CRONTAB linux command manual

CRONTAB(1)                                                         CRONTAB(1)



NAME
       crontab - maintain crontab files for individual users (V3)

SYNOPSIS
       crontab [ -u user ] file
       crontab [ -u user ] { -l | -r | -e }

DESCRIPTION
       Crontab  is  the program used to install, deinstall or list the tables
       used to drive the cron(8) daemon in Vixie Cron.  Each  user  can  have
       their  own  crontab,  and though these are files in /var, they are not
       intended to be edited directly.

       If the allow file exists, then you must be listed therein in order  to
       be  allowed to use this command.  If the allow file does not exist but
       the deny file does exist, then you must not be listed in the deny file
       in  order to use this command.  If neither of these files exists, then
       depending on site-dependent configuration parameters, only  the  super
       user will be allowed to use this command, or all users will be able to
       use this command.

       If the -u option is given, it specifies the name  of  the  user  whose
       crontab  is to be tweaked.  If this option is not given, crontab exam-
       ines "your" crontab, i.e., the crontab of  the  person  executing  the
       command.  Note that su(8) can confuse crontab and that if you are run-
       ning inside of su(8) you should always use the -u option for  safety's
       sake.

       The  first  form of this command is used to install a new crontab from
       some named file or standard input  if  the  pseudo-filename  ''-''  is
       given.

       The  -l  option causes the current crontab to be displayed on standard
       output.

       The -r option causes the current crontab to be removed.

       The -e option is used to edit the current  crontab  using  the  editor
       specified  by  the  VISUAL or EDITOR environment variables.  After you
       exit from the editor, the modified crontab will be installed automati-
       cally.

SEE ALSO
       crontab(5), cron(8)

FILES
       /etc/cron.allow
       /etc/cron.deny

STANDARDS
       The crontab command conforms to IEEE Std1003.2-1992 (''POSIX'').  This
       new command syntax differs from previous versions of  Vixie  Cron,  as
       well as from the classic SVR3 syntax.

DIAGNOSTICS
       A  fairly  informative  usage message appears if you run it with a bad
       command line.

AUTHOR
       Paul Vixie 



4th Berkeley Distribution      29 December 1993                    CRONTAB(1)