Change data in database automatically

[pixelduster]

I have a database of agent's listing that allows me to designate them as "new listings" or "Just Reduced", "Sold", etc. My rule is that I keep that designation for approximately 10 days on a listing and then remove it where it becomes just an available listing (no special designation). Currently, once a week, I go into the database and make any needed changes to the database manually. I can do that because when I change a desination to new listing, Just Reduced, etc, I have a date field indicating when the designation was added. Then I check the date field and if the date is 10 days or older, I revert the designation back to available.

I would like to automate this process so that once a day, something inspects the database and finds any listings with designation 10 days old (by inspecting the date field) and automatically changes the designation to available. I could have something on my computer that launches a script (asp) each night that will make the changes in the database, but is that the best way to do it??

I look forward to some thoughts on this.

Gary Letchford
Letchford Design
Longwood, FL

[DMike]

pixelduster, if you want to make that you should add the script on cron tab. From crontab you can add a script to run daily, exactly when you want. You can sure take the listings which are 10 days older and change another field on them.
You'll just have to make a SELECT to take the listings which are 10 days older and after that an UPDATE to change the status field on them

[pixelduster]

Thanks DMike,

Checking Google to gather more information about crontab. It appears to use crontab, you need to be on a Unix server. Being I am using asp, I am using a microsoft server. Am I missing something?

Gary Letchford
Letchford Design
Longwood, FL

[captainm]

In Windows you can just use a scheduled task to run a script.

You didn't mention what database you're using but if you're using SQL Server you can use a stored procedure to do all the sql work. After you make the stored procedure, you can use Enterprise Manager to create a Job to run it daily.

Stored Procedures - http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de..._adda_9tbk.asp

Automating - http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa213814.aspx