Using Crontab with FoxPro for UNIX

ID: Q124714

2.60 UNIX kb3rdparty kbenv

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Without special modifications, FoxPro for UNIX will not function successfully with Crontab (the UNIX scheduling utility). Below is a situation that worked for a specific customer.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: The information in this article has not been confirmed or tested by Microsoft. Some or all of the information in this article has been taken from unconfirmed customer reports. ANY USE BY YOU OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this information "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

FoxPro for UNIX operates interactively and expects input from the keyboard to continue processing. Crontab schedules events to occur and wants to have the following to work correctly with FoxPro for UNIX:

1. Reroute FoxPro standard output and standard error to a file. You can do

   this as follows:

      extract.exe myProg > outFile 2 > &1

  NOTE: The "> outfile" clause directs Standard Output to a file with a
  name of outfile and the "2 > &1" clause directs Standard Error to that
  file. Additionally, FPU should be started with the i,t,o, and e startup
  switches.

2. Do not run with NOHUP option on Crontab.

3. Set TERM equal to ANSI.

4. Start FoxPro with the -t switch.

Additional reference words: FoxUnix 2.60 KBCategory: kb3rdparty kbenv KBSubcategory: FxenvOs

Last Reviewed: November 20, 1998