scheduled automatic mail messages

[Anon]

I have a database (MySQL) with email addresses. Once a week I would like to have a preset message automatically sent out to one of the addresses selected out of the database.

I think I know how to do the actual selection out of the database depending on what week of the year it is. What I don't know is if there is a way of automatically "starting" the mail function (mail()).

The whole idea is to have an automatic reminder posted to people that once a week take turns being responsible for a task.

/Claire

[Anon]

Once you have written a php page to determine whose turn it is and send an email, how you schedule the php to run depends on whether you are on a Windows or a Unix platform.

Unix: Schedule a CRON job

Setup the configuration file for cron using the command: crontab
to create or modify the configuration file use: crontab -e
This will alow you to edit your own crontab using vi
to view the contents of the file use: crontab -l
to delete the file use: crontab -r

Each line in a crontab file has 6 fields:
minute
hour
day of the month
month
day of the week
command

Eg:
19 20 Sun c:\php\php.exe -q c:\path\to\emailSend.php auto

Every Sunday, at 20:19 the program will run

Windows: Use task scheduler

in win 2K its under control panel / scheduled task
to schedule task with command like

c:\php\php.exe -q c:\path\to\emailSend.php auto

Of course you need to set the paths correctly for your server.

[Anon]

Sorry, I think it should be forward slashes on the CRON command.

Eg:
19 20 Sun path/to/php/php.exe -q path/to/emailSend.php auto