Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

[JPMPA]

I was able to publish a session variable in UX by defining adding it to the Properties panel of the UX under the Other > Published session variable option where I added say (just one line):
SESSION.MYVARIABLE
Now I have a server side xbasic function (AJAX) that sets/updates the value of the session variable when I click on a button (first button).

SESSION.MYVARIABLE = time()

Question: What gets the updated value of the session variable on the server update/sync the session variable on the session variable on the client side?

I have another button (second button) that runs javascript code on the client.
None of this worked on the client side button - it does not show the new value
alert(" session variable value 1 = " + {dialog.object}.getSessionVariable("MYVARIABLE"));
alert(" session variable value 2 = " + {dialog.object}.getSessionVariable("SESSION.MYVARIABLE"));
alert(" session variable value 3 = " + SESSION.MYVARIABLE);

[I know it does get updated on the server when I click the first button (AJAX) as I can see the value of the session variable being updated each time I click the button, when I run a page with ?a5w_info() and view its value there]
Thanks!

[JPMPA]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

Are they [Published Session variable on Server and Session Variable on Client] not always in sync? My javascript on the client in a button does not show the latest value of the session variable on the server...
alert(" session variable value 1 = " + {dialog.object}.getSessionVariable("MYVARIABLE")); Help!

[RichCPT]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

Did you initialize the session variable before calling your UX? You should probably give it a starting value before opening the UX. But, in my opinion, the only time session variables are useful are when they are set at login time and then remain constant throughout the connection.

[JPMPA]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

No, I was/am not sure how to initialize the session variable, before calling the UX component. Because there is only one UX component and nothing is called before that. Can you initialize it on the Properties panel of the UX under the Other > Published session variable option where I added: Is the following valid?
SESSION.MYVARIABLE="no_time" ???
Thanks!

[GGandhi]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

do you have dialog.initialize event in version 12 may be you can set the variable in that or dialog execute function as
Session.myVariable = "something"

[JPMPA]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

Gandhi, I am able to initialize the session side variable in the onDialogInitialize function now. But any updates to the session variable on the server using AJAX are just "not" updating the same session variable values on the client. May be I am expecting too much from the session variable? Thanks.

[RichCPT]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

JPMPA, you can do what GGandhi suggest to set the session variable in the dialog server-side event, "onDialogInitialize".

It won't work in Working Preview, you will have run under browser to see that part work. That's one big reason not to use session variables - you have to put in special code that emulates them in Working Preview. Recent pre-release updates include some good info in the server side events for emulating session variables - at least the grids do anyway.

Changing the session variable in a callback is not as straight forward as initializing it in onDialogInitialize. I cannot remember if javascript has to be emitted from the callback to do the set or if there is some property deep in the "e" object that you can change.

See video M58 (stateInfo object) for an alternative to session variables. Until this morning I was very excited about the stateInfo object. Now I am finding out it will be tough to use the stateInfo object when there could be multiple instances of a component open, like in a tabbed-ui. The tough part, for me, is that the client-side conditional style expression doesn't work well with the stateInfo object - it is hard to code the expressions to refer to the intended grid object.

[GGandhi]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

session.myVariable = "gandhi"
e.javascript = "alert('the session.myVaribale is "+session.myVariable+"');"

place this in the onDialogInitialize event

place a button and in the onClick Event call an xbasic function (mine is called setNew) and place this in that function

session.MyVariable = "Jackie"
setNew = "alert('the current session variable is "+session.myVariable+"');"

then preview may need some more fine tuning to do what you want.

[JPMPA]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

Gandhi, I do not wish to get the session variable from the server using the AJAX (or xbasic function) each time as the above setNew example [the above example actually does not even get the session variable - it just gets the "value" of the session variable to the javascript]- I need to update it there on the server using AJAX but then use the local Javascript session variable in my local javascript code. Thanks!

I bet if you have a button with the following javascript (no AJAX)
alert(" session variable is = " + {dialog.object}.getSessionVariable("MYVARIABLE"));
It will show just "gandhi" before and also after onClick Event call an xbasic function (setNew). "Jackie" will not show.
The local SESSION.MYVARIABLE is not updating to "Jackie", although the server SESSION.MYVARIABLE did get updated.
I am trying to see what will sync these two.
Really appreciate you time.

[RichCPT]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

Gandhi,
Yes, that would make the changed session variable show up in the alert, but that is not quite the same as having the client-side session variable actually contain that value.

I think he is looking for something like this in the callback xbasic function:

dim currTime as c
currTime = TIME()
dim js as c
js = js_escape("{dialog.object}._vars.SESSION.MYVARIABLE = " + quote(currTime) + ";")
your_callback_function_name = js

[GGandhi]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

http://screencast.com/t/av7sBnWWkwgd
I am not sure, but session variable is seen in the dialog after publishing.
(unless there is something I don't understand)

sorry, I do not have mic in this computer.

[JPMPA]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

Rich/Gandhi, seems like the session variables may not be right choice for the work i am doing in this particular case.
I will just use a global javascript variable or window.myvariable and let the AJAX emit the update statement to this at end of its logic.
Example: setNew = "window.myvariable = " + whateverservervalueorcalculations + ";"
This as the last AJAX statement- then use window.myvariable as I want without additional trips to server.
When need to update again - will call AJAX again...
Rich - I liked your code and is helpful.
Thanks!

[GGandhi]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

just want to say, sorry I was on wrong page.
I always considered session variables along with server but you are looking for the functionality making it available to the client.
I did not connect.

[JPMPA]

Re: Session Variable - Exactly what gets the published Session Variable to by browser

Gandhi, Sorry I was hoping to use the session variable as the one way 'live' conduit between the server and the client, but apparently I did convey that correctly. Now understand that nothing is 'live' but has to be updated explicitly from the server using AJAX or other means that requires a round trip. The discussion did help me understand the process more. Appreciate your time. Thanks!