"This program saved me the time of creating the same thing. It runs every hour on our server and executes files so we don't have to. Thanks!"
- Bob Starks, IIS administrator
Overview - What does it do?
FileSpider is a small exe program that itemizes any type of file in a pre-defined directory, sorts them using FIFO (First In First Out) in other words the oldest to latest, this includes the time as well as the date, and finally, runs the files.
These files can by of any type: bat, vbs, exe, whatever executable type file you place in the directory. You can specify one file type or all file types.
FileSpider is totally configurable through an ini file.
You can tell the FileSpider program:
- The location of the files to run
- The file types to run, one type or all file types (whatever is in the defined directory)
- A directory to place the files upon executing them (so they don't run multiple times)
- Finally, a BAT file to run upon executing all the files (i.e., restart DNS server)
- Replaces a manual process of running multiple files
- Choose the directory location of the files to itemize and run.
- Choose the directory location to move the files after they have been run. Eliminates running the files multiple times.
- Choose the file extensions to itemize and run. Either one file extension or all file extensions.
- FileSpider may be run interactively or silent. FileSpider takes input from a pre-defined INI file.
- Run a seperate program after all the files have been run. Run a bat file for instance to clean up.
- You have complete control on all these parameters.
- FileSpider can run through a scheduler -- unattended!
- ALL FileSpider program components install into a single directory. No registry entries or system files to potentially compromise your server.
- A powerful utility for all system administrators!
Since it is very straight forward in its operation, there is no 30 day eval on this tool.
FileSpider.exe
How can I use the program?
Here's a practical example on using the program to automate the creating and deleting of Web sites in IIS. Here is how I personally use this program.
Hosting clients, via Web forms, add and delete items from their hosting account (via the Control Panel). Some of the items they add and delete are performed real-time and some are not. The items which are not real-time work like this: upon submitting the form our automation creates bat files which contain vbscripts. The bat files are copied to a folder on the server. Eventually these bat files will need to be run to actually create the Web sites, FTP accounts or whatever item the hosting customer has added or removed from their account. When FileSpider runs it itemizes, sorts, runs and moves each script to a "done" folder.
Also, our automation creates vbscripts which delete Web sites from IIS. The FileSpider program is scheduled to run every hour via the Scheduled Tasks feature in Windows 2000/2003 Server (any scheduler will do) Each hour FileSpider itemizes the specified files, sorts them, runs them and moves them to the "done" folder. The reason for the sorting is to accommodate time sensitive files.
In our hosting situation a client may add a Web site to her account, realize that it is spelled incorrectly, delete the Web site and then add it again. So, in this case, it's important that the files are run according to time and date.
When the FileSpider reaches the last file it runs a user-defined bat file which restarts our DNS server so that the new Web sites will be immediately available.
That's about it. I am sure that there are many other reasons to itemize files and run them on a consistent, periodic basis. Have fun with FileSpider and I know that it will save you time!
