watch for file

[[email protected]]

Hi All

I am not sure how to do this but I am sure it can be done,

basically I want to run a back ground process that watches a directory and when a file appears import the file into Alpha and run another process.

so this is the scenario

a customer enters a order on their main frame
main frame posts a file of the order to a directory
Alpha is watching directory for a file
File appears Alpha imports file
Alpha deletes file from directory
Alpha watches directory

This will save lots of double entry a some of my customers

Thanks

Andy

[Finian Lennon]

Re: watch for file

Andy:

This code (or a similar version) runs in the OnTimer of a background form. It watches for any file in the "LaunchImaging" folder and when it appears, starts up imaging software. The even is set to fire every 5 seconds, I think.

dim shared working as L
if .not. working then
working = .T.
dim app_path as c
app_path = A5.Get_Path() + Chr(92)
pat_path = app_path + "LaunchImaging" + Chr(92)

'Get the location of the imaging executable
ti = table.open(app_path + "Image_Setup")
img_exe = alltrim(ti.img_exe_path)
ti.close()
'check for file		
flist = FileFind.get(app_path + "LaunchImaging" + Chr(92) +\ "*.*",FILE_FIND_NORMAL+FILE_FIND_NOT_DIRECTORY,"N")
if flist <> "" then
patfilename = word(flist,1,Crlf())
exefile = Chr(34)+img_exe+Chr(34)+" -I"+Chr(32) + Chr(34) + pat_path +\ patfilename + Chr(34)
'Launch the external app
sys_shell_wait(exefile,.T.)
'Remove the pat file
file.remove(pat_path + patfilename)
end if
working = .F.
end if

Where the code above launches the external app, you would run your import. The working variable stops the import of another file, by this user, while processing is going on.

[[email protected]]

Re: watch for file

hi Finian

I found this function which says it does what i want, but I seem to be having a few problems

file.watch_create("lchem","C:\import data","T","script_play("\newdeltransimport\")")

my error is

---------------------------
Alpha Five
---------------------------
Script contained errors.

Error at line: 1, column: 1



Error: Expected value
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------
any ideas where I am going wrong

Andy

[Finian Lennon]

Re: watch for file

It looks like an error in the help file. The

script_play("\

should be

script_play(\"

I did the original version of that code in V4.5. It's the second time in a week I posted code I've been using since V4 only to find V5 or later functions that encapsulate it. Oh well.

[[email protected]]

Re: watch for file

thanks Finian

thats working now

Andy

[Evert]

Re: watch for file

Hi Andy / Finian,

I'm looking for something similar Andy. You hinted me to look at FILE.WATCH_CREATE(). I think this is what im after.
The difficulty comes in when I want to run play a script "script_play("\script_to_run\")". What script do I need to create to obtain files belonging to only the customer which I opened in the form, stored in a folder containing primairely information about that customer.

So shortly, how to connect an external windows folder to a customer containing a list with files? I want them to appear in the customer form, retrieving information from that external file.

Anyone how could help me?!

Thanks!
Evert

[Finian Lennon]

Re: watch for file

First you need to create a script that performs the sequence that you described. You don't give us much to go on.

For the sake of description, assume that the form/table contains a field (cust_path) in the parent table of a set that describes the path to where that customer's files reside. If it's a form based on a standalone table, table.current(1) below would become just table.current().

Your script would contain code something like

dim cust_files_path as c
dim cust_files as c
cust_files_path = alltrim(table.current(1).cust_path)
cust_files = ui_get_files_multiple("SELECT FILES",Cust_Files_Path,"*.*")

This would put the selected files into a list called cust_files which you can then process using a *For_Each() statement, by putting the list values into an array or simply processing the list line by line using the Word() function.

You could also be getting the path in a different way but you'll need to give us more information.

Anyway, save the script as "GetFiles" or something like that and enter Script_play(\"GetFiles\" ) into the Get_Watch function.

[Evert]

Re: watch for file

Hi

Thanks so much for your efforts allready. I will try to explain my wishes a bit better.

I want to store in program files a folder called customers and in that folder sub-folders for all the different customers.
From the form of a specific customer, I would like to be able to see the files containing the folder, belonging to that customer.

So your describtion sounds good Finian, Though i dont know how to extract the path to the particular folder of that customer. Can I assume table current() would work when cust_path is C:\\program files\customer\customerX ??

Thanks

Evert

[Finian Lennon]

Re: watch for file

Where are the application files stored? Are all the files (tables and sets etc) in the same folder?

<<I want to store in program files a folder called customers and in that folder sub-folders for all the different customers. From the form of a specific customer, I would like to be able to see the files containing the folder, belonging to that customer.>>

How are the customer sub-folders named?

<<Though i dont know how to extract the path to the particular folder of that customer.>>
See question above

<<Can I assume table current() would work when cust_path is C:\\program files\customer\customerX ??>>
No, you can't make that assumption. What sort of files are stored in the individual customers' folders?

[Evert]

Re: watch for file

Hi Finian,

<<Where are the application files stored? Are all the files (tables and sets etc) in the same folder?

No, in a complete different folder, virtually not being connected to the folder where I store the actual tables and sets.

I would like to name those folders after their company name.

Most common files I would like to reveal in the customer forms are .doc, .pdf, .sff and .xls files.

Thanks for your help!

Evert

[Finian Lennon]

Re: watch for file

I'm afraid that you are still being a little sparing with your information. What you want to do is straightforward but without more specifics, it's very difficult to provide code that you could actually use in your application.

We have a pretty comprehensive document/file manager in our application It allows our users to create Word dcouments linked to a given patient as well as to link to any file that has already been saved in the system. It needs its own control table to store the linked information and a form to control the activities.

I've attached a screen shot of the file manager to help you understand what the code is doing.

topparent:name.activate()
dim global your_name as c;dim global app_path as c
userdefaults = app_path + "users" + chr(92) + trim(your_name) + Chr(92) + "app_user_defaults"
tu = table.open(userdefaults,file_rw_shared)
def_doc_path = trim(tu.docpath)
if def_doc_path = "" then		'no path has been set, set it automatically
def_doc_path = app_path + "users" + chr(92) + trim(your_name) + Chr(92)
msg_text = "The default document path for user " + alltrim(your_name) + " will be set to"
msg_text = msg_text + Crlf(2) + def_doc_path
msg_text = msg_text + Crlf(2) + "This can be changed in the \"Other\" menu, \"Configure User Options\"."
ui_msg_box("SET DEFAULT USER DOCUMENT PATH",msg_text,ui_attention_symbol)
tu.order("")
tu.fetch_first()
tu.change_begin()
tu.docpath = def_doc_path
tu.change_end(.T.)
end if
tu.close()
dim pid as c
pid = topparent:id.text
TopParent:PatFilesSub.new_record()
TopParent:PatFilesSub:id.text=pid
TopParent:PatFilesSub:savedate.value=date()
TopParent:PatFilesSub:user.text=your_name
filename = ui_get_file("Retrieve From:","All files (*.*)",def_doc_path,"X")
if filename = "" then
topparent.cancel()
end
end if
	
topParent:PatFilesSub:filename.text=filename
topParent:PatFilesSub:Filename.refresh()
topParent:PatFilesSub:description.activate()
END

Obviously this code will only work in my application. However, if you study it, you will see that the first part is just setting up a default path (def_doc_path) for the ui_get_file function to use toward the end of the code. App_path in our application is always the path to the main application folder in which there are various sub-folders used for specific purposes. For example, every user and machine using the app has a unique sub-folder.

To manage folders you need to look at the Dir_Create() and related functions. You also need to understand simple path "arithmetic" using functions like A5.Get_Path() and related functions. With these it's easy to manage folder creation and files management by concatenating paths and variables. In your case you need to get your customer name into a variable and use that to create a folder name.

In any event, the result of the above code is to create a record in a table that stores a full path/file name to a given file. This record is linked to the patient by the patient id and can be opened/retrieved by double clicking on the record in the browse. The dclick code uses the sys_open() function to open the appropriate application for the file. So if the suffix is ".pdf" it will open Acrobat, etc.