crontab <file> command

Derrick Thatcher · 03-07-2006, 12:14 PM

The usage of this form of the crontab command is largely glossed over in the man page and "In a Nutshell". Am I correct in understanding that redirects crond to inspect this file?

If so, does it look at this file in addition to any crontab files which might exist including /etc/crontab?

Is there an easy way to detect if the crontab has been redirected with crontab <file>?

jschiwal · 03-07-2006, 01:14 PM

Where did you find that form?

Code:

usage:  crontab [-u user] file
        crontab [-u user] [ -e | -l | -r ]
                (default operation is replace, per 1003.2)
        -e      (edit user's crontab)
        -l      (list user's crontab)
        -r      (delete user's crontab)

Derrick Thatcher · 03-08-2006, 05:29 AM

I read the man page after a night's sleep and found the answer:

The first form of this command is used to install a new crontab from
some named file or standard input if the pseudo-filename ââ-ââ is
given.

I must look more carefully.