actually its the % that crond is interpreting as newline. use /usr/local/sbin/backup.bash "`date +\%Y-\%m-\%d`" Fri
steve -----Original Message----- From: Eric Sisler [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 07 March 2002 15:51 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Using the date command in a crontab entry Greetings, I'm trying to insert the date command in a crontab entry, and I keep getting an error. I've tried just about every possible syntax I can think of, so I'm either being stupid or what I want can't be done. I've tried the following entries (minus the time/date/day fields): /usr/local/sbin/backup.bash "`date +%Y-%m-%d`" Fri -or- /usr/local/sbin/backup.bash "`date '+%Y-%m-%d'`" Fri -or- /usr/local/sbin/backup.bash `date +%Y-%m-%d` Fri -or- /usr/local/sbin/backup.bash `date '+%Y-%m-%d'` Fri This *shoud* pass two arguments to the script backup.bash, making the command look like so: /usr/local/sbin/backup.bash 2002-03-07 Fri but cron doesn't like the date command. I'm thinking that it's tripping over the "+" needed to format the date command since e-mail from cron reads: Subject: Cron <root@feathers> /usr/local/sbin/backup.bash `date + /bin/sh: -c: line 1: unexpected EOF while looking for matching ``' /bin/sh: -c: line 2: syntax error: unexpected end of file I know I can use a short perl script to pass the date along, but I was trying to just do so in the cron entry. Am I doing something wrong or do I need to use a short perl "wrapper" script? -Eric Eric Sisler Applications Specialist Westminster Public Library Westminster, CO USA Linux - Don't fear the Penguin. Want to know what we use Linux for? Visit http://gromit.westminster.lib.co.us/linux _______________________________________________ Redhat-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list _______________________________________________ Redhat-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
