Using Cron

Setting Up Time Based Scripts to Run using Crontab

MODX Cloud supports cron functionality on a per-cloud basis. Cron is managed from the command line, not from the dashboard, and therefore requires a little bit of knowledge about how to log in, and run basic commands.

Here's a primer on what cron is and how to use it.

Crontab Basics

Cron is managed with the crontab command. After logging into a cloud via SSH, typing crontab -e loads up the vi editor to allow you to edit the contents of your crontab. There are lots of resources to help you get up to speed with using vi, if you're not already familiar with it. The ultra-short version: hit the i key to get into "insert mode" where you can edit text; hit the Esc key to get out of insert mode; type :wq (colon, w, q) to save and quit. On saving, your crontab will be updated and changes will take effect within one to five minutes.

Any command that you can run from the command line can be placed into your crontab. This includes calling shell scripts, mysql, PHP scripts and so on. Paths in your crontab are relative to your home directory. If you're not sure if cron is running your command, make sure it runs from the command line first.

Crontab Expression Tools/References

If you're not sure how to run the cron job at the frequency you would like, there are tools tools help you calculate the expression. Here are a few: 

• https://crontab-generator.org/
• https://crontab.cronhub.io
• https://crontab.guru

Using Crontab with MODX

If you wish to run MODX or a PHP script that includes MODX from cron, it's easy! Let's take a look at a simple example. Every minute of every day, I want MODX to log something. This is what I put into my crontab:

* * * * * php /www/mycron.php

The PHP script that cron is going to run (mycron.php in your www directory) looks like this:

<?php
require_once dirname(__FILE__) . '/config.core.php';
require_once MODX_CORE_PATH.'model/modx/modx.class.php';
$modx = new modX();
$modx->initialize('web');
$modx->log(modX::LOG_LEVEL_ERROR, 'cron time! ' . time());

If you look at MODX's log file (located in www/core/cache/logs/error.log) in a text editor, you'll note there is an entry logged each minute by this cron.

Please note that after you save your crontab, changes will only be executed after 5 minutes when an update script is ran. Please wait 5 minutes after updating your crontab before reporting an issue. 

Don't hesitate to contact us should you have any further questions about cron.

Example: Use a Shell Script to Retrieve a CSV File Twice Daily

Assume you need to retrieve a CSV file at 5AM (before business opens) and 8PM (after all orders are shipped) every day to update inventory on a site. In your web root—so it will be backed up with your MODX site—create the following script, called cron.sh. Change the URL to your source location of course:

#!/bin/ash
wget -O /www/file.tmp https://www.example.com/obscure/path/source.csv
if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
  echo "wget failed"
  exit 1; 
fi
mv /www/file.tmp /www/import.csv

Now, update your crontab to the following entry, per the instructions above:

* 5,20 * * * www/cron.sh

Assuming the source server is reachable and functioning, every day at 5AM AND 8PM, you should see a new import.csv file created in your webroot. Use whatever logic or functions to process then remove this file in your application as needed.

It’s probaby a good idea to move this to a more secure non-web-accessible location, requiring changes to the the paths in the shell script, crontab and NGINX web rules to lock this down further, but this gives you the basics to remotely retrieve your data file from a public web location.

Cron Job for Cron Manager MODX Extra

If you are using the popular Extra, Cron Manager, to manage automatically scheduled processes in MODX Revolution you'll need to set up a cron job that runs, usually every minute of every day. Here's the command you'll add to your crontab entry. 

* * * * * php /www/assets/components/cronmanager/cron.php