triggering rules based on a file

[thersites]

I have a shell script that downloads a file that is periodically updated. The file resides in a folder.

What I don't understand is how I can have Hazel re-download the file periodically, because virtually all the conditions for executing rules in Hazel seem to depend on some attribute of the enclosing folder to change. How can I write a rule that, say, will download the file every few hours?

[Mr_Noodle]

The file has to already be local for Hazel to process it. You'll need to use something else to trigger that script, like a cron job.

[thersites]

The file has to already be local for Hazel to process it. You'll need to use something else to trigger that script, like a cron job.

It's local. But how can I use Hazel to update it periodically?

[Mr_Noodle]

Can you be more specific? What do you mean by updating in this case?

[thersites]

Downloading a new version of the file.

[thersites]

Downloading a new version of the file.

I'm thinking that Hazel could either 1) re-download the file periodically or 2) check the file's mod date and download the file if it's not within x hours / days etc. I guess I can check the mod date of the enclosing folder, but the script doesn't seem to run properly. My script looks like this:

do curl -o paperpile.bib [URL]; done

[Mr_Noodle]

If the file is there already, you can set up a rule to match on mod date. As for the script not running properly, turn on debug mode and check to see if there are any errors in the logs.

[thersites]

If the file is there already, you can set up a rule to match on mod date. As for the script not running properly, turn on debug mode and check to see if there are any errors in the logs.

But I can’t check the mod date of the file itself can I?

[Mr_Noodle]

If the file already exists in the folder, you can. Otherwise, you will need to be more specific.