Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

[kingcarol]

The issue this morning that Alpha had with license expiration error made me wonder if I should restart my Alpha server after they resolved it. However, I can tell several of my users have logged in due to a log I keep and I was wishing there were an easy way to send the users a message from the app that we would be restarting the server. I don't use the Alpha users and security features. I have my own. Just wondering... it may not be possible.

[compuaid]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Carol here's a thought. You could load a UX component in your home tab (assuming your using a home tab) or you could embed it in your UX components that you already have. The UX component would simply consist of an OnTimer event that checks every minute to see if there is anything in a Status field in a control table (the status field being what you wish to broadcast). If the status field exists and should be broadcast you simply issue a javascript alert message to the application with the message. All users would see this and no Alpha security would be required. I'm sure this is overly simplified but it's an approach similar to one I use in my FoxPro applications. This also allows me to gracefully shutdown user applications and have them save their work.

[kingcarol]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Brad, that sounds like a good idea. I'm not familiar with using the OnTimer event and cannot seem to find any good examples in forum or in Alphapedia or in videos. There is not much documentation about that event when clicking on it in the Client Side Events. So I feel unclear about how to use it and if it just fires on its own by putting it in the client side events? Do you perhaps have a simple example?

[compuaid]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Hi Carol,

Here's a very simple example of a UX component that fires the timer every three seconds and posts an alert, updates a field and after the fourth time stops the timer from firing again. The key elements are in the UX component properties toward the bottom - check the Has OnTimer event and set the timer interval and the Client Side event OnTimer where I inserted the javascript to be executed when the timer fires.

TimerDemo.zip

[kingcarol]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Thanks so much, Brad - That was simple to review and I get it now. I will see what I can come up with.

[compuaid]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

No problem Carol and I'm glad I could help. That's what I love about the online developer community. I know I've gotten a lot more from it than I've been able to give but I'll keep trying to pay it forward.

[Jim Coltz]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Something else to entertain is using push notifications in your app. DISCLAIMER: I'm no expert at this stuff but it didn't take much to set up an example using node.js (now built into AA in the pre-release version) to set up an example. A video of it in action is at this link. http://screencast.com/t/P2aGYCvPB

[kingcarol]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Hi Jim, that IS interesting. I have, however, just finished implementing a solution based on Brad's suggestion and I think it is going to work for me.
Here is a video showing the result: http://screencast.com/t/Qu2rXBqyt

I LOVE THIS FORUM! Thank you so much, Brad!

[mikeallenbrown]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

THAT was cool! ...thanks for sharing.

[Jim Coltz]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Thank you Carol for sharing the video of your solution.

The nice thing about push notifications is that there are no ajax call backs taking place so there's absolutely no load on the A5 server. If you have lots of users on at the same time the constant call backs from a timer event could potentially lead to performance issues. The other cool part of pushing to the client is it's pretty much instantaneous.

I love that we have multiple options with Alpha Anywhere to handle these types of things.

[kingcarol]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

That makes sense, Jim. I was wondering about the constant callbacks and what issue that might cause with performance. My heavy accounting and job costing application means that there are constant callbacks anyway, so I'm not sure whether to worry about this or not.

I'm such a javascript dummy that I was completely lost while watching your video. Are you going to sell that push notification solution?

[Jim Coltz]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

I hadn't given selling it a thought. Just something new to fiddle with. Since Alpha is already using Node for the MongoDB Xbasic class maybe they'll decide to build in a push notification "feature pack".

[compuaid]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

You're very welcome Carol...so glad that worked for you! Nice job on the actual implementation. Jim, the node.js solution looks like a very cool option to explore as well. I'll be taking a look at that for the possibilities push notifications can offer should I find myself in a situation that merits sending real-time updates.

[DoronF]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Hi Jim,

Your video on Using push notifications is not working. Could you revive your link?
That was the thread:
http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...l=1#post679322


Thanks,

Doron
The Farber Consulting Group, Inc.

Main Web Site: http://www.dFarber.com
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[Jim Coltz]

Re: Give all users currently using the app a message that we will be restarting server?

Doron,

Sorry, the Screencast account was getting full and I must have deleted this video while cleaning up things.

I've re-posted it with this link http://screencast.com/t/HUrOtlynOZO