Export/Import Script problem

[newtothegame]

Hi there,

Another poser for everyone, especially the usual angels out there:

I’m running a script which is quite simple and works fine on my laptop under FM11 Pro. It involves the export of a field created by the ValueListItems command in one FM11 .fp7 file to a comma delimited .txt file, and the opening of another FM11 .fp7 file which imports records from that .txt file, performing some minor auto-enter calculations during the import.

It’s a simple, straightforward operation that works fine and only takes between 10 and 20 seconds on my laptop, which was the pc used to design the dbases and associated scripts.

My problem arises when this script is run by several users simultaneously on a server running under FM11 Server. One of the users (at random, i.e. anyone at any time at various and random times during a shift) presses a “Data Transfer” button in the first FM11 file to initiate the script and what happens is the entire system halts, (flashing <esc> and then the “bytes remaining” import screen takes over), with no user able to access FM11 on the server at all (including other files) until the process is complete.

This in itself is a minor inconvenience which I’d nevertheless like to get around if possible, but also at the same time, if someone else happens to be (and they often are) making changes to or adding any records in the first file, (the second, import file is read only), at the moment the Data Transfer button is pressed, all changes to the record they’re working on are gone when the process terminates. This is a more serious problem because the user, apart from the obvious inconvenience, has the potential to “lose their place” and important data may not end up getting entered at all. I use the Commit Records script step but that doesn’t seem to help with this.

While I’m quite ok with import/export value lists etc, I have no experience with servers so I’m wondering if anyone can point me to the right place to learn (quickly) protocols, limitations, requirements, etc to try to get around the above.

My concept of the above was that the export of the ValueListItems field to the .txt file should take an insignificant amount of time, with nearly all of the processing time being involved in the import. I would have therefore hoped that during the import process, the server could multi-task, allowing access to all files, (including the first export file but excluding the import file) and that there’d be some way of ensuring the integrity of data entry for users instead of interruption and consequent loss.

Freeze Window doesn’t seem to help. Is there something I’m not doing or am I simply asking too much of FM11 Server, or the server itself?

Thanks in anticipation of some advice.

[Wim Decorte]

I think we'll need to see your script to help out here.

Just to make sure: all the users are using the "open remote" functionality to open the hosted files, correct?

FMS is certainly able to multi-task, that's what it is there for.

[bcooney]

Yes, let's see the script and affirm that your setup is correct.

However, I question the need to copy data from one file to another. "Data Transfer," huh?

[newtothegame]

Just to make sure: all the users are using the "open remote" functionality to open the hosted files, correct?

Erm - ulp - I hope so. The administrator of the business has setup an entry gateway box using FM (not something I'm familiar with) for users to open all files which I presume uses the Open Remote function. It certainly opens the files correctly on the server, so I've never questioned that. Should I be double checking this somehow?

Yes, let's see the script and affirm that your setup is correct.

Erm - ulp - red face. Having trouble copying the script. Could you advise? That's something I'd LOVE to know how to do in FM because I'm used to editing macros/scripts remote from the file (say in Notepad etc) with other dbase software I've used. But I've never been able to do it with FM.

However, I question the need to copy data from one file to another. "Data Transfer," huh?

I would love you to keep questioning that, bcooney. My problem here is that each record in the first, export file can generate what would equivocate up to 112 records in the second file, (though anything from 1 to 112). If there were a way for the second file to instantly reflect the data in the first file without transferring (given that there are from 1 up to 112 key fields being generated by the export file per record), I'd be a very happy man.

[bcooney]

Well, you really just added more to the mystery. So, let's get specific.

You can post a pdf here of your script by printing the script to PDF. (There's no editing of scripts outside of ScriptMaker).

Perhaps more description of your tables will help. How does one record become 112 records?

[Wim Decorte]

Erm - ulp - I hope so. The administrator of the business has setup an entry gateway box using FM (not something I'm familiar with) for users to open all files which I presume uses the Open Remote function. It certainly opens the files correctly on the server, so I've never questioned that. Should I be double checking this somehow?

YES! I have no idea what the "entry gateway box" means but it's highly suspect. Try and find out exactly what the guy is doing here and post back.