[RESOLVED] Script run indefinately

[JamesBrauman]

Heya,

I written a data-mining php script that when run, takes over an hour to complete. I initially tried running the script through an internet browser (Internet explorer), and although set_time_limit is set to zero, eventually Internet Explorer decided it had been waiting for the page to load for too long (about half an hour) and gave me a 404 error, effectively stopping my script short (and its data-mining).

I have heard about using PHP.exe to directly run my script, seems I do not require any output (only mysql functions). I have a couple of questions though:
- Will running my script through PHP.exe, as opposed to through a browser, allow me to run the script 'indefinately' (or however many hours I need it to run)?
- How would I go about running my script using PHP.exe to run my script on my computer?

Thankyou.

[Kudose]

The best way (for XP) is to add the PHP directory to your %PATH% by right clicking My Computer, clicking properties. Click the advanced tab and click Environment variables. Find Path in the list and click Edit. Add your PHP directory onto the end, but be sure to add a semi colon before it.

Log out and log in.

Then edit your script and remove any set_time_limits you have and add set_time_limit(0); to the top of your script.

Open a command prompt and cd to the directory your PHP script is in.

Then type php.exe scriptname.php and hit enter

Voilà

[NogDog]

Just be aware that running from the command line may have some impact on your script if it depends on certain configuration options and/or environment variables which may be different in the CLI configuration as opposed to running as a web CGI or Apache module. (E.g.: some of the $_SERVER or $ENV settings may be different or not set at all.)

[JamesBrauman]

Thankyou it is working now, I will tell you how it goes.