[Resolved] Batch process & related scripting advice

shuggie

I'm looking for some advice on how to go about creating the scripts to run a process. To explain... I'd like to create a web based form where a user can add search details ; when submitted the database query is executed and if no match is found offers the user the option to keep checking on a regular basis and then email the result when a match finally is made.

I've done the form and can run the query. What I don't know how to tackle is setting up the process to keep running the script if that option is selected.

I'm using Apache, PHP and mysql on Win 98.

Any advice or direction would be gratefully rec'd.

Thanks in advance

mattotto77

How about if the user selects yes to be updated, it writes back to the database.

If you then setup a scheduled task in windows that queries the database checking for who wants to be emailed, what the query is and what is the email address.

If there are results then to email him.

Good luck.

shuggie

Thanks Matt. So, on the PHP mySQL side I could write the user entered search critera to (say) a temp database table and then write a script that the windows task scheduler would execute that gets all the rows in the temp table and loop searches the main database on each specific criteria and sends a mail for each match? Sounds good....

I've never used Windows schedule task features... will it recognise a PHP script or would I need to create some other format?

Thanks,

Shuggie

shuggie

I think I've answered my own question... it won't run a php script... Can anyone advise what script format I would need to use? Thanks

leatherback

Hi,

Sounds to me like you are talking about CRON jobs.

What was suggested earlier.. using the windows schedular.. It requires that you have your pC switched on for your programs to run.. Safer to do it server-side. And that is where the cron-jobs are comming up.

I have never had the need to use them, but as far as I know, you can setup these routines, and tell the server to run them every once in -timeperiod-.
So yu coudld store the queries in a database and every week run each query, and upon results mail them to the user.

mattotto77

see if you can get the php script to run from the command line ie DOS you might need other software to do this im not sure but once this is done all you have to do is put this in a batch file. But like leatherback says you will need the machine logged in all the time to run the batch file. Look on the web for setting up scheduled tasks.

Good Luck

Matt

shuggie

My thanks to you both for the help. Much appreciated.