Why crontab is not able to run a script which contains a "for" loop?

Asked Aug 09 '17 at 18:02

Active Aug 09 '17 at 18:02

Viewed 493 times

#!/bin/sh
#
TEMP_FILE=/home/eceadcb/Test_Directory_5/temp.txt

echo "ABC" >> ${TEMP_FILE}
for i in $(<Active_cms.txt)
do
    echo "ABC1" >> ${TEMP_FILE}
    echo "$i" >> ${TEMP_FILE}
done

When I run this script manually, it runs just fine. But when I schedule it in crontab, only ABC goes in the TEMP_FILE and nothing from loop gets into the file.

asked Aug 09 '17 at 18:02

Pranav Verma

2

Add full path to `Active_cms.txt`. – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:03
1

Btw.: `/bin/sh` is not `bash`. – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:04
2

Btw.: Replace `for` loop by `while` loop. – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:05
I need to use for loop only. Adding full path is not helping. – Pranav Verma Aug 09 '17 at 18:08
2

`sh` does not know `$( – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:11
1

Then how is it able to run standalone if sh does not know $( – Pranav Verma Aug 09 '17 at 18:16
1

I assume you use `bash` and you use `sh` in the script. – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:17
If `/bin/sh` on your machine is actually a version of `bash`, it will work. But if your script relies on `bash`-only features, don't use `#!/bin/sh` as the shebang; use `#!/bin/bash` (or whatever path is appropriate). – chepner Aug 09 '17 at 18:18
how should I set it in crontab then? I am using * * * * * /bin/sh /home/eceacdb/Test_dir/test.sh is name of script. – Pranav Verma Aug 09 '17 at 18:19
Replace`/bin/sh` by output of `which bash`. – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:20
@chepner: I agree with you. – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:22
See: [Difference between sh and bash](https://stackoverflow.com/q/5725296/3776858) – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:27
changed it to /bin/bash but it is still not working. only got ABC in the TEMP_FILE – Pranav Verma Aug 09 '17 at 18:28
This might help: [How to debug a bash script?](http://unix.stackexchange.com/q/155551/74329) – Cyrus Aug 09 '17 at 18:38
Add `inputfile=/path/to/Active_cms.txt; ls -l "${inputfile}"` above the `for-loop` and see if that is what you expected. – Walter A Aug 09 '17 at 19:52

Why crontab is not able to run a script which contains a "for" loop?

0 Answers0