Recalc fields on file server

[John Fringer]

I have a database that requires a table to be recalculated once per day. The database resides on a file server. If I attempt to recalc the field rules from one of the workstations, the recalc seems to fail. If I run the recalc directly from the server all is fine.

This may seem like a bad idea, but I am wondering if I can create code that would recalculate the tables directly from the server.

I'm certainly not looking for the code here, just a little direction. Any ideas?

Thanks...John

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Sounds like a bug to me. Have you sent it in as a bug report?

[Ren� Stout]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Hi John,

I had that same issue once, until Selwin put me on track.
This is how I do it:

After login, the welcome screen opens. On this page I have a routine that works as follows:
I

<%a5
'--- recalculate calc fields after login to be sure that all calc fields are accurate.

If eval_valid("server.calcfields")=.f. then	'If this var does not exists, create it now
	dim server.calcfields as c								'Create it...
	server.calcfields=dtoc(date()-1)	'The value is Yesterday.
end if

?"The Calculated fields were updated on " + server.calcfields + ".<HR>"


if server.calcfields<>dtoc(date()) then	'If  var <> Today, this means that the fields are not actualized.
	?"Recalculating..."

'--------------------
	tbl = table.open("[PathAlias.ADB_Path]\Leden.dbf")	'Open the table

	tbl.fetch_first()	 	'Goto the first record
	while .not. tbl.fetch_eof()		'While not End Of Table:
		tbl.change_begin()		'Change the record, this triggers recalculation
		tbl.change_end(.t.)		'Save the record. Notingchanged, except the calc fields
		tbl.fetch_next()			'Goto next record
	end while					'Next loop
	tbl.close()					'Close the table
	server.calcfields=dtoc(date())	'Update the var to today.
	?"<br>The Calculated fields have been updated on " + server.calcfields + " .<HR>"
end if

%>

This means that the first one who logs in on a specific day, has to wait a couple of seconds for the recalculating process, but for the people who sleep in, things are ready to go ;-)

When the WAS resets, the var disappears, which results in a new recalc when the first one logs in again,

Does this help you?

[John Fringer]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Thank you so much! I will give it a try!

John

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Hi John,

I had the same problem but wanted to get the recalc and some other export routines done without anyone logging on.

I created a new app in the same folder with just an autoexec script.

This app is fired by the Windows Schedule Tasks.

To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, click All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.

This is done at 5.30 am every weekday.

As some people who work remotely, leave their machines on with the app running, this method overcomes the problem of recalc at logon.

[John Fringer]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Keith,

Thanks so much... That is exactly what I needed to do and it works great. Thanks again for the help!

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

To repeat: Sounds like a bug to me. Have you sent it in as a bug report?

[Ren� Stout]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Raymond,
in this message Selwyn explains the logic behind it. It is no bug.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Raymond,
in this message Selwyn explains the logic behind it. It is no bug.

I beg to differ. If it works on the file server, it should work just the same from a workstation (if not, Selwyn owes us an explanation as to why not). The only exception might be from a shadow on a workstation, but if that's the case it should have been stated it was a shadow (maybe I missed this?). Even then I would have to wonder why it shouldn't considered to be a bug.


As an aside, I have no idea why a table's calc fields should need to be recalculated every day. The only reason I ever do it is when I make a field rule change to a calculated field that would result in new values for all records.

Ray

[Ren� Stout]

Re: Recalc fields on file server

Raymond,

I leave your first remark for the specialists. For the second one:
In my tables I use calc fields that depend on weather a person is still a member or not. That calculations should better be done in the components, I know, but there are so many of them that I decided to misuse a calc field for that. That's why.