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Alternative to "Table.external_record_content_get"

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    Alternative to "Table.external_record_content_get"

    I use a neat feature to read fields from a temp dbf into character string and then use it in a drop down. This puts an entire list (char string) in local PC memory and runs fast. The command used is:

    "Table.external_record_content_get".

    I am looking for similar command but using the active current table with the ability to select fields and define a query.
    Any help greatly appreciated.
    Peter

    #2
    Re: Alternative to "Table.external_record_content_get"

    From the help file for Table.external_record_content_get()

    Code:
    Note : When working with a table that is already open, <TBL>.RECORD_CONTENT_GET() is faster.
    Does this do what you need?
    Andrew

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

      I checked my A5v7 build 4130/3033 and did not find your command?
      Thanks

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

        Your right, the command I listed isn't available until version 8.
        Andrew

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

          Hi Peter,

          Originally posted by pk9 View Post
          I use a neat feature to read fields from a temp dbf into character string and then use it in a drop down. This puts an entire list (char string) in local PC memory and runs fast. The command used is:

          "Table.external_record_content_get".

          I am looking for similar command but using the active current table with the ability to select fields and define a query.
          Any help greatly appreciated.
          Peter
          What's the issue? Just use Table.external_record_content_get with the active table's filename. There are table methods to retrieve the name and path of the table.
          Regards,

          Ira J. Perlow
          Computer Systems Design


          CSDA A5 Products
          New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
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          CSDA Code Utility
          CSDA Screen Capture


          Comment


            #6
            Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

            Thanks Ira,
            I thought you of all people would be the first to say "SPEED".

            I need first to create another table from the source over the network then I need to re-read via "Table.external_record_content_get" multiple times.
            So I was looking for something to bypass all this network back and forth.
            Thanks anyway for the thought
            I will just use it.
            Peter

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

              Hi Peter,

              Originally posted by pk9 View Post
              Thanks Ira,
              I thought you of all people would be the first to say "SPEED".

              I need first to create another table from the source over the network then I need to re-read via "Table.external_record_content_get" multiple times.
              So I was looking for something to bypass all this network back and forth.
              Thanks anyway for the thought
              I will just use it.
              Peter
              The only real difference is the time of the table open and close. If the time to retrieve the number of records is large compared to the open/close, then it wouldn't be any faster using the table method. Also, I will guess that it would use a currently open table if it exists, so try it with a table open before it followed by a table close when you are totally done, and there's a good chance it will be faster than if you didn't explicitly open the table.
              Regards,

              Ira J. Perlow
              Computer Systems Design


              CSDA A5 Products
              New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
              CSDA Barcode Functions

              CSDA Code Utility
              CSDA Screen Capture


              Comment


                #8
                Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

                Thanks Ira will test time permitting.
                Peter

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

                  Peter,
                  Just going by what the help file states regarding Table.external_record_content_get()
                  Note : When working with a table that is already open, <TBL>.RECORD_CONTENT_GET() is faster
                  which, of course, is right in line with what Ira stated.
                  Mike
                  __________________________________________
                  It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
                  It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
                  Henry David Thoreau
                  __________________________________________



                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

                    Hi Mike,

                    Originally posted by MikeC View Post
                    ...which, of course, is right in line with what Ira stated.
                    No, that's not what I said. I said the external version may be as fast if the table was open prior to the line. That's true for the LOOKUPx() commands.

                    However after testing this evening, it looks like about 80% (.13 seconds) of the time of the external version is spent opening and closing a table for about 100 records for a total of .15 seconds. This is based upon opening the table, running the same record get using the table method, and closing the table is virtually identical in speed to the external version. Apparently, Alpha doesn't reuse a currently opened table for the external version.
                    Regards,

                    Ira J. Perlow
                    Computer Systems Design


                    CSDA A5 Products
                    New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                    CSDA Barcode Functions

                    CSDA Code Utility
                    CSDA Screen Capture


                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

                      Hi Ira,
                      No, that's not what I said.
                      I guess my meaning of "right in line" is different than yours is all. I simply saw the similarity between when you said "The only real difference is the time of the table open and close." and the Alpha help file's statement regarding the other function being faster due to a table already being open. Apologize for any misunderstanding. :)
                      Mike
                      __________________________________________
                      It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
                      It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
                      Henry David Thoreau
                      __________________________________________



                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

                        Ira,
                        Thanks for testing and checking the calculating the time differences. I think what is over riding your points is that we do not have 100 records but have 12,000 and with many fields (100+mb db) running on a network (100mb/s) with 25 user etc. So anything that can be run in local PC (client) memory and reduces network traffic is preferable. Thanks again for sharing your unique insight.
                        Peter

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

                          Hi Peter,

                          Originally posted by pk9 View Post
                          Ira,
                          Thanks for testing and checking the calculating the time differences. I think what is over riding your points is that we do not have 100 records but have 12,000 and with many fields (100+mb db) running on a network (100mb/s) with 25 user etc. So anything that can be run in local PC (client) memory and reduces network traffic is preferable. Thanks again for sharing your unique insight.
                          Peter
                          I'm not sure you totally get the point. I'm saying that the two commands are effectively equivalent. You save the overhead of opening and closing the table (.13 seconds on my system) over each use of the external command. I suspect that the actual load on the server/network for the open and close is extremely trivial, and that this overhead of .13 seconds is mostly local processing. The larger the records processed, the less important the open/close time becomes.

                          By the way, it almost makes no difference how many fields you access and return (for the most part), just the number of records fetched by the filter (ideally using LQO)

                          Also, it might be worth considering a newer version of Alpha too!
                          Regards,

                          Ira J. Perlow
                          Computer Systems Design


                          CSDA A5 Products
                          New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                          CSDA Barcode Functions

                          CSDA Code Utility
                          CSDA Screen Capture


                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Alternative to &quot;Table.external_record_content_get&quot;

                            Ira,
                            I get your points and do agree that upgrading would be helpful and is being planned.
                            Thanks
                            Peter

                            Comment

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