Script files on Server (Dreamhost etc) - Dwyne (Dwine) Genealogy & Personal Site
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Script files on Server (Dreamhost etc) - creating a program to run in a UNIX shell as a CRON job.

Read - 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 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.

Dreamhost does not email the results of your CRON job, unless there is an error that writes to the console. You need to ensure that your script works before scheduling.

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.
• PuTTY - use your sites username and password to initiate a command line interface.
• You can now issue UNIX commands ie ls cp pwd
• Test and debug your test.sh file Try -
• sh test.sh
• bash test.sh
• . test.sh
• Schedule(Cron Job) your script(test.sh)
• DreamHost Control Panel
• 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.

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

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