I would like to be able to do this: I want to generate a pdf all Fridays
at an specific time. This pdf should be stored in an specific place too.
So I think something that makes the application able to look at what
time is it and do this pdf when this time arrives, even if no one is
using the application. I already know how to make the pdf and how to
store it, but I need help with generating this pdf at an specific time,
without any user pressing a button.
On 20 Mar 2008, at 23:17, John S. wrote:
I would like to be able to do this: I want to generate a pdf all
Fridays
at an specific time. This pdf should be stored in an specific place
too.
So I think something that makes the application able to look at what
time is it and do this pdf when this time arrives, even if no one is
using the application. I already know how to make the pdf and how to
store it, but I need help with generating this pdf at an specific
time,
without any user pressing a button.
A few options:
- Cron tab and script/runner
- BackgroundRB and its scheduler
- Ruby thread with sleep
The subject has come up recently in a slightly different context so if
you google around on the keywords mentioned above, you should find
everything you need.
Best regards
Peter De Berdt
Have you checked out this Rails tutorial:
http://wiki.rubyonrails.org/rails/pages/HowToRunBackgroundJobsInRails
Line 4 says: “Alternately can I write a background job that’ll, for
example, spit out a nicely formatted text file every night at 2:00
AM?” Seems like what you’re talking about 
There’s a bunch of resources out there for learning to write CRON
jobs. Check 'em out.
ESPNDev
On Mar 20, 3:17 pm, John S. [email protected]
- BackgroundRB and its scheduler
- Ruby thread with sleep
These are of course the preferred options (in the order they have been
posted by Peter) but if none of this will work in your hosting
environment you might have to simply wait for the next hit on your
application and then if current_time >
time_at_which_pdf_should_be_generated you run a background job to
generate it. I remember that a few years ago there were also plenty of
serivces on the mighty interweb which called a specified URL at a given
time (sort of a remote cron job if you will). This might be best if the
above three won’t work.
Cheers,
Niels.