Capturing output

Anon

I have createde i php script that runs an external unix command without buffering.
The script called nph-scriptname.php contains these lines :

echo "<pre>";
system("command $var", $returncode);
echo "</pre>";

The command takes quite a long time to execute, and I want to watch the output as it is generated. That works great !

Now, when the command has finished, I want to be able the email the output. How can I do that ?

Thanks
Tom

Anon

Look up the mail() function in the php manual.

It's in the 'Email Functions' section.

Anon

Well, my first problem is to get the output of the command into a string. AFAIK, I can't do that with non-buffered calls like system(). So, the problem is really not how to send the email, but rather how to execute system() and grab the output of the command.

Thanks anyways :=)

Anon

Hi,

I have yet to use this function but my book says..

Function 
system(command [,return_var])

Returns 
String

Description 
Executes the specified command and displays any output

PS: I found this as well.. It sould fix you up
http://php.net/manual/en/function.system.php

And POOF just like that he was gone,
COPE

Anon

The problem with system() is, that the string returned only contains the LAST line of the output. I want the complete output -- just like the "backticks" gives you.

I guess I could use a function like the unix 'tee'.

Or, maybe I have missed a php variable like "PHP_THIS_DOCUMENT" :=)

Anon

Hi,

In that link I posted before did you try the ol' "Passthru" ? I have yet to use it but it promises RAW OUTPUT.

Beyond that I would have to ask why you are running a shell script since the are can cause gapping holes in security. If you can not formulate the desired information the way you are trying to achieve it.

Perhaps there is a way to gain the information THRU PHP.. ? Just a thought though Passthru might sing like the fat lady. ; )

little big man,
COPE

sucro

ya, exec-ing shell commands is nearly always a bad bad idea.

one idea for you would be to set up a cron (?) task that runs the command, saves the output, then runs the php script that grabs whatever is in the file and does whatever it you're trying to do 🙂