I will add one additional option to WG's list here: Flash Communication Server. Your two options for persistent connections (which is what you need to send an event from the server to the client without the client polling every n seconds) are Java applets and Flash Communication Server. If your client is willing to spend some money, look into Flashcom. If not, consider an applet, or one of WG's suggestions below. WG is right, though, in that the model the web is based on (request/response and the stateless nature of HTTP) is not conducive to this type of application, hence the need for some other technology.
Christian On Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at 06:01 AM, webguy wrote: > Hi there, > >> my client wants a custom IM application for his website. I >> downloaded a free >> IM app from macromedias website, the only thing is finding a way >> to get the >> application window to pop-up on User B's computer when user A on >> a different >> computer tries to IM them. Can this even be done using ColdFusion >> and if so >> could anyone lead me in the right direction. >> >> Thanks, > > This is an interesting question. The problem arises because the very > thing > the web is good (i.e. stateless, and therefore scalable connections), > makes > it difficult to use a service like IM (which by it nature is a stateful > app.) Once a browser makes a request from a website, it gets the > current > page content and displays it, and then disconnects (well its meant to, > MS > IExplorer ignores this sometimes). [assuming no Java Applets etc.] > > So how do you get around this? There are a few options : > > a) request a page every x seconds - the usually why to do this is to > use > JavaScript, in a frame or iframe, to call page.cfm to check for any > messages > > b) Have a frame containing a page that is cfflushed every time a > message is > posted... (Don't like this myself, keeps a connection open) > > c) Use a technology like Java Applet / ActiveX - that can manages > state in a > different manner > > d) get your clients to use a IM system like AOL etc. and use CF to send > message to them, that way. (Look at Bens Book J2ee/MX for an example > using > Jabber www.jabber.org) > > As you can see there is no right way. All have their pro's and con's. > Just > like all the great questions in life .. > > WG > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4
