Automation scripts are located within the /scripts/ directory. They are intended to be executed from the command line, shell script (Linux servers), batch file (Windows servers) or in most cases, as a CRON job set-up through your web hosting control panel.
fetch.php and import.php are provided to enable advanced automation configurations but for most installations, only cron.php is required to fully update your site by fetching and importing all feeds, either daily, or as required.
Your web hosting control panel should have a CRON section, from where you can create a new CRON job by entering the command to be executed and the required schedule. Price Tapestry attempts to automatically work out the command to be executed for you. To view the command, login to the /admin/ area of your Price Tapestry installation and go to Setup > CRON. Two options are provided - Option 1, available if your hosting account provides command line access to PHP, and Option 2, an HTTP invocation which can be used if Option 1 is not available (see cron.php documentation for more details).
The Option 1 command line consists of a cd (change directory) command to the /scripts/ folder of your Price Tapestry installation, followed by (and separated by semi-colon), the php invocation of cron.php, for example:
cd /home/username/public_html/scripts/;/usr/bin/php cron.phpSome web hosting control panels simplify the process of setting up CRON jobs by offering a choice of pre-defined schedules for example "Daily at midnight". If you have more control over the timing of CRON job execution, consider scheduling your CRON job for early morning for example 6AM, so that the process is run after any overnight price updates by merchants.
Use the links below for more information about each automation script: