Crontab not working for user
 

Hi,

I want something quite simple, is just to configure the fbsetbg to change randomly the background of my desktop so I just used this:

The folder containing the images are owend by the user and has proper rights, as a mater of fact if I run the command through a console I have no problem but the crontab seems to be ignored, no error mail no nothing.

There is a crontab.# inside /var/spool/crontab and there is a specific one on /var/spool/crontab/crontabs/Xuser

Any ideas?

Running slack 10.2 by the way.

Cron is run by root so you probably nned to specify the user you want to run the cron job as maybe try:

*/5 * * * * username /usr/X11/bin/fbsetbg -r path_to_the_wallpapers

Just replace username with the user you are trying to run as, I think by default if you don't specify a user it runs as root.

Also you might have a /etc/crontab.deny file, if you have this file make sure the name of the user you a trying to run as is not in this.

No that shouldn't be necesary. Each user has his/her own cron. But I don't understand the */5 - is that for every 1/2 hour? Maybe try 0,30 if so

You could also try redircting messages to a log and seeing what errors are occuring

Actually */5 is so it will change every 5 minutes.


I'll try adding the user, thanks for the suggestion.

I just tried this (rather neat idea imo) and this is output of the log:

/usr/X11/bin/fbsetbg: line 169: xmessage: command not found

Why xmessage is being called up I've no idea. Perhaps another background setting app would work?

I got it to work by making a small script randbg:

#!/bin/bash
export DISPLAY=:0.0
/usr/X11/bin/fbsetbg -r ~/.fluxbox/backgrounds/

then with crontab -e:

0,30 * * * * /home/dave/scripts/randbg 1>/dev/null 2>&1

Obviously edit this to your paths, time interval etc.