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SimplySimplified
Asked: 2017-08-10 06:24:02 +0800 CST

Running a basic command using cron!

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I'm running Ubuntu16.
I'm trying to run very simple bash scripts and cron jobs!

I'm trying to get cron to run the following bash script on a daily basis: 

#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello James how is your day going"

I can run the script from the command line no problem, but cron won't? My Cron job is set up as such: 

0 15 * * * /tmp/myjob.sh

What am I missing?

bash

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    What you actually need first of all is this script here:

    #!/bin/sh
eval "export $(egrep -z DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS /proc/$(pgrep -u $LOGNAME gnome-session)/environ)";

#Code:
DISPLAY=:0 
notify-send "Hello James how is your day going"

    You can test by running it every minute.

    */1 * * * * /tmp/myjob.sh

    This will give you a popup every minute with how you are doing ;)

    • 4

  2. First, you should start bash scripts with 'shebang': #!/bin/bash (don't forget the # key). Also give the file execution permission:

    chmod +x /tmp/myjob.sh

    Then on cron I would suggest you to put as:

    0 15 * * * /tmp/myjob.sh

    You cron job is set to run every day as 15:00 (3pm). I would suggest you to put it to run every 2 minutes to test first.

    • 1 
  3. crontab -u yourusername -e

    Add example to turn off monitor in 2 minutes:

    MAILTO=""
*/2 * * * * XAUTHORITY=/home/yourusername/.Xauthority DISPLAY=:0.0 xset dpms force off > /dev/null

    restart cron

    service cron restart

    No need to create a .sh file!

    • 1