magento cron in backend configuration

Question

So I know how to setup a cron using the config.xml crontab stuff:

<crontab>
    <jobs>
        <millena_export_send_all>
            <schedule><cron_expr>* * * * *</cron_expr></schedule>
            <run><model>millena_export/observer::exportOrderData</model></run>
        </millena_export_send_all>
    </jobs>
</crontab>

But what I am confused about is how to make that cron_expr a setting in the backend that can be changed (every 5 minutes, every 10 minutes, etc). I am thinking I can use a backend_model and then in an after_save method I can do setStoreConfig('path/to/schedule/cron_expr', '*/5 * * * *') or something to that sort and it will save in the cache. Is my thinking correct? Is there a better way to do this?

Answer 1

A better solution that doesn't involve a custom backend model.

config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>   
<config>
    <modules>
        <Company_Export>
            <version>0.1.0</version>
        </Company_Export>
    </modules>
    <global>
        <models>
            <company_export>
                <class>Company_Export_Model</class>
            </company_export>
        </models>
    </global>
    <default>
        <export>                
            <order>
                <cron_settings>*/5 * * * *</cron_settings>
            </order>
        </export>
    </default>
    <crontab>
        <jobs>                
            <company_export_send_order>
                <schedule>
                    <config_path>export/order/cron_settings</config_path>
                </schedule>
                <run>
                    <model>company_export/observer::exportOrderData</model>
                </run>
            </company_export_send_order>
        </jobs>
    </crontab>
</config>

system.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
    <tabs>
        <feedsconfig translate="label" module="export">
            <label>Feeds Configuration</label>
            <sort_order>99999</sort_order>
        </feedsconfig>
    </tabs>
    <sections>
        <export translate="label" module="export">
            <label>Export</label>
            <tab>feedsconfig</tab>
            <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
            <sort_order>10000</sort_order>
            <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
            <groups>
                <order translate="label">
                    <label>Order</label>
                    <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
                    <sort_order>2</sort_order>
                    <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
                    <fields>
                         <cron_settings>
                            <label>How often do you want the cron to run?</label>
                            <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
                            <sort_order>40</sort_order>
                            <comment>Use Crontab Format (Eg. "*/5 * * * *" for every 5 minutes)</comment>
                            <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
                        </cron_settings>
                    </fields>
                </order>
            </groups>
        </export>
    </sections>
</config>

Answer 2

If I were approaching this problem, I might run the cronjob at whatever the maximum interval useful to me was, and then use the cronjob execution itself to account for the system setting. I'm not sure if the solution you posted will work, but if it does come tell us, because it's another pretty clever approach :)

Answer 3

A proof of concept. Modify to your needs:

<?php

/**
 * Model for Working with the backend cron configuration for export
 *
 * @author bryan
 */
class Company_Export_Model_Config_Cron extends Mage_Core_Model_Config_Data
{

    protected function _afterSave(){

        $groupId = $this->getGroupId();

        $cronStringPath = 'crontab/jobs/company_export_send_' . $groupId . '/schedule/cron_expr';
        $cronModelPath = 'crontab/jobs/company_export_send_' . $groupId . '/run/model';

        $value = $this->getData('groups/' . $groupId . '/fields/cron_setting/value');

        Mage::getModel('core/config_data')
        ->load($cronStringPath, 'path')
            ->setValue($value)
            ->setPath($cronStringPath)
            ->save();
        Mage::getModel('core/config_data')
            ->load($cronModelPath, 'path')
            ->setValue((string) Mage::getConfig()->getNode($cronModelPath))
            ->setPath($cronModelPath)
            ->save();           

    }
}

and the config.xml:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<config>
    <modules>
        <Company_Export>
            <version>0.1.0</version>
        </Company_Export>
    </modules>
    <global>
        <models>
            <company_export>
                <class>Company_Export_Model</class>
            </company_export>
        </models>
        <helpers>
            <export>
                <class>Company_Export_Helper</class>
            </export>
        </helpers>
        <resources>
            <export_setup>
                <setup>
                    <module>Company_Export</module>
                </setup>
                <connection>
                    <use>core_setup</use>
                </connection>
            </export_setup>
            <export_write>
                <connection>
                    <use>core_write</use>
                </connection>
            </export_write>
            <export_read>
                <connection>
                    <use>core_read</use>
                </connection>
            </export_read>
        </resources>
    </global>
    <adminhtml> 
        <acl> 
            <resources> 
                <admin> 
                    <children> 
                        <system> 
                            <children> 
                                <config> 
                                    <children> 
                                        <export> 
                                            <title>Order Export Configuration</title> 
                                        </export> 
                                    </children> 
                                </config> 
                            </children> 
                        </system> 
                    </children> 
                </admin> 
            </resources> 
        </acl> 
    </adminhtml>
    <crontab>
        <jobs>                
            <company_export_send_order>
                <run><model>company_export/observer::exportOrderData</model></run>
            </company_export_send_order>
        </jobs>
    </crontab>
</config>

and system.xml:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<config>
    <tabs>
        <feedsconfig translate="label" module="export">
            <label>Feeds Configuration</label>
            <sort_order>99999</sort_order>
        </feedsconfig>
    </tabs>
    <sections>
        <export translate="label" module="export">
            <label>Export</label>
            <tab>feedsconfig</tab>
            <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
            <sort_order>10000</sort_order>
            <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
            <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
            <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
            <groups>
                <order translate="label">
                    <label>Order</label>
                    <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
                    <sort_order>2</sort_order>
                    <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
                    <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
                    <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
                    <fields>
                         <cron_setting>
                            <label>How often do you want the cron to run?</label>
                            <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
                            <backend_model>company_export/config_cron</backend_model>
                            <sort_order>40</sort_order>
                            <comment>Use Crontab Format (Eg. "*/5 * * * *" for every 5 minutes)</comment>
                            <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
                            <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
                            <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
                        </cron_setting>
                    </fields>
                </order>
            </groups>
        </export>
    </sections>
</config>