Run Codeigniter controller using Windows Task Scheduler (Cron job)

Question

I want to run a CodeIgniter controller periodically using Windows Task Scheduler like a cron job. I have run stand alone php file using task scheduler with this method but failed to implement this on a CodeIgniter controller.

Here is my controller:

<?php
defined("BASEPATH") OR exit("No direct script access allowed");

class Cron_test extends CI_Controller {

    public $file;
    public $path;

    public function __construct()
    {
        parent::__construct();
        $this->load->helper("file");
        $this->load->helper("directory");

        $this->path = "application" . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . "cron_test" . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
        $this->file = $this->path . "cron.txt";
    }

    public function index()
    {
        $date = date("Y:m:d h:i:s");
        $data = $date . " --- Cron test from CI";

        $this->write_file($data);
    }

    public function write_file($data)
    {
        write_file($this->file, $data . "\n", "a");
    }
}

I want to run index() method periodically.

Any help will be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

Make your write_file() as private or protected method to disallow use of it from browsers. Set crontab on your server (if Linux, or Time Schedule if Windows server). Use full path of $path (ie $this->path = APPPATH . "cron_test" . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; ). Use double check to see if cli request is made. Something like:

<?php
defined("BASEPATH") OR exit("No direct script access allowed");

class Cron_test extends CI_Controller
{

    public $file;
    public $path;

    public function __construct()
    {
        parent::__construct();
        $this->load->helper("file");
        $this->load->helper("directory");

        $this->path = APPPATH . "cron_test" . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR;
        $this->file = $this->path . "cron.txt";
    }

    public function index()
    {
        if ($this->is_cli_request())
        {
            $date = date("Y:m:d h:i:s");
            $data = $date . " --- Cron test from CI";

            $this->write_file($data);
        }
        else
        {
            exit;
        }
    }

    private function write_file($data)
    {
        write_file($this->file, $data . "\n", "a");
    }
}

Than, on your server set crontab. That could looks something like:

* 12 * * * /var/www/html/index.php cli/Cron_test

(This one would make action every day at noon). Cron reference on Ubuntu .