Crontab not working

Linux and Unix-Like Linux
1

Hi,

I know this is a common topic. I'm trying to launch a perl script using a contab -e entry. I've been trying diff options but nothing seems to work:
My cron is running:

UID        PID  PPID  C STIME TTY          TIME CMD
root      3755     1  0 Nov27 ?        00:00:00 crond

This is how my crontab -e looks:

35  13  *   *   *   sh /users/rcarol/cdc_launch.sh > ~/cron_log

The log is not being created and I don't have any reference why it's not working.

I executed : cat _T crontab and this is what I got:

SHELL=/bin/bash
PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
MAILTO= none 
HOME=/

# run-parts
01 * * * * root run-parts /etc/cron.hourly
02 4 * * * root run-parts /etc/cron.daily
22 4 * * 0 root run-parts /etc/cron.weekly
42 4 1 * * root run-parts /etc/cron.monthly

I really appreciate any help. :o

2

First place to check:

mailx

See if you got mail from cron with an error message.
If so, please post it.

I think you want to change

35  13  *   *   *   sh /users/rcarol/cdc_launch.sh > ~/cron_log

to

35  13  *   *   *    /users/rcarol/cdc_launch.sh > ~/cron_log

be sure to:

chmod 755 /users/rcarol/cdc_launch.sh
3

what's that sh doing in the 6th column. It should be removed and then run.

4

crontab -e edits the traditional crontab.
You can edit with your favorite text editor with

env EDITOR=gedit crontab -e

crontab -l to list it.
These per-user crontabs are stored somewhere in /var/spool/cron/.
The /etc/crontab is extra, and slightly different: only root can edit it, and the 6th column is the "run as" user.

5

OK thanks...
What other editors are there. I hve worked with vi only.
Please clarify what 6th column 'run as' does