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I have a server with a PHP script that pulls data from a source and populates a database. I need to call this PHP script repeatedly, each time with a different parameter.

I need to create a shell script on a Mac (which reads in a text file with the list of parameters - that part is not a problem) and for each parameter, runs the PHP script/URL in a web browser.

The PHP is on a remote server, so I need to load a web browser instance (safari or firefox) and instruct it to load the URL (ie. something like http:/myserver.com/scriptname.php?param1). Then I need to wait for it to complete and trigger the same URL with the next parameter.

I don't know the incantation to launch the web browser with a URL (I am a former Windows dev not a Mac OS-X pro, yet). I also don't think there is a way to detect when the script completes - but I don't want to end up with 100 instances of the browser running simultaneously.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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  • Is there a reason this needs to be done in a web browser rather than with something like cURL or wget? Commented Jul 13, 2010 at 23:49
  • curl / wget seem more proper candidates indeed, although, as I see it, a local cronjob on said server could even be more effective.... Commented Jul 13, 2010 at 23:57

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If you just need it to hit a php page on a remote server, don't use a browser. Use curl, or some equivalent.

curl http:/myserver.com/scriptname.php?param1

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Excellent - I didn't know you could do that! Works perfectly, exactly what I needed. THANK YOU!
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open -a Safari http://stackoverflow.com

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