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New Record Entry Issue - Data disappearing

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    #16
    Guys, thanks for the questions.
    We are all now on remote sessions. Previously, we had one user working on a shadow copy. Either way, the same issue is observed.

    The issue disappeared for a few days but is now back again. As mentioned already, it is happening on different forms/tables so it seems more systematic (not field rules or timers).

    Data is not cleared on depart but rather on the current field with the cursor still blinking. For example, you begin typing and then somewhere during entry the first bit of typed data is gone. Again, all other data on other fields remains intact...

    Comment


      #17
      OK. So, we know this is not a bug in Alpha Anywhere, or there would be posts of frustration of past or present all over the board.

      This means, to me, you are the only one experiencing anything like this. I have hundreds and hundreds of forms in use every day, and thousands of DBF and SETS supporting those forms running in 3 versions of Alpha Five and Anywhere and have not seen what you are experiencing. None of hundreds of users over the decades have ever even once reported anything like this.

      There are users like Mike, Tom, and Ted who are sharp as anyone on the board, and would immediately recognize the symptoms of an actual bug in AA. Their posts to date don't seem to be leaning in the AA bug direction.

      (Please clarify what version of AA you are on...)

      You say it is a problem that can disappear for days, and then return... This likely takes installation concerns off the table. This also suggests your coding and builds are stable with regard to the issue at hand.

      You also indicate it occurs with random fields on random forms at random times.

      We are now, in my interpretation of your posts, down to hardware issues.

      Here are some of the the possible, although improbable, system and environmental causes.

      1) You have software / malware on the terminals that is intercepting or impeding input from the keyboards.

      2) You have one or more bad switches in your network that are losing packets. Or the switches are intermittently running outside the devices recommended temperature range. Sometimes, just cycling the power on a switch can help.

      3) The data server itself has latency issues. What AV is running? What other roles does the server have? How old is the server, and is it dragging? Are drives showing as healthy? What is the temperature in the server room, and does it fluctuate?

      4) Scan the network, and identify what is on it. Look for any component that may be fouling the network, or issues with DHCP and handing out IP addresses that were assigned as static. Static IP addresses should be outside the scope of those assigned dynamically.

      5) Are the clients hard wired, or on WiFi? If WiFi, any chance machinery in the areas are causing radio interference or weak signals are losing packets? Are the clients Windows tablets where users roam between access points? (Roaming requires setting up an access point or machine to act as a virtual controller to hand off from one device to the next.) If WiFi, please tell me you are not using repeaters to expand the scope of the access points - they notoriously lose chunks of data.

      6) If hard wired, what are you running in the walls? Any chance it's CAT 5 or earlier, and there is cross-talk signal degradation? Are you running any cables more than 300 feet, as doing so increase the possibility of packet loss.

      My next step would be to put a copy of the data folder onto a completely isolated machine that is "offsite", and try running it with a virtually mapped drive onto the same drive. This will determine once and for all if this is a custom software design issue, or an environment / hardware issue.

      By offsite, I mean a machine that runs no other software as run on the company machines, and it is not on the same network as the company machines.

      By virtual mapping, I mean create a folder on the single test machine, share it as needed, then map a drive to that folder on that same machine. If using a path instead of a mapped drive, you can go that way, instead. Either way, emulate the company setup as closely as possible with no switches or network transfer in place.

      Of course, as the issue can come and go, you may need to test on the test machine for a few days.

      If the problem appears on the test machine, start looking at your app with greater scrutiny.

      If the problem does not show itself on the test machine, start tests on the hardware.

      As I said in the start of the thread, this is all over by you, and we are just guessing at the answers you've given.

      I think others might come up with more thoughts if you directly address their questions.

      Comment


        #18
        Holly cats Craig!! Well done! I think this is the best next diagnostic step..
        My next step would be to put a copy of the data folder onto a completely isolated machine that is "offsite", and try running it with a virtually mapped drive onto the same drive. This will determine once and for all if this is a custom software design issue, or an environment / hardware issue.
        Mike W
        __________________________
        "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

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          #19
          Craig's good post reminded me of another situation that caused inconsistent and baffling results on a local network. Someone moved a desk or filing cabinet and pinched the network cable. Took a while to track down as you might imagine.

          Another user some time ago started to have similar trouble after switching to a NAS device for his Alpha database.

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