Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface.
Yes, David, you're right. I won't know until Monday the real situation and it may well be that I'm stuck with the flat files. The more I've thought about it, the less workable it is as a pure flat file/flash solution. Anyway, should prove interesting! Paul - Original Message - From: "David Rorex" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Flashcoders mailing list" Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 11:06 PM Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface. > A more efficient way might be to write a standalone socket server, in some > easy scripting language (php, python, etc), which sits on your server and > monitors the flat file. Since there is no network delay, it can check very > often, once a second or even faster. It will accept conenctions from flash > clients, and when it sees a change in the flat file, it can broadcast it to > the connected clients. > > On 1/5/07, Paul Andrews <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > I'm about to start a new project which will display the workings of a > > server based system that's manipulating data and passing it between servers. > > At each stage of the process a flat file is written that indicates a change > > in status/readiness of the data for the next stage in the process. > > > > My flash project will sit over the top of this indicating what's going on > > - driven by the flat file status changes. It's unlikely that I can really > > change the infrastructure at all - probably the best I'll be able to do will > > be to have the status files copied into a suitable form for the flash > > project to read. It's going to be interesting if I can't meddle with the > > infrastructure or get a file format compatible with loadvars or xml.. > > > > Since it's unlikely I can add much to the infrastructure, as far as I can > > tell the best approach is simply to poll for the presence of the status > > files regularly and read them to pick up any changes. I don't know if I'll > > be able to expose the files through a web service, or add a socket server. > > > > So my current thinking is to poll (read the status files if they are > > there), then sleep for an interval then poll again (this will be as > > real-time as I can manage). Effectively I'll be building an event-driven > > project that generates events to update the interface in reaction to the > > presence of the status files. Unfortunately, without a socket server I can't > > push the changes, nor can I reply on other solutions being installed on the > > server side (such as media server). > > > > As the status changes, I'll animate the flash interface to show what's > > going on on the servers. > > > > Anyone done this kind of thing before and have some sage advice/gotchas? > > > > Paul > > -- > > ipauland.com > > ___ > > Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com > > To change your subscription options or search the archive: > > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > > > Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software > > Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training > > http://www.figleaf.com > > http://training.figleaf.com > > > ___ > Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com > To change your subscription options or search the archive: > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software > Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training > http://www.figleaf.com > http://training.figleaf.com > ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface.
A more efficient way might be to write a standalone socket server, in some easy scripting language (php, python, etc), which sits on your server and monitors the flat file. Since there is no network delay, it can check very often, once a second or even faster. It will accept conenctions from flash clients, and when it sees a change in the flat file, it can broadcast it to the connected clients. On 1/5/07, Paul Andrews <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi, I'm about to start a new project which will display the workings of a server based system that's manipulating data and passing it between servers. At each stage of the process a flat file is written that indicates a change in status/readiness of the data for the next stage in the process. My flash project will sit over the top of this indicating what's going on - driven by the flat file status changes. It's unlikely that I can really change the infrastructure at all - probably the best I'll be able to do will be to have the status files copied into a suitable form for the flash project to read. It's going to be interesting if I can't meddle with the infrastructure or get a file format compatible with loadvars or xml.. Since it's unlikely I can add much to the infrastructure, as far as I can tell the best approach is simply to poll for the presence of the status files regularly and read them to pick up any changes. I don't know if I'll be able to expose the files through a web service, or add a socket server. So my current thinking is to poll (read the status files if they are there), then sleep for an interval then poll again (this will be as real-time as I can manage). Effectively I'll be building an event-driven project that generates events to update the interface in reaction to the presence of the status files. Unfortunately, without a socket server I can't push the changes, nor can I reply on other solutions being installed on the server side (such as media server). As the status changes, I'll animate the flash interface to show what's going on on the servers. Anyone done this kind of thing before and have some sage advice/gotchas? Paul -- ipauland.com ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface.
Good idea George. Thank you. Paul - Original Message - From: "George" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Flashcoders mailing list" Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface. > Hi, > > I think you might could write a simple shell script on server(if unix) > to check the update time of that status file, and if it was updated, > increase serial number in another file which your Flash client could > check (working like a flag), and create another easy read file such as > XML formated for Flash for update information. So when your Flash find > the serial number is increased, check the XML file then. > > George > > Paul Andrews wrote: > > Hi, > > > > I'm about to start a new project which will display the workings of a server based system that's manipulating data and passing it between servers. At each stage of the process a flat file is written that indicates a change in status/readiness of the data for the next stage in the process. > > > > My flash project will sit over the top of this indicating what's going on - driven by the flat file status changes. It's unlikely that I can really change the infrastructure at all - probably the best I'll be able to do will be to have the status files copied into a suitable form for the flash project to read. It's going to be interesting if I can't meddle with the infrastructure or get a file format compatible with loadvars or xml.. > > > > Since it's unlikely I can add much to the infrastructure, as far as I can tell the best approach is simply to poll for the presence of the status files regularly and read them to pick up any changes. I don't know if I'll be able to expose the files through a web service, or add a socket server. > > > > So my current thinking is to poll (read the status files if they are there), then sleep for an interval then poll again (this will be as real-time as I can manage). Effectively I'll be building an event-driven project that generates events to update the interface in reaction to the presence of the status files. Unfortunately, without a socket server I can't push the changes, nor can I reply on other solutions being installed on the server side (such as media server). > > > > As the status changes, I'll animate the flash interface to show what's going on on the servers. > > > > Anyone done this kind of thing before and have some sage advice/gotchas? > > > > Paul > > -- > > ipauland.com > > ___ > Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com > To change your subscription options or search the archive: > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software > Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training > http://www.figleaf.com > http://training.figleaf.com > ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface.
Good point Hans - I hadn't considered that - I've never seen that trick mentioned before. Thank you. Paul - Original Message - From: "Hans Wichman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Flashcoders mailing list" Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 7:39 PM Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface. > Hi, > on a sidenote, you can use loadvars or the xml object to load any file you > wish, not only 'compatible' files. If you set the onData instead of the > onLoad, you can do your own parsing. Might be helpfull here. > > greetz > JC > > > On 1/5/07, George <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > I think you might could write a simple shell script on server(if unix) > > to check the update time of that status file, and if it was updated, > > increase serial number in another file which your Flash client could > > check (working like a flag), and create another easy read file such as > > XML formated for Flash for update information. So when your Flash find > > the serial number is increased, check the XML file then. > > > > George > > > > Paul Andrews wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > > > I'm about to start a new project which will display the workings of a > > server based system that's manipulating data and passing it between servers. > > At each stage of the process a flat file is written that indicates a change > > in status/readiness of the data for the next stage in the process. > > > > > > My flash project will sit over the top of this indicating what's going > > on - driven by the flat file status changes. It's unlikely that I can really > > change the infrastructure at all - probably the best I'll be able to do will > > be to have the status files copied into a suitable form for the flash > > project to read. It's going to be interesting if I can't meddle with the > > infrastructure or get a file format compatible with loadvars or xml.. > > > > > > Since it's unlikely I can add much to the infrastructure, as far as I > > can tell the best approach is simply to poll for the presence of the status > > files regularly and read them to pick up any changes. I don't know if I'll > > be able to expose the files through a web service, or add a socket server. > > > > > > So my current thinking is to poll (read the status files if they are > > there), then sleep for an interval then poll again (this will be as > > real-time as I can manage). Effectively I'll be building an event-driven > > project that generates events to update the interface in reaction to the > > presence of the status files. Unfortunately, without a socket server I can't > > push the changes, nor can I reply on other solutions being installed on the > > server side (such as media server). > > > > > > As the status changes, I'll animate the flash interface to show what's > > going on on the servers. > > > > > > Anyone done this kind of thing before and have some sage advice/gotchas? > > > > > > Paul > > > -- > > > ipauland.com > > > > ___ > > Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com > > To change your subscription options or search the archive: > > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > > > Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software > > Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training > > http://www.figleaf.com > > http://training.figleaf.com > > > ___ > Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com > To change your subscription options or search the archive: > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software > Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training > http://www.figleaf.com > http://training.figleaf.com > ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface.
Hi, on a sidenote, you can use loadvars or the xml object to load any file you wish, not only 'compatible' files. If you set the onData instead of the onLoad, you can do your own parsing. Might be helpfull here. greetz JC On 1/5/07, George <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi, I think you might could write a simple shell script on server(if unix) to check the update time of that status file, and if it was updated, increase serial number in another file which your Flash client could check (working like a flag), and create another easy read file such as XML formated for Flash for update information. So when your Flash find the serial number is increased, check the XML file then. George Paul Andrews wrote: > Hi, > > I'm about to start a new project which will display the workings of a server based system that's manipulating data and passing it between servers. At each stage of the process a flat file is written that indicates a change in status/readiness of the data for the next stage in the process. > > My flash project will sit over the top of this indicating what's going on - driven by the flat file status changes. It's unlikely that I can really change the infrastructure at all - probably the best I'll be able to do will be to have the status files copied into a suitable form for the flash project to read. It's going to be interesting if I can't meddle with the infrastructure or get a file format compatible with loadvars or xml.. > > Since it's unlikely I can add much to the infrastructure, as far as I can tell the best approach is simply to poll for the presence of the status files regularly and read them to pick up any changes. I don't know if I'll be able to expose the files through a web service, or add a socket server. > > So my current thinking is to poll (read the status files if they are there), then sleep for an interval then poll again (this will be as real-time as I can manage). Effectively I'll be building an event-driven project that generates events to update the interface in reaction to the presence of the status files. Unfortunately, without a socket server I can't push the changes, nor can I reply on other solutions being installed on the server side (such as media server). > > As the status changes, I'll animate the flash interface to show what's going on on the servers. > > Anyone done this kind of thing before and have some sage advice/gotchas? > > Paul > -- > ipauland.com ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface.
Hi, I think you might could write a simple shell script on server(if unix) to check the update time of that status file, and if it was updated, increase serial number in another file which your Flash client could check (working like a flag), and create another easy read file such as XML formated for Flash for update information. So when your Flash find the serial number is increased, check the XML file then. George Paul Andrews wrote: Hi, I'm about to start a new project which will display the workings of a server based system that's manipulating data and passing it between servers. At each stage of the process a flat file is written that indicates a change in status/readiness of the data for the next stage in the process. My flash project will sit over the top of this indicating what's going on - driven by the flat file status changes. It's unlikely that I can really change the infrastructure at all - probably the best I'll be able to do will be to have the status files copied into a suitable form for the flash project to read. It's going to be interesting if I can't meddle with the infrastructure or get a file format compatible with loadvars or xml.. Since it's unlikely I can add much to the infrastructure, as far as I can tell the best approach is simply to poll for the presence of the status files regularly and read them to pick up any changes. I don't know if I'll be able to expose the files through a web service, or add a socket server. So my current thinking is to poll (read the status files if they are there), then sleep for an interval then poll again (this will be as real-time as I can manage). Effectively I'll be building an event-driven project that generates events to update the interface in reaction to the presence of the status files. Unfortunately, without a socket server I can't push the changes, nor can I reply on other solutions being installed on the server side (such as media server). As the status changes, I'll animate the flash interface to show what's going on on the servers. Anyone done this kind of thing before and have some sage advice/gotchas? Paul -- ipauland.com ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
[Flashcoders] "real time" flash interface.
Hi, I'm about to start a new project which will display the workings of a server based system that's manipulating data and passing it between servers. At each stage of the process a flat file is written that indicates a change in status/readiness of the data for the next stage in the process. My flash project will sit over the top of this indicating what's going on - driven by the flat file status changes. It's unlikely that I can really change the infrastructure at all - probably the best I'll be able to do will be to have the status files copied into a suitable form for the flash project to read. It's going to be interesting if I can't meddle with the infrastructure or get a file format compatible with loadvars or xml.. Since it's unlikely I can add much to the infrastructure, as far as I can tell the best approach is simply to poll for the presence of the status files regularly and read them to pick up any changes. I don't know if I'll be able to expose the files through a web service, or add a socket server. So my current thinking is to poll (read the status files if they are there), then sleep for an interval then poll again (this will be as real-time as I can manage). Effectively I'll be building an event-driven project that generates events to update the interface in reaction to the presence of the status files. Unfortunately, without a socket server I can't push the changes, nor can I reply on other solutions being installed on the server side (such as media server). As the status changes, I'll animate the flash interface to show what's going on on the servers. Anyone done this kind of thing before and have some sage advice/gotchas? Paul -- ipauland.com ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
