auction system help

[Anon]

we are using php and mysql to develop a auction system
we face a problem. it is that
how to make the system count down time
in real time and at background. such as seller post a product,
and then set the trade time(can be 1 day or 1 week from now), after the time, the trade will be closed. how to let the system check the time.how to do this thing using php or mysql. has PHP that of function so that we can call it. Anyone can give me the link or example for reference ??

[brandonschnell]

depends on how much time you want to spend on this and how much traffic you're expecting.

the fastest way to implement this imho is to have a column for the date/time the auction started ( now() )and a column for when the auction ends( dateadd( now() + 1 week). whenever the page loads, first run a sql update setting the status of the auction to closed where auction_closed_date > now(). next, show all open auctions sorting by the auctions that will soon close.

if you're expecting a bit more traffic, then have a php page run as a cron job updating the auction status every couple of minutes.

[Anon]

thanks
i am interest in knowing more on
"have a php page run as a cron job"

how to do it if my whole system is on windows platform.

and would you mind showing me more details
on the topic.

any codes, any example or tutorials.

thanks in advance
Alex

[brandonschnell]

if you're running winnt then use the at command to schedule a program to run at set times. otherwise, go to download.com and look for a task scheduler. now run your php scripts like so:

c:\path\to\php myphpscript.php

the script doesn't need to return anything to the clients browser because no one will see it. place your maintence tasks in the script such as setting the status of the auctions.