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Multi-user environment

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    Multi-user environment

    I have few dumb questions when it comes to multi-user environment:

    1-When you query a table, where does alpha put the temp file? in cache? in the server's cache? the local machine's cache?

    2-How would you know if there has been any updates to the query since your last request?

    Thanks

    #2
    Re: Multi-user environment

    Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
    I have few dumb questions when it comes to multi-user environment:

    1-When you query a table, where does alpha put the temp file? in cache? in the server's cache? the local machine's cache?

    2-How would you know if there has been any updates to the query since your last request?

    Thanks
    Great questions!
    (I love dumb questions, cause then no one can justly criticize me for giving dumb answers.)

    I'd like answers as well as how does the performance hold up under 3-10 users accessing.

    The way I now do it is that I can setup any location I want for individuals' queries and other User Unique files.
    Example server / program folder:
    Drv:\ProgFolder\data\

    Years ago I set up:

    then 001 thru 999 under the folder.
    I put the user's private/unique folder into the Environment variable for that PC machine.
    Ex:
    Variable: STN (meaning station)
    Value: Drv:\ProgFolder\data\001\
    Or:
    Add Env Var: MYSTN
    Value: 001\
    Now STN Value: Drv:\ProgFolder\data\%MYSTN%
    Then you'd only have to mess with MYSTN.
    If I want it to be always assigned to that machine, I put it in the System Environment Variables.
    Then on startup the program "gets" the Env. variable value, and uses it for all queries/Tmp Files.
    I can change anyone's location instantly without digging back into the software. A client could even do it.
    ------------------------
    As far as I know, a query is static, not dynamic. So, it has the DB's situation only at the time the Query is produced.
    Any later changes affecting the outcome of that query are NOT reflected unless the query is run again.
    You could put the DB total records into a text file in the user's folder at the time the query is run. Then if the current total records exceed that file's records#, the query is possibly outdated, otherwise it's current, UNLESS someone makes a record Modify that would effect the Query's choices.
    Anyway, queries are normally needed for that point in time, say end-o-month, some other instant in time.
    If the data needs constant relevance then a key-index would make more sense, and, assuming that the results are to be output, the query to that key is always run ahead of the output. The indexed query is nearly instant.
    Last edited by SMARTII; 07-24-2007, 03:00 PM.
    First Love

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Multi-user environment

      Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
      1-When you query a table, where does alpha put the temp file? in cache? in the server's cache? the local machine's cache?
      Queries are stored in the $$*.mpx files in the Alpha 5 temporary folder

      Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
      2-How would you know if there has been any updates to the query since your last request?
      If you run a query and there have been no changes to the table, it will not normally be re-run unless you force it with a query option. I'm not sure off hand how Alpha 5 ascertains this. It may be time & date stamps, or something else.
      Regards,

      Ira J. Perlow
      Computer Systems Design


      CSDA A5 Products
      New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
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        #4
        Re: Multi-user environment

        Queries are stored in the $$*.mpx files in the Alpha 5 temporary folder
        Yes, but where? At the server? local machine?

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Multi-user environment

          Thanks Smart II. Looks like smart runs in the family.
          Just how smart is your son, Smart III ? must be a genius.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Multi-user environment

            Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
            Thanks Smart II. Looks like smart runs in the family.
            Just how smart is your son, Smart III ? must be a genius.
            That's an understatement. Unfortunately he keeps reminding me.
            First Love

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Multi-user environment

              Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
              Yes, but where? At the server? local machine?
              I have run into sluggish servers, and then I put the private folder on the local PC.
              Variable: STN
              Value: C:\001\
              OR:
              C:\A5Tmp\
              If you did this with every user, the same folder Value could clone to all.
              First Love

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Multi-user environment

                Originally posted by csda1 View Post
                Queries are stored in the $$*.mpx files in the Alpha 5 temporary folder



                If you run a query and there have been no changes to the table, it will not normally be re-run unless you force it with a query option. I'm not sure off hand how Alpha 5 ascertains this. It may be time & date stamps, or something else.
                I'm thinkin some other way, as just accessing the Data file usually always changes the Date/Time stamp even if no mods occurred.
                BTW:
                Are defined Querys composed as text files that could be read/modified by a text editor?
                Last edited by SMARTII; 07-24-2007, 03:20 PM.
                First Love

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Multi-user environment

                  $$*.mpx
                  Found these files(which are suposed to be deleted by Alpha) on the shadow(runtime) machine in the same directory as my data. Of course, the alpha.exe is there too.

                  Dave
                  Dave Mason
                  [email protected]
                  Skype is dave.mason46

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Multi-user environment

                    Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
                    Yes, but where? At the server? local machine?
                    It can be anywhere, but the temporary folder must be absolutely unique to each user. It is set in the Alpha 5 settings Directory entry on each system, and normally on the local machine either in the windows temporary directory or in a subfolder of the EXE directory (V7 and earlier) or the Alpha 5 user application directory in Version 8 (which is deep down under Documents and Setting folder on the C drive)

                    Originally posted by SMARTII View Post
                    I'm thinkin some other way, as just accessing the Data file usually always changes the Date/Time stamp even if no mods occurred.

                    Are defined Querys composed as text files that could be read/modified by a text editor?
                    Accessing the file does not change the table, index or memo field date/time stamps. Doing a save does update the time/date stamp of the files.

                    Queries are binary files, and not text
                    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: Multi-user environment

                      Originally posted by csda1 View Post
                      It can be anywhere, but the temporary folder must be absolutely unique to each user. It is set in the Alpha 5 settings Directory entry on each system, and normally on the local machine either in the windows temporary directory or in a subfolder of the EXE directory (V7 and earlier) or the Alpha 5 user application directory in Version 8 (which is deep down under Documents and Setting folder on the C drive)



                      Accessing the file does not change the table, index or memo field date/time stamps. Doing a save does update the time/date stamp of the files.

                      Queries are binary files, and not text
                      Just to be sure:
                      I'm speaking of the original Query definition, not the query resultant. What extension does a defined query name have?

                      The reason I'm asking this is that I often have the software create a query on the fly to a common named query..like tmpqry that is erased when the next one is written on the fly within the software.
                      The query looks like an action Script text. (I'm doing this in my old software that is getting migrated to A5.)
                      I am supposing I can still create Query definitions within the software on the fly in A5v8, you just can't view the definition to see if it came out as you expected?
                      Last edited by SMARTII; 07-24-2007, 03:40 PM.
                      First Love

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Multi-user environment

                        If you define and save a query, it is stored in the table's dictionary. it is not stored as a separate entity. You can view the dictionary file with an external editor (Doesnt show very much), but modifying it will corrupt it.

                        Tom

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