running scripts in crontab

[user_2001]

Hi

I am trying to run a script in crontab - when I execute the script on a command line it will work not probelm but when I schedule it in the crontab it will not work!

I have included in the script to set the enviroment but still it will not work !!

Any suggestions

#!/usr/bin/sh

HOME="/apps/program/core_bin"

# A short wrapper script to set the TERM variable for ret.
# the curses front end to ret dies when TERM="".

TERM=hpterm
export TERM

program -c ret_alive_check.cmd > /dev/null

[Mark van Hassel]

Hi,

It could be that you have to use the whole pathname.
What is the return code in /var/adm/cron/log ?

[Thierry Poels_1]

hi,
jobs executed from the crontab have a very limited environment.
To solve your problem you can add the full path to "program", as Mark as already mentioned, or you could define your PATH in your script.
good luck,
Thierry.

[harry d brown jr]

Thierry hit this right on the head. You can either fully qualify your executable path names (as in /apps/program/core_bin/program -c ret_alive....), or add your "HOME" path to the "PATH" variable (export PATH=$PATH:/apps/program/core_bin).

[Praveen Bezawada]

Hi
This has to do with the environment setting.
Include all the environment setting present in .profile in your script.
Also check the cron logs in /var/adm/cron

...BPK...

[user_2001]

okay I have added all these details about the env into the script.

added line into crontab .. as so
0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * /apps/program/core_bin/ret -c /apps
/program/core_bin/alive1.sh

but still - it won't run for me !!

Help

[harry d brown jr]

When you run this from the command line, does it work, and does the permissions include Execute? Also, is this a root cron, or another user?

/apps/program/core_bin/ret -c /apps/program/core_bin/alive1.sh

[Thierry Poels_1]

hi again,
did you check the user's (root?) mail? Output from a cron job will be mail to the user, so you might find something usefull there.

How about "alive1.sh", this script might also need some environment variables like PATH, ...

regards,
Thierry.

[Ravi_8]

Hi,
set TERM=hp and not to hpterm

[user_2001]

this is now my crontab

0,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50,55 * * * * * /apps/program/core_bin/ret-c /apps/program/core_bin/alive1.sh

this is now the script
#!/bin/sh -f

HOME=/home/program
PATH=/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/local/bin:/usr/lbin:/usr/uc
b:/usr/lbin:/etc:/usr/lib:.:/oracle8/OraHome1/bin:/apps/program/core_bin:/apps/
program/aim_bin
LOGNAME=program
SHELL=/bin/csh
TERM=hp
export TERM


ret -c ret_alive_check1.cmd > /dev/null

Still will not work for me in crontab -- works fine at command line !!

Pulling my hair out at moment !!

[harry d brown jr]

Can you do a "whereis ret" to determine if there is another program called "ret" in your path. What does "ret" do?

[user_2001]

ret -- is a program that calls up a terminal -- like calling SAM up and then sends a message from within sam!!

[Sachin Patel]

Hi Colet,
Is ret a gui program?

Sachin

[Mark van Hassel]

You probably have to set the DISPLAY variable in your script.

[harry d brown jr]

Sachin is probably right about the "DISPLAY" variable, but if not, try this:

From a root login capture your environment variables:

env > /tmp/root_env

From your crontab script, add a line like this:

env >/tmp/cron_env

Then do a "diff" and add any missing variables.

[user_2001]

No ret is not a gui program more like a command line menu options!!

[Sachin Patel]

Hi
use FQPN for your program rat. i.e if your executable rat is in /opt/rat/bin then in script use

/opt/rat/bin/rat -c ?????? > /dev/null


Sachin

[Wodisch]

Hello Colet,

if I read your script right, you are using the C-shell
from within it. Well, then it will perhaps try to be
"interactive" and that would need a "controlling
terminal" which will not be available if called from
"cron"... There is an option for the C-shell to NOT
start interactively, though, you might try that...

HTH,
Wodisch