Automating Tasks in PHP

[EverToDesign]

Hey there, got a bit of a problem.

Im working on a website but a client wants it so that after 10 days a user is automatically emailed with a reminder.

In addition he has several newsletters he wants mailed automatically on certain days.

Additionally each user has an expiration date column in their record row. 15 days before this date he wants an email sent out automatically to the user notifying them of the upcoming expiration

is there anyway to some how schedual these automated tasks in PHP or what? How would I go about doing this?

I believe cron jobs aren't enabled so is there any other way?

But if cron jobs are enabled can someone explain them to me and how they work?

[thoand]

I think Cron is the only practical way.

Alternatives is to have a computer always on, and have a script running with eg. HTML metafresh or JavaScript timer, which refresh every 10-15 minutes.

But cron is more practical,

I have not done what you ask for before, but I am sure this would work.

1.
Make sure Cron is running on your server.

2.
Make sure the Lynx browser is installed on the server

3.
Create PHP or Perl scripts that does the job you want, eg. pull out the useres that have expired and so on.

4.
Create a Cron job that:
Opens the script in the Lynx browser.
Do this as often you want.

This is one way to do it.
for more information about how to use Cron,please read:

http://www.aota.net/Script_Installation_Tips/cronhelp.php4

good luck,

best regards
Thomas Andersen