craig@med.unc.edu (Ron Craig) (04/26/91)
Greetings, I have written a batch program (JOBQ.bat) which checks particular directories on our Novell file server for eligible batch files or SAS program files to be run by a 486 batch machine. That was really quite simple. Instead of busy-polling, I decided to use some sort of scheduler to call my JOBQ.bat program in intervals (say, once a minute). I considered using CRON12.ZIP off of simtel in a DESQview window. I bought and installed DESQview on my own 386, but couldn't get cron to run very well in a window there, nor could I get SAS to run big stuff under DESQview. Undaunted, I then got DABUTIL2.ZIP, TIMERUN3.ARC, and DOAT.ARC from simtel's PD1:<MSDOS.SYSUTL> directory. Eventman in DABUTIL2 is too sophisticated, too big, and costs too much. TimeRun works strictly by stuffing the keyboard buffer with 'JOBQ<cr>' once a minute, without checking to see if the machine is already busy with something (like running a batch job). So, if you type 'dir' at the command prompt, in less than 1 minute TimeRun will add 'JOBQ<cr>' to the command line, giving the command 'dirJOBQ' and naturally obtaining the 'Invalid command' message. TimeRun also costs $20 to register. AT.COM in DOAT.ARC looks perfect. It is just like the *nix at command, and it even refuses to try to issue a command if the machine is already busy. It is also free. The problem is that it schedules a command perfectly, and tells you that a command is scheduled at such-and-such a time, but the command never comes. After the time for the command to be issued has passed, the command is (naturally) no longer scheduled. I'm running MS-DOS 4.01, and I guess that is the problem. The program was written in 1987 by Bill Frolik (then at bill@hpcvlo.hp.com). I've tried to finger Bill, and even sent him an e-mail note asking for help, but the host hpcvlo is no longer there. The entire .com file is only 4096 bytes. I, however, don't speak assembly. What would you do in this situation? I can't reach the author, and I don't know if there is an updated version. I don't know enough to patch the program to work. I really like this one, though. Any ideas? Many Thanks, Ron Disclaimer: I have nothing against the programs mentioned, they just weren't right for *my* application in *my* situation. They might be great for *you*. +--------------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ |Ron Craig | inet- craig@med.unc.edu | |FPG Child Development Ctr.| bitnet- uroncr@unc.bitnet AT&T- (919) 966-3681 | |CB# 8180 - UNC Chapel Hill| #include <sayings/witty> | |Chapel Hill NC 27599-8180 |My opinions are valued by UNC, not shared by them.| +--------------------------+--------------------------------------------------+ -- Ron Craig inet- craig@med.unc.edu CB# 8180 - UNC Chapel Hill bitnet- URONCR@UNC.BITNET AT&T- (919) 966-3681 Chapel Hill NC 27599-8180 My opinions are valued by UNC, not shared by them.