Python script does not work under crontab

Question

I have a very basic python script to run through crontab for every minutes.

The Script

filed = open('test.txt','a')

Crontab

* * * * * /to path the file/job.py

It should work, but i have not been able to see the results. So, what could be the problem ?

@MartijnPieters is correct, but doesn't your cron send you emails when it fails? What do those emails say? — kojiro
– kojiro, Commented Jan 28, 2013 at 23:44
Usually these problems are because the env for your shell is different to cron. It can be the pwd as Martijn says. Another possibility would be your $PATH is different. You need to give us some more clues to work out the actual problem — John La Rooy
– John La Rooy, Commented Jan 29, 2013 at 0:03

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-28 23:42:55Z

6

You need to open text.txt using an absolute path; the crondaemon may well be using different path from what you expect:

filed = open('/home/john/Desktop/test.txt','a')

answered Jan 28, 2013 at 23:42

Martijn Pieters

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1 Comment

Tadeck Over a year ago

+1 More flexible may be the following: import os; filed = open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'test.txt'), 'a'), which basically does what you do, but creates absolute path by building it dynamically for the file located in the same directory as Python script.

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