Error trying to Update List Items via a TimerJob

Question

I thought I could reference SPContext when executing the timerjob function but I get "Instance reference is not set to an instance of an object". It fails when I reference SPContext.

What am I doing wrong? (I'm trying to update items in a list using a TimerJob)

Public Overrides Sub Execute(ByVal targetInstanceId As Guid)

   Dim oWeb As SPWeb = SPContext.Current.Web
   oWeb.Site.OpenWeb("http://dept.litwareinc.com/npp/NPE")

   'Update PEEIT Employees List
   UpdatePEEITEmployees(oWeb)

End Sub

Answer 1

SPContext is not accessible in timer job. The SharePoint timer service is a windows service. So you should pass a site and web Ids(Urls) to the timer job and open new web.

using(SPSite site = new SPSite(siteId)){using(SPWeb web = site.OpenWeb(webId)) { //code }}

Answer 2

SPContext represents the context of a HTTPRequest (Similar to HTTPContext).

In the Execute method, SPWebApplication instance is available ; get the target site instance from the this.WebApplication.Sites collection.

URL : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc406686%28v=office.12%29.aspx