Creating a shadow DB

[preston2]

Ok, believe me I have searched and read every thing I could find on this.


From http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/Prepar...hadow+Database

dim master_db_name as C
dim shadow_db_name as C
master_db_name = ""
shadow_db_name = ""
ui_modeless_dlg_box("Install MyAppName",<<%dlg%
{can_exit=exit}
{lf};
Specify the filename of the master copy of the application:;
%P=ui_get_file("Select file","(*.adb)",master_db_name)%.100master_db_name;
{lf};
;
%dlg%,<<%code%
if a_dlg_button = "cancel" then
    ui_modeless_dlg_close("Install MyAppName")
    a_dlg_button = ""
end if
if a_dlg_button = "oK" then
    if file.exists(master_db_name) = .f. then
        ui_msg_box("Error", "Master Database not found.")
    else
        shadow_db_name = a5.Get_Name()
        a5.Load(master_db_name)
        a5_nopt_CopyAddFiles(shadow_db_name, master_db_name)
        create_shadow2(shadow_db_name, .t., .t.)
        ui_modeless_dlg_close("Install MyAppName")
    end if
end if
%code%)

Does not work and results in this little pop up window that will never go away.
SDB_Error.png


The method using the network optimization shown at http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/Network+Optimization works except that means I have to make the main system toolbar visible and I do not want have that showing in my app.

Got to be away that the end user does not need to jump thru hoops to install a shadow.

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/Network+Optimization[/url] works except that means I have to make the main system toolbar visible and I do not want have that showing in my app.

Got to be away that the end user does not need to jump thru hoops to install a shadow.

Make your own toolbar with only network optimization on it.

Control panel - code tab - new - toolbar - blank toollbar - context control panel - pick the existing button form the list.

toolbar_NetworkOptimize.PNG

[preston2]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

I will try and build off that Al. I had seen the network optimize elsewhere but all it did was a refresh.

I have to make this operation dummy proof for my end users.

I will say it again, with the help of the generous members here, the accidentally stumbling across the correct search syntax in wiki and reading the books, I am starting to understand Alpha 5. I like what I see.

With all that guidance mentioned above my 3+ months of developing my app is now out in preliminary beta testing (still have a lot to do on it though) and the people testing it in the industry the app is designed for are very impressed with it.

A big thank you to all the guys and gals here who have thrown me some bones.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

At the very least, I think creating a Shadow DB requires that the user knows or can find the Master DB. So I have the user open the Master DB in the runtime and never show them the Control Panel. There I have a Make Shadow button that runs a script and calls a function (UDF) I created: Make_Shadow():

'Date Created: 20-May-2009 05:29:44 PM
'Last Updated: 21-May-2009 01:26:15 PM
'Created By  : Raymond Lyons
'Updated By  : Raymond Lyons
FUNCTION Make_Shadow AS C ( )

	DBname = file.filename_parse(a5.get_name(),"N")
	create_shadow2("C:\A5_shadows\Master_DB"+"\\"+DBname,.t.)
	topparent.close()	'Needed to close the form the calling script is run from

END FUNCTION

Note that I hard coded where I wanted the shadow to go, but you could easily let the user choose a location.

Then the problem is, how can you make this function run? If run from a form, that form and virtually everything else has to first be shut down--just as if you were backing up the database. So I used Action Scripting: Database Utilities, Backup Database Dialog Box and converted it to xbasic. Then I merely replaced the line cmd_initial = " backup_database()" with cmd_initial = " Make_Shadow()", and a few other minor tweaks. Voila, it works, opening the shadow to my menu form where I also have a button to create a desktop shortcut for the Shadow and a Refresh Shadow button. I suppose I could have the shortcut created automatically, but I don't.

The slightly modified AS generated xbasic code for my Make Shadow from Master button is as follows:

'Date Created: 25-May-2009 05:50:39 PM
'Last Updated: 05-Apr-2012 11:14:49 AM
'Created By  : Raymond Lyons
'Updated By  : Raymond Lyons
'Code below is based on the Backup script generated by AS
'Make_Shadow() is a UDF that creates the shadow and also closes the form this script is run from.
'All other forms are closed in this script and CP is minimized.

'Display the 'Make Shadow' dialog box
dim cmd_initial as c 
cmd_initial = " Make_Shadow()"
dim msg as c 
msg = "A Shadow version of this database will made (or refreshed with an updated ver # if a Shadow already exists)."
dim cmd_result as c 

'get list of all open windows...........................................
dim open_windows as c 
open_windows = a5_list_open_windows()	
dim current_window as c 
if is_object(topparent.this)
	if topparent.class() = "form" .or. topparent.class() = "browse" then 
		current_window = topparent.name()
		'remove the current window from the list
		open_windows = word_subtract(open_windows,current_window,crlf())  
	end if 
end if 

'generate the xbasic to close all of the open windows (excepting the current window)....................
if open_windows <> "" then 
	dim cmd_close as c 
	cmd_close = *for_each(x,x+".close()" , open_windows)
	''now execute the xbasic
	cmd_result = evaluate_template(cmd_close)
	if cmd_result <> "" then 
		ui_msg_box("Error",cmd_result)
		goto skip_rest_close_open_windows
	end if 
end if 

if is_object(topparent.this) then 
	if topparent.class() = "form" .or. topparent.class() = "browse" then 
'		dim q_msg as n 
'		q_msg = ui_msg_box("Notice",msg,UI_ATTENTION_SYMBOL+UI_OK_CANCEL)
'		if q_msg = ui_ok_selected then
			dim topparent_name as c 
			dim cmd as c 
			dim condition as c 
			
			dim open_sessions as c 
			open_sessions = session_enum()
			dim open_session_count as n 
			open_session_count = line_count(open_sessions)

			if topparent.class() = "form" then 
				cmd = "dim tempP as p; tempP = form.view(" + quote(topparent.name(1)+"@" + topparent.Dictionary_Get(1))+")"
			else
				cmd = "dim tempP as p; tempP = browse.view(" +quote( topparent.name(1)+"@" + topparent.Dictionary_Get(1))+")"
			end if 
			
			if a5_IsMaximized() = .t. then 
				cmd =  cmd +  crlf() +"xbasic_wait_for_idle()" + crlf() +  "tempP.maximize()" + crlf()
			end if 
			
			'when the number of sessions is one less than the number before the layout is closed then 
			'the session that the form/browse was based on has been closed, and it is safe to run the
			'command.
			condition = "line_count(session_enum()) =  " + (open_session_count - 1 )
			cmd = cmd_initial + crlf() + cmd
			
			'is the control panel hidden? if so then you have to temporarily show it, or else the database will close
			'after you close this form.
			if ControlPanel.IsVisible() = .f. then 
				ControlPanel.Minimize()
				cmd = cmd + crlf() + "controlpanel.hide()"
				if a5_IsMaximized() then 
					topparent.restore()
				end if 
			end if 

			on_condition(condition,cmd)
			topparent.close()
'		end if 
	
	else   'topparent is an object, but it is not a form or browse
		cmd_result = evaluate_template(cmd_initial)
		if cmd_result <> "" then 
			ui_msg_box("Error",cmd_result)
		end if 
	end if 
else '	topparent is not an object 
	cmd_result = evaluate_template(cmd_initial)
	if cmd_result <> "" then 
		ui_msg_box("Error",cmd_result)
	end if 
end if 

skip_rest_close_open_windows:

Hope this helps, if not Preston who may go down a different road, maybe someone else.

Raymond Lyons

[preston2]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

Thanks Raymond. I will definitely give this a try.

I agree, the person installing the shadow needs to know how to find the master. They will have to navigate to where the master is as the app is not going to be used by one big company but a lot of small companies and they will all have their network paths different.

I plan on making this function available only to those that log in with admin access (got to keep their employees from pushing buttons just to see).

One of these days my head may get totally out of the old Pascal way of thinking and then things will become easier. Getting better though.

Again, thank you.

[DaveM]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

Preston,

There is some nice code and help above. I applaud the work and the help for you.

I use maybe a different slightly method:

I create the database install in one step and then create the shadow in another on my machine. I then make the 2 installs using an outside installer(astrum in my case). The first is for the data files for the server and the other is for the shadow on the work station.
The shadow has a bootstrap adb that when opened on the work station allows the user/IT to locate the data files and it updates the shadow from the data files.
The user never sees the Control Panel in any of my apps.
The shadow along with the runtime is actually copied from the installer in one step to the work station.

Hope this helps as well.

Contact me if you want to know more. One of my apps has many installs by others without any intervention from me.

[enstorms]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

Hi Dave,
I'm doing the same thing, but can't get the database to run once the shadow has been created, it simply opens to the control panel. My form on the "bootstrap" app has a "select file" field on the form that shows on startup. Then I pass it to a function to create the shadow. Once complete, the app is opened on the control panel.
Ernie

P.S. I can hard code the location of the master and it works fine. Put the code in the autoexec script of the bootstrap. It creates it then runs the app opening to the Main Menu.
P.S.2 Well, never mind what I've said. Somewhere along the line of trying to get all this to work, the master copy of the db lost all the code, i.e. scripts, functions, etc. Consequently, no autoexec to make it open as planned.

[enstorms]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

Ok, have it working just fine. Don't know what happened to all the scripts and functions on the Code tab.
Ernie

[DaveM]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

I gleaned this from others and modified it as I needed it, then changed it slightly for hard coded paths. Change it as you want. It gets used 2 - 3 times a week now.
The code I gave for creating a shadow from a dataset on a server:

dim master_db_name as C
dim shadow_db_name as C
master_db_name = "\\networkpath\ups55\sales.adb"
shadow_db_name = "c:\ups55\sales.adb"

ui_modeless_dlg_box("Install Ups55",<<%dlg%
{can_exit=exit}
{lf};
Specify the path and filename of the master copy of the applicationlike: \\pc2\ups55\sales.adb ;
[%P=ui_get_file("Select file","(*.adb)",master_db_name)%.100master_db_name];
{lf};
<Click Here to Start Install!oK?.not.(master_db_name="")> <Cancel!cancel>;
%dlg%,<<%code%

if a_dlg_button = "cancel" then
ui_modeless_dlg_close("Install UPS55")
a_dlg_button = ""
end if

if a_dlg_button = "oK" then
if file.exists(master_db_name) = .f. then
ui_msg_box("Error","Master Database not found.")
else
shadow_db_name = a5.Get_Name()
a5.Load(master_db_name)
a5_nopt_CopyAddFiles(shadow_db_name, master_db_name)
create_shadow(shadow_db_name, master_db_name,.t.)
ui_modeless_dlg_close("Install Ups55")
end if
end if
%code%)

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

Hi Preston,

You have discovered that there is some typos with the script in the wiki.
Should read:

Specify the filename of the master copy of the application:;
[COLOR="#FF0000"][[/COLOR]%P=ui_get_file("Select file","(*.adb)",master_db_name)%.100master_db_name[COLOR="#FF0000"]][/COLOR];
<Click Here to Start Install!oK?.not.(master_db_name="")> <Cancel!cancel>;

[preston2]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

Hi Preston,

You have discovered that there is some typos with the script in the wiki.
Should read:

Specify the filename of the master copy of the application:;
[COLOR="#FF0000"][[/COLOR]%P=ui_get_file("Select file","(*.adb)",master_db_name)%.100master_db_name[COLOR="#FF0000"]][/COLOR];
<Click Here to Start Install!oK?.not.(master_db_name="")> <Cancel!cancel>;

Hey Keith.

Yes I discovered that after comparing an example Dave had to the one in Wiki. I have a program that allows me to load 2 versions of code and look at them side by side as it points out all the differences. This is why using Wiki can be frustrating at times as this is not the first thing I found in Wiki that was wrong.

[DaveM]

Re: Creating a shadow DB

I also advise not using drive letters as the path to the adb. Use the server name. like "\\my server\myappfolder\my.adb" instead of "z:\myappfolder\my.adb". Just one help to keep a user from messing with the real data files so easily.