Integrate a runtime with a hosted database question

[Kent Searight]

Hi all,

I have an interesting solution that is almost completely finished except for this one last bit of integration I'm trying to create between a hosted database and a runtime. Here's the scenario:

There are two parts to the package. One is a hosted database solution, the other is a runtime that will only be used by one user for one specific task.

Basically the runtime is for logging shot sequences of video footage by offsite contractors. The log data is sent back to the production studio for import into the main database, after which that runtime is never needed again by the studio.

The client wants to be able to create a package on their desktop that consists of the runtime, completely packaged with it's video and personalized for the shot logger who'll receive it. The script I wrote makes a copy of a folder with the runtime, which resides on a file server, on the user's desktop and the proper video is inserted into a subfolder. I now want the hosted database to call a script in the runtime that will insert the video into a container and add some other data that's specific to the video and the person doing the logging. The problem I've run into is that I can't define a FM data source (the runtime) dynamically. IOW The path to the runtime must be defined by name, at least as far as I can tell. I tried using a variable to define its path, but FileMaker won't let me do that.

Basically I'm looking for one of two things at this point. One, does anyone know of a way to run a script in an external FM file whose location is defined dynamically? That will allow me to proceed as planned. Two, and possibly my only option, does anyone see a better way of achieving the desired result?

Thanks in advance for any help!

-Kent

[LelandLong]

I've had wonderful success with runtimes working with hosted databases. Not sure how my solutions would work in your situation however, except possibly sending the log data back to the production studio automatically without needing a separate file and/or email.

Sounds to me like a solution would be the opener script in the runtime. If the video is inserted into its subfolder, as long as it had the same path to use every time (at least at the same level and name), the runtime opener script could handle what you are wanting the hosted database to do in your description. Unless I misunderstood you...

[Kent Searight]

Hi Leland,

That's an excellent suggestion.

I'll still have to pass data into the runtime, though, because the runtime script that inserts the video will not know the name of the video unless I first import its name from a text file or some other type of data file, and then use that to define the video's file path dynamically. So I'll export the data that needs to go into the runtime as a .txt file into the runtime package's folder, and import it first on startup, then insert the video.

I'll probably also count runtime startups so that the import doesn't run if it's already been run once. This is likely to happen since it takes 7 to 14 hours for a logger to transcribe these videos and most loggers do them over the course of several days.

Thanks much for your suggestion!

-Kent

[Kent Searight]

.. Not sure how my solutions would work in your situation however, except possibly sending the log data back to the production studio automatically without needing a separate file and/or email...

BTW I'm curious. What did you mean by that? How would you get the log data to the studio automatically?

-Kent

[comment]

Seems quite similar to this:

http://www.fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/195362/post/290713/#290713

[Kent Searight]

Hi Michael,

It is similar, but I'm not entirely clear on how the intermediate file is set up, with respect to when you said "If I had to this, I would probably create an intermediate file, with references to the template file AND to the data file/s" in the thread you refer to. Is this a file that resides on the machine of every possible user (of the hosted files), with the path to the runtime? If not, how does it get its reference to the runtime (template)?

-Kent

Edited June 2, 2008 by Guest
typo

[comment]

If multiple users are authorized to create the runtime, then the intermediate file should be hosted as well.

I haven't had a chance to test this, but in this situation I would try to keep the template runtime file on the server as well. Hopefully, when you save a copy it will retain its binding to the runtime engine. If not, then it needs to be done from the opposite direction - sort of like an opener file?

BTW, it may be easier to have TWO runtime files - one with all the logic, and one with just a container for the video.

[LelandLong]

I have successfully synced data between runtimes and served files for some time now. It works great in limited applications. Absolutely perfect in single user instances such as yours where you just want data to be sent from the runtime to the server as new records or edits.

So if you just want log data to be sent to the server via a button/script in the runtime, then that is what I'm referring to...it can be done.

A few requirements:

1) hosted file on a FM server (or equivalent [client copy v6 has this]) with XML capability

2) custom php web pages hosted on any web server

[Kent Searight]

I haven't had a chance to test this, but in this situation I would try to keep the template runtime file on the server as well. Hopefully, when you save a copy it will retain its binding to the runtime engine.

Hi Michael,

There's no way I know of that you can use the script step "Save a Copy As" on a hosted file. Is that what you meant or did I not understand you correctly?

FYI I'm currently copying the runtime from a file server (separate machine than the FM server) by using the Unix command "cp -r" in zippShell and I can confirm from my tests that the runtime copy retains its binding to the runtime engine. Hopefully this answers your question.

-Kent

[comment]

OK, that might be overly ambitious. So how about something like this:

- Export the runtime to a known location on user's system;

- Export the intermediate file (from a container field) to a known location on user's system, and open it (using the option to open the exported file);

- Have the opening script in the intermediate file do the loading (the file needs a relative reference to the runtime and an absolute reference to the source data).

[Kent Searight]

Michael,

That's a great solution. I hadn't thought of storing the runtime in a container in the hosted database.

Thanks!

-Kent