionTarget == .isolated {
-            let trimmed = self.postPrefix.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
-            root["isolation"] = [
-                "postToMainPrefix": trimmed.isEmpty ? "Cron" : trimmed,
-            ]
+            root["delivery"] = self.buildDelivery()
         }
 
         return root.mapValues { AnyCodable($0) }
     }
 
+    func buildDelivery() -> [String: Any] {
+        let mode = self.deliveryMode == .announce ? "announce" : "none"
+        var delivery: [String: Any] = ["mode": mode]
+        if self.deliveryMode == .announce {
+            let trimmed = self.channel.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+            delivery["channel"] = trimmed.isEmpty ? "last" : trimmed
+            let to = self.to.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+            if !to.isEmpty { delivery["to"] = to }
+            if self.bestEffortDeliver { delivery["bestEffort"] = true }
+        }
+        return delivery
+    }
+
     func trimmed(_ value: String) -> String {
         value.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
     }
@@ -115,7 +130,7 @@ extension CronJobEditor {
     func buildSchedule() throws -> [String: Any] {
         switch self.scheduleKind {
         case .at:
-            return ["kind": "at", "atMs": Int(self.atDate.timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000)]
+            return ["kind": "at", "at": CronSchedule.formatIsoDate(self.atDate)]
         case .every:
             guard let ms = Self.parseDurationMs(self.everyText) else {
                 throw NSError(
@@ -209,14 +224,6 @@ extension CronJobEditor {
         let thinking = self.thinking.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
         if !thinking.isEmpty { payload["thinking"] = thinking }
         if let n = Int(self.timeoutSeconds), n > 0 { payload["timeoutSeconds"] = n }
-        payload["deliver"] = self.deliver
-        if self.deliver {
-            let trimmed = self.channel.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
-            payload["channel"] = trimmed.isEmpty ? "last" : trimmed
-            let to = self.to.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
-            if !to.isEmpty { payload["to"] = to }
-            payload["bestEffortDeliver"] = self.bestEffortDeliver
-        }
         return payload
     }
 

apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/CronJobEditor+Testing.swift

@@ -13,13 +13,12 @@ extension CronJobEditor {
 
         self.payloadKind = .agentTurn
         self.agentMessage = "Run diagnostic"
-        self.deliver = true
+        self.deliveryMode = .announce
         self.channel = "last"
         self.to = "+15551230000"
         self.thinking = "low"
         self.timeoutSeconds = "90"
         self.bestEffortDeliver = true
-        self.postPrefix = "Cron"
 
         _ = self.buildAgentTurnPayload()
         _ = try? self.buildPayload()

apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/CronJobEditor.swift

@@ -16,16 +16,13 @@ struct CronJobEditor: View {
             + "Use an isolated session for agent turns so your main chat stays clean."
     static let sessionTargetNote =
         "Main jobs post a system event into the current main session. "
-            + "Isolated jobs run OpenClaw in a dedicated session and can deliver results (WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord/etc)."
+            + "Isolated jobs run OpenClaw in a dedicated session and can announce results to a channel."
     static let scheduleKindNote =
         "“At” runs once, “Every” repeats with a duration, “Cron” uses a 5-field Unix expression."
     static let isolatedPayloadNote =
-        "Isolated jobs always run an agent turn. The result can be delivered to a channel, "
-            + "and a short summary is posted back to your main chat."
+        "Isolated jobs always run an agent turn. Announce sends a short summary to a channel."
     static let mainPayloadNote =
         "System events are injected into the current main session. Agent turns require an isolated session target."
-    static let mainSummaryNote =
-        "Controls the label used when posting the completion summary back to the main session."
 
     @State var name: String = ""
     @State var description: String = ""
@@ -46,13 +43,13 @@ struct CronJobEditor: View {
     @State var payloadKind: PayloadKind = .systemEvent
     @State var systemEventText: String = ""
     @State var agentMessage: String = ""
-    @State var deliver: Bool = false
+    enum DeliveryChoice: String, CaseIterable, Identifiable { case announce, none; var id: String { rawValue } }
+    @State var deliveryMode: DeliveryChoice = .announce
     @State var channel: String = "last"
     @State var to: String = ""
     @State var thinking: String = ""
     @State var timeoutSeconds: String = ""
     @State var bestEffortDeliver: Bool = false
-    @State var postPrefix: String = "Cron"
 
     var channelOptions: [String] {
         let ordered = self.channelsStore.orderedChannelIds()
@@ -248,27 +245,6 @@ struct CronJobEditor: View {
                         }
                     }
 
-                    if self.sessionTarget == .isolated {
-                        GroupBox("Main session summary") {
-                            Grid(alignment: .leadingFirstTextBaseline, horizontalSpacing: 14, verticalSpacing: 10) {
-                                GridRow {
-                                    self.gridLabel("Prefix")
-                                    TextField("Cron", text: self.$postPrefix)
-                                        .textFieldStyle(.roundedBorder)
-                                        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
-                                }
-                                GridRow {
-                                    Color.clear
-                                        .frame(width: self.labelColumnWidth, height: 1)
-                                    Text(
-                                        Self.mainSummaryNote)
-                                        .font(.footnote)
-                                        .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
-                                        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
                 }
                 .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
                 .padding(.vertical, 2)
@@ -340,13 +316,17 @@ struct CronJobEditor: View {
                         .frame(width: 180, alignment: .leading)
                 }
                 GridRow {
-                    self.gridLabel("Deliver")
-                    Toggle("Deliver result to a channel", isOn: self.$deliver)
-                        .toggleStyle(.switch)
+                    self.gridLabel("Delivery")
+                    Picker("", selection: self.$deliveryMode) {
+                        Text("Announce summary").tag(DeliveryChoice.announce)
+                        Text("None").tag(DeliveryChoice.none)
+                    }
+                    .labelsHidden()
+                    .pickerStyle(.segmented)
                 }
             }
 
-            if self.deliver {
+            if self.deliveryMode == .announce {
                 Grid(alignment: .leadingFirstTextBaseline, horizontalSpacing: 14, verticalSpacing: 10) {
                     GridRow {
                         self.gridLabel("Channel")
@@ -367,7 +347,7 @@ struct CronJobEditor: View {
                     }
                     GridRow {
                         self.gridLabel("Best-effort")
-                        Toggle("Do not fail the job if delivery fails", isOn: self.$bestEffortDeliver)
+                        Toggle("Do not fail the job if announce fails", isOn: self.$bestEffortDeliver)
                             .toggleStyle(.switch)
                     }
                 }

apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/CronModels.swift

@@ -14,12 +14,26 @@ enum CronWakeMode: String, CaseIterable, Identifiable, Codable {
     var id: String { self.rawValue }
 }
 
+enum CronDeliveryMode: String, CaseIterable, Identifiable, Codable {
+    case none
+    case announce
+
+    var id: String { self.rawValue }
+}
+
+struct CronDelivery: Codable, Equatable {
+    var mode: CronDeliveryMode
+    var channel: String?
+    var to: String?
+    var bestEffort: Bool?
+}
+
 enum CronSchedule: Codable, Equatable {
-    case at(atMs: Int)
+    case at(at: String)
     case every(everyMs: Int, anchorMs: Int?)
     case cron(expr: String, tz: String?)
 
-    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case kind, atMs, everyMs, anchorMs, expr, tz }
+    enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey { case kind, at, atMs, everyMs, anchorMs, expr, tz }
 
     var kind: String {
         switch self {
@@ -34,7 +48,21 @@ enum CronSchedule: Codable, Equatable {
         let kind = try container.decode(String.self, forKey: .kind)
         switch kind {
         case "at":
-            self = try .at(atMs: container.decode(Int.self, forKey: .atMs))
+            if let at = try container.decodeIfPresent(String.self, forKey: .at),
+               !at.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty
+            {
+                self = .at(at: at)
+                return
+            }
+            if let atMs = try container.decodeIfPresent(Int.self, forKey: .atMs) {
+                let date = Date(timeIntervalSince1970: TimeInterval(atMs) / 1000)
+                self = .at(at: Self.formatIsoDate(date))
+                return
+            }
+            throw DecodingError.dataCorruptedError(
+                forKey: .at,
+                in: container,
+                debugDescription: "Missing schedule.at")
         case "every":
             self = try .every(
                 everyMs: container.decode(Int.self, forKey: .everyMs),
@@ -55,8 +83,8 @@ enum CronSchedule: Codable, Equatable {
         var container = encoder.container(keyedBy: CodingKeys.self)
         try container.encode(self.kind, forKey: .kind)
         switch self {
-        case let .at(atMs):
-            try container.encode(atMs, forKey: .atMs)
+        case let .at(at):
+            try container.encode(at, forKey: .at)
         case let .every(everyMs, anchorMs):
             try container.encode(everyMs, forKey: .everyMs)
             try container.encodeIfPresent(anchorMs, forKey: .anchorMs)
@@ -65,6 +93,29 @@ enum CronSchedule: Codable, Equatable {
             try container.encodeIfPresent(tz, forKey: .tz)
         }
     }
+
+    static func parseAtDate(_ value: String) -> Date? {
+        let trimmed = value.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        if trimmed.isEmpty { return nil }
+        if let date = isoFormatterWithFractional.date(from: trimmed) { return date }
+        return isoFormatter.date(from: trimmed)
+    }
+
+    static func formatIsoDate(_ date: Date) -> String {
+        isoFormatter.string(from: date)
+    }
+
+    private static let isoFormatter: ISO8601DateFormatter = {
+        let formatter = ISO8601DateFormatter()
+        formatter.formatOptions = [.withInternetDateTime]
+        return formatter
+    }()
+
+    private static let isoFormatterWithFractional: ISO8601DateFormatter = {
+        let formatter = ISO8601DateFormatter()
+        formatter.formatOptions = [.withInternetDateTime, .withFractionalSeconds]
+        return formatter
+    }()
 }
 
 enum CronPayload: Codable, Equatable {
@@ -131,10 +182,6 @@ enum CronPayload: Codable, Equatable {
     }
 }
 
-struct CronIsolation: Codable, Equatable {
-    var postToMainPrefix: String?
-}
-
 struct CronJobState: Codable, Equatable {
     var nextRunAtMs: Int?
     var runningAtMs: Int?
@@ -157,7 +204,7 @@ struct CronJob: Identifiable, Codable, Equatable {
     let sessionTarget: CronSessionTarget
     let wakeMode: CronWakeMode
     let payload: CronPayload
-    let isolation: CronIsolation?
+    let delivery: CronDelivery?
     let state: CronJobState
 
     var displayName: String {

apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/CronSettings+Helpers.swift

@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@ extension CronSettings {
 
     func scheduleSummary(_ schedule: CronSchedule) -> String {
         switch schedule {
-        case let .at(atMs):
-            let date = Date(timeIntervalSince1970: TimeInterval(atMs) / 1000)
-            return "at \(date.formatted(date: .abbreviated, time: .standard))"
+        case let .at(at):
+            if let date = CronSchedule.parseAtDate(at) {
+                return "at \(date.formatted(date: .abbreviated, time: .standard))"
+            }
+            return "at \(at)"
         case let .every(everyMs, _):
             return "every \(self.formatDuration(ms: everyMs))"
         case let .cron(expr, tz):

apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/CronSettings+Rows.swift

@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ extension CronSettings {
                     .foregroundStyle(.orange)
                     .textSelection(.enabled)
             }
-            self.payloadSummary(job.payload)
+            self.payloadSummary(job)
         }
         .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
         .padding(10)
@@ -205,7 +205,8 @@ extension CronSettings {
         .padding(.vertical, 4)
     }
 
-    func payloadSummary(_ payload: CronPayload) -> some View {
+    func payloadSummary(_ job: CronJob) -> some View {
+        let payload = job.payload
         VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 6) {
             Text("Payload")
                 .font(.caption.weight(.semibold))
@@ -215,18 +216,27 @@ extension CronSettings {
                 Text(text)
                     .font(.callout)
                     .textSelection(.enabled)
-            case let .agentTurn(message, thinking, timeoutSeconds, deliver, provider, to, _):
+            case let .agentTurn(message, thinking, timeoutSeconds, _, _, _, _):
                 VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
                     Text(message)
                         .font(.callout)
                         .textSelection(.enabled)
                     HStack(spacing: 8) {
                         if let thinking, !thinking.isEmpty { StatusPill(text: "think \(thinking)", tint: .secondary) }
                         if let timeoutSeconds { StatusPill(text: "\(timeoutSeconds)s", tint: .secondary) }
-                        if deliver ?? false {
-                            StatusPill(text: "deliver", tint: .secondary)
-                            if let provider, !provider.isEmpty { StatusPill(text: provider, tint: .secondary) }
-                            if let to, !to.isEmpty { StatusPill(text: to, tint: .secondary) }
+                        if job.sessionTarget == .isolated {
+                            let delivery = job.delivery
+                            if let delivery {
+                                if delivery.mode == .announce {
+                                    StatusPill(text: "announce", tint: .secondary)
+                                    if let channel = delivery.channel, !channel.isEmpty {
+                                        StatusPill(text: channel, tint: .secondary)
+                                    }
+                                    if let to = delivery.to, !to.isEmpty { StatusPill(text: to, tint: .secondary) }
+                                } else {
+                                    StatusPill(text: "no delivery", tint: .secondary)
+                                }
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }