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File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

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    File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

    I have been using the file import feature aleady in web apps, but i have a client who does not want the users to have to locate the file. Is there a way on this function to import from a specific location that the file is to exist. This client has hundred of laptops in the field and the file that needs to be imported to process and load into a grid is ALWAYS in the same spot.

    Any help would be appreciated.


    Thanks

    Keith Erdman/New Orleans, LA

    #2
    Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

    Yes

    File.watch and some customized xbasic code to read when a file is found, import it, move it to another directory to retain what was processed
    Al Buchholz
    Bookwood Systems, LTD
    Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

    Occam's Razor - KISS
    Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
    Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
    When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
    "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
    Albert Einstein

    http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

    Comment


      #3
      Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

      I believe it is a security feature of all browsers to protect the users drives... and as such you cannot provide a local filepath and filename to an upload process. The browser implements a process whereby "fakepath" replaces the file's true location. Since the source file resides on the user's system, XBasic cannot be of assistance.

      What you could do is set up a process whereby a local file is sync'd with BOX.com, S3, or some other service... and then fire off an XBasic process to do the rest... e.g. Import the file into a table the grid is based on.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

        We use flowheater for a similar process. You can schedule an event to upload the spreadsheet to a database or you can call the upload using xbasic to run a batch file on the server.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

          Originally posted by Michael1954 View Post
          We use flowheater for a similar process. You can schedule an event to upload the spreadsheet to a database or you can call the upload using xbasic to run a batch file on the server.
          That's cool... so flowheater will automatically pick up a local client file from a local client drive and then run an import process... without the user having to select the file from their drive?

          Comment


            #6
            Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

            Originally posted by Davidk View Post
            That's cool... so flowheater will automatically pick up a local client file from a local client drive and then run an import process... without the user having to select the file from their drive?
            On the understanding that the filename and columns remain unchanged it "does the business day in day out". The program is reasonably priced and the Guy that wrote it is totally approachable. I think there is a trial version.

            Used it for 4 years moved 500,000 records daily spread over 20 files daily.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

              I think I understand... but I'm not sure. flowHeater is software that the user installs on their PC? It can be configured to automatically import and process a local file.

              Are you running flowHeater... or flowHeater Server?

              Is it a runtime flowHeater Definition that you're running?

              Do you run flowHeater from an Alpha Web Page?

              Thanks.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                Originally posted by Davidk View Post
                I think I understand... but I'm not sure. flowHeater is software that the user installs on their PC? It can be configured to automatically import and process a local file.

                Are you running flowHeater... or flowHeater Server?

                Is it a runtime flowHeater Definition that you're running?

                Do you run flowHeater from an Alpha Web Page?

                Thanks.
                We give the user very little access to flowheater.

                If the internet was down during the daily "update process" we have a button on a UX that calls a batch file on the server. This then updates the server. Alpha can then see an updated database. We display this to the user. Flowheater like Alpha requires permission to make a connection to the database. The batch file resides on the server and pulls information from FTP, webstore databases and other servers on the network. It has a Delete/Truncate option. Mostly we are importing daily feeds from hardware suppliers, once the suppliers offer a new feed yesterdays prices are history. We crawl the web for competitors prices and these are also updated daily.


                Are you running flowHeater... or flowHeater Server? We are running flow heater batch.

                Is it a runtime flowHeater Definition that you're running? Yes it produces an executable.

                Do you run flowHeater from an Alpha Web Page? Very rarely but the option is there.

                We run 50 batch files a day. Not all are flowheater some are web crawl programs.

                David K.png

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                  Ok... thanks Michael. I'm still a bit confused. flowHeater Batch runs on the server and gathers data from different sources. How does user data get from a user's PC to where ever flowHeater gets it?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                    Originally posted by Davidk View Post
                    Ok... thanks Michael. I'm still a bit confused. flowHeater Batch runs on the server and gathers data from different sources. How does user data get from a user's PC to where ever flowHeater gets it?
                    Flow heater needs permission and then it will move it. We can schedule a trial next week to see we are both on the same page.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                      So flowHeater is installed on the user's PC... is that right?

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                        Originally posted by Davidk View Post
                        So flowHeater is installed on the user's PC... is that right?
                        You take data from somewhere and you deliver it to somewhere. It really doesn't matter if you push it or pull it.

                        FYI if you wanted to install this on multiple user's PCs then you need the corporate edition. The user downloads the free version of flow heater and you have the ability with corporate to make an .exe that works with the free version. This executable can be installed on the users PC, they still need a copy of flowheater but it can be the free version.

                        I would tend to get permission from the user to pull data and just have one program with multiple connections. That way you can pull from multiple sources.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                          Excellent... thanks Michael.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                            Originally posted by Davidk View Post
                            Excellent... thanks Michael.

                            Bed time for you but will gladly set up a display next week.

                            I can give you a login to a server that runs these scripts.

                            Also we can move files, say excel data from your PC to Your server.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: File Import BUT Dont want user to have to locate

                              Appreciated... thanks Michael. I really just wanted to confirm that it's a local PC software solution / server solution rather than access to a local drive from a browser.

                              Comment

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