[SOLVED] Server-side Event Handling

[ibechane]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum.  I'm not sure which one is best.

 

I was wondering, what is the most common way for people to program in local event handlers?  For example, say I want to change an XML file on my server at exactly 11:56pm tonight.  I assume that I would write some kind of program on my computer and have it loop, waiting do something to the file at the right time (or local event).  Is there a common programming language or method to achieve this sort of thing?  I don't want the action to rely on a client event (e.g. loading a php file).

 

Thanks!

[trq]

The most common way would be to have cron (a schedular for Linux) execute your script at a specific time.

[ibechane]

thanks!  I'm actually on Windows running WAMP right now on my laptop but I never thought to use the built in scheduler.. duh

 

So right now, I have a PHP script that does stuff to files on my server, mostly writing to files.  I want to run this script via a scheduler but not have to open a browser every time.  There is very little response text.  Maybe an "I'm done" or error message.  Is there a way I can call a php file, like localhost/myscript.php, via the command line and just have it output the response text without having to open up a browser window?  Or should I just try to convert my program to perl (I'm an extreme newbie w/perl so I'm not even sure how practical that is)?

 

Thanks for your help thorpe

[ober]

You can use Windows Task Scheduler.  Just call the PHP Executable file as your command with your script as an argument.  Your script can do whatever you want, including calling other files.

[ibechane]

Thanks.  I actually just thought to try it before I read this post.  Thanks for you help guys.