Cronjob inside folder Sources

[Jotade29]

SMF: 2.0.19
Hi, I've created a modification that modifies the user's XML download. I don't want to go into details, but from a panel, it allows me to have it appear when the user requests their personal data. When i accept it, a date is saved in the DB. After 48 hours, I want that approval to be automatically deleted. To do this, I thought about creating an event in phpmyadmin, but since my host is shared and I use cPanel, I have to use a cronjob...

My question is: can I use the SMF functions to connect to the database for that cronjob if i create the cronjob inside folder /Sources? And second, I will only access that cronjob through the CLI, that is, from the automatic call to that cronjob every 48 hours, which will open that PHP file, which I will save in the forum's source folder. Should I use if->!defined(SMF)...-> hacking attempt here, or should I use a different method to access it exclusively through the CLI?

Thnxx

[All Colours Sam]

You can use a cronjob sure but SMF 2.0 also provides its own scheduled task system, its not exactly a replacement for a cron since it relies on user activity (your forum needs to be requested for the scheduled task job to run).

However, you can use a cron that points out to SMF's scheduled system, that way you can guarantee that the event will be executed at the exact time you need, there was a guide somewhere here about setting up a cron job with SMF's scheduled system and theres also some documentation about how to add a new task to it as well.

[pimps]

Thanks for the info, @All Colours Sam. I'm also trying to handle something time-sensitive, so relying solely on user activity might not work for me. If I create a real cronjob that hits SMF's cron.php, will that ensure the scheduled task runs on time even with no forum visits? Also wondering if there's a clean way to trigger just one specific task that I've added. If you have the link to that guide you mentioned, I'd appreciate it.

[Sesquipedalian]

If I create a real cronjob that hits SMF's cron.php, will that ensure the scheduled task runs on time even with no forum visits?

Yes.

Also wondering if there's a clean way to trigger just one specific task that I've added.

No, but if you set your cronjob to run fairly frequently, there's no need to worry about that. SMF's internal queue is quite efficient. Your task will be completed promptly.

[shawnb61]

Note this forum is 2.0.

I know this works fine with 2.1 - after fixes.

I haven't seen it work on 2.0. 

As ever, I strongly suggest upgrading to 2.1.

[Sesquipedalian]

Note this forum is 2.0.

Oops. I overlooked that part.

As ever, I strongly suggest upgrading to 2.1.

100%

[All Colours Sam]

Note this forum is 2.0.

I do remember there was a guide or something related to how to configure a cronjob with SMF 2.0 will try to search for it, might need some adjustments due to longevity but could serve as reference.


Another possibility is to configure a cronjob that will hit the forum's index and that should trigger the scheduled system