Solaris

Hi,

I have the following executable in cron:

10 * * * 1-5 /apps/bin/dmg_cronlaunch -ENVI ENVIRONMENT -EXE exec -FILE ratespb_sdos_prdf_`TZ=US/Eastern;date +\%Y\%m\%d\%H\%M\%S`.sdos > /tmp/dmg_exec.log.`/usr/bin/date +\%Y_\%m_\%d_\%H:\%M:\%S` 2>&1

Comprised of the following:

/apps/bin/dmg_cronlaunch -ENVI ENVIRONMENT -> launches a set of variables
-EXE executable -> Executes a program
-FILE ratespb_exe_prdf_`TZ=US/Eastern;date +\%Y\%m\%d\%H\%M\%S`.exe -> This is the output file

When I run it from the command line, the output file appears fine (with the US/Eastern time), however when it's running from crontab it seems to ignore the TZ=US/Eastern; command and the file appears with my local timezone. Any help on this?

This is almost to fiddly to follow.

Create a script and place the commands in a executable script which you can run from cron.
Don't forget a shebang line at the top so you definitely run the Shell you want not whatever the default is in cron.

The way yours is behaving is like an old Bourne Shell in which case you would need "export TZ" before "date". It is not unusual for the default Shell in cron to be an old Bourne Shell. Put the commands in a Shell script with approriate shebang line and forget trying to create complex commands on a cron line.

Ps. It always helps to know what Operating System and version you have and what Shell you prefer.

Hi Methyl,

Sorry I'm going to separate the wheat. The issue is only with the TZ variable, so it comes down to this:

00 * * * 1-5 /apps/sum_glob/fo_live/sparse/bin/dmg_cronlaunch -ENVI SUMLDNFOINT2 -EXE export TZ=US/Eastern; echo $TZ > /tmp/date.txt

If I run this form the command line, the /tmp/date.txt file will look something like that:

gbouausr@longmsumu1$> cat /tmp/date.txt
US/Eastern

But If it's launched by cron, it will be like this (my current timezone shows up, TZ variable doesn't change):

gbouausr@longmsumu1$> cat /tmp/date.txt
GB-Eire

This means the TZ variable remains unchanged when I launch it from crontab. Do you know how can I solve this without the help of a script?

In your post #3 the characters "export TZ" get presented as a parameter to main program.

Please please do tell us what Operating System and version you have. It matters for cron.

Anyway assuming you have a cron which invokes old Bourne Shell, the TZ change needs to be first (note that "export TZ=" syntax will be invalid in old Bourne Shell):

Code:

00 * * * 1-5 TZ=US/Eastern; export TZ; /apps/sum_glob/fo_live/sparse/bin/dmg_cronlaunch -ENVI SUMLDNFOINT2 -EXE ; echo $TZ > /tmp/date.txt

I still strongly advise you to do this in a script and to run the script from cron. The basic cron environment is not suitable for actual scripting.

Thanks! It works this way. I've tried doing it via script before and it worked as well, but I needed the option to do it directly from the cron line.

Sorry, SunOS is 5.8, with Korn shell.

I believe that SunOS 5.8 has the old Bourne Shell as the default for cron.

$> ps -p $$
PID TTY TIME CMD
14600 pts/55 0:01 ksh