Posted by Erwin Moller on 03/23/07 14:50

Erwin Moller wrote:

> Chr1s wrote:
>
>> How do I execute a crontab command using php (not CLI) as user Joe?
>>
>> I don't have any problem getting output from commands such as 'ls'
>> using passthru and exec but I am stumped with crontab.
>>
>> Many thanks!
>>
>> Chris
>
> Hi Chris,
>
> 1) user Joe:
> If you want user Joe to execute the cronjob, login as use Joe and edit his
> cronjob by typing:
> crontab -e
>
> Now the contab program opens Joe's cronjobs.
> Most systems open in VI editor, since I hate that thing because I am a
> nOOb, I prefer opening in pico: a small editor that works like a human
> brain, unlike VI (shoot me if you want. :P).
>
> If you want pico (or nano) too, type first:
> export EDITOR=pico
> then give the crontab -e command.
>
> 2) shedule
> add a line like this (all on 1 line):
> 0 1 * * * cd /home/yourdir/public_html/ && php -q
> /home/yourdir/public_html/yoursheduledscript.php
>
> to let the script run each night at 1 o'clock.
>
> I am not sure about the cd, but had trouble using a script without cd-ing
> to the dir first.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Regards,
> Erwin Moller


One addition: when hunting for problems think of the cronjob as:
1) login as user Joe
2) Joe gives the commands by hand.

So if your script isn't doing what you want, you can always try to find what
is wrong by doing excactly the same thing being Joe.

Good luck.

Regards,
Erwin Moller

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