Timed automatic import/ update script?

[Our Town]

Hi, I have a massive relational database that needs to be updated daily. Problem is it takes about 45 min, even through ODBC. I was looking to see if there is some script I can run or schedual to where it can run at like 3 am or something so it is not such a pain for me. There has to something I figure, just haven't found it yet.

[dkemme]

Couple of ways to do this. If the machine is dedicated to this function only, you can run a script with a loop that checks the time and then pauses for a short time. At the correct time it would run the update script. Another approach is to use a plugin to schedule the script to be run at a specified time, check out plugins. Yet another is to use AppleScript to run the script at the specified time, let me know if you want this approach for a simple AS example.

[Our Town]

thank for your help. I will look into these and see... Really I think the applescript would work fine. That is certianly not a strongpoint yet for me though. Still learning UNIX first. Would it be tough to do? Any help is appreciated.

[Our Town]

is events 4.0 any good? Its by waves in motion and looks like it would do this and more?

[Fenton]

Another application you might look at is CronniX. It's a nice GUI to Unix cron.

http://h5197.serverkompetenz.net/cronnix/

You can let it set the timer, then target an AppleScript to tell FileMaker what to do. I've only played around with it, but it seems to work fine; many people use it I think, 'cause I hear it mentioned.

[comment]

Doesn't iCal provide the same functionality (Event Alarm = Open file)?