Script files on Server (Dreamhost etc) - creating a program to run in a UNIX shell as a CRON job.

Read First- you will be BURNT by this!

If, due to editing/updoading, the format changes from Unix to Windows, your files will have a CR/LF as the NEWLINE control characters. Unix only uses LF as the NEWLINE control character.

If you see a ? or /r at the end of a line a CR has been added. These files are confusing and a real pain in the butt to get rid of. Best to keep all script files in a separate directory edit these files with Notepad++ and make sure that Unix format is selected on the top menu bar - View - Show Symbol - Show End of Line is selected (this shows Line endings in BLACK) on the bottom right bar it should say Unix or Windows or Macintosh - double click to change.

In my experience file transfer programs that claim to handle CR/LF are not reliable.

Make sure that your script file on the server has the execute bit set.

Crontab is suppose to email only if there are errors that write to the console. In my experience this is not reliable, you need to check! You need to ensure that your script works before scheduling.
You may notice the "DREAMHOST BLOCK" which is added to all script files, it contains the MAILTO var, it's the email you entered on the dreamhost.com scheduling page.

Notes on running script files on dreamhost.com (currently Ubuntu Linux) from Windows.
Your script files are on your server, they are scheduled to run via the Dreamhost web interface. Editing of the script files is best done on your local/personal computer system then uploaded(FileZila) to dreamhost

My Procedure:
• On local system - create script - upload script
• On remote system - test script - schedule on dreamhost.com

Create your script file(test.sh) for scheduling(CRON)

• Use Notepad++ to create your script file you can look up the UNIX commands as required.
• Upload your script file. - FileZilla(execute bit set?)
• Log on to your server. (Dreamhost currently Ubuntu Linux)
• PuTTY - use your sites username and password to initiate a command line interface.
• You can now issue UNIX commands
  • enter dir or ls to list your files
  • enter crontab -l to list your script files
  • enter crontab -e to edit your file on dreamhost (I do not use this)
• Test and debug your test.sh file Try -
• ./test.sh
• sh test.sh
• bash test.sh
• Schedule(Cron Job) your script(test.sh)
• DreamHost Control Panel (more)
• Cron Jobs
• Add New Cron Job
• User: select your user
• Title: Description
• Email output to: Your eMail - Remember you will not receive an email unless there is a serious error!
• Status: Must be enabled to run
• Command to run: /full/path/test.sh
• Use Locking: Selected
• When to run: Select Hourly or Custom as required.

Note Cron jobs on dreamhost are limited to 1000 characters - not very much.

If you receive the error:
• /bin/sh: -c: line 1:unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
• /bin/sh: -c: line 2: syntax error: unexpected end of file
you are over the 1000 character limit. This is a character limit so it includes comments! But does not include the contents of your .sh script file.

Tools Used

• Server - Dreamhost account Other UNIX servers will be similar.
• NotePad++.exe - Editor
• FileZilla.exe - FTP client
• PuTTY.exe - Windows Secure Shell UNIX command file interface