Re: DOS box, scheduled tasks, PHP script

Thank you Pac mon, the idea of running the scheduled tasks under a different userId (to the console operator) certainly does stop the 'DOS box' (console window) putting in uninvited appearance. Neat thinking! Many thanks to all who contributed suggestions. Mike: if PHP is run directly (as per the Scheduled Task Wizard) a 'DOS box' still fires up - unless presumably one uses Pac mon's technique, ie it is not the batch file that causes the DOS box/console window to pop up. The reason for the batch file is because there is a series of dependent tasks - the second must not start until the first has (successfully) completed, etc - and thus they are in a single batch/command file, rather than (say) a series of scheduled tasks (with individual command lines). Alan: search.microsoft.com seems packed with helpful advice on programming such things (MSDN) - which one has to wade through before coming across a simple 'how to use from Win Explorer'. I didn't want to have to write a whole routine to use something I figured should be staring me in the face from the GUI. The whole episode made me think in terms of going 'back' to AT and NET commands... Per your suggestion - and thoughts of similar switches when preparing .PIF files to run in the background - I was going round and round looking for what I figured would be a simple check box - but no... So new answer to the FAQ: run PHP scripts from the command line/a batch file on a regular basis using "Scheduled Tasks" AND running under a dedicated background userId! =dn > You could run it as a different user. > i.e. Create user tasker. Change the Task to logon to the tasker account. > you will no longer see the window. > >Have a 'monitoring' PHP command line script timed to run hourly. > >Controlled by the new?IE5.5 Scheduled Tasks facility (as listed in Windows > >Explorer - not quite the same as AT > >(which is what I have used previously) ) > >Script is kicked off by a batch file. > >Batch file is object in scheduled tasks entry. > > > >When it fires, a DOS box opens, the batch file is executed, PHP kicks in; > >and upon completion, breaks down in > >the reverse sequence. > >Works perfectly but... > > > >How can one achieve this in the background - without popping up a DOS box > >over the top of whatever else is > >happening? > >(and annoying the socks off an admin killing a printer/adding new users, > >etc) > > > >Please advise, > >=dn > > > >WinNT4.0 SP6a, IE5.5 SP2, PHP vn 4.0.6, Apache vn 1.3.20WinNT, MySQL vn > >3.23.40-nt