Upgrading the Startup.Control file

[Bob Whitaker]

Here's the scenario. You sell a 5 user app to be deployed on a lan for your client use network optimisation, although that is not relevant to this question. Your client expands and wants to add two more users. To do this you must install a new Startup.Control file in the Runtime Programs folder of each work station - doable but tedious for five machines - horrendous if going from 100 to 110.
I thought there may be a way using Xbasic and placing a sinlge copy of revised Startup.Control in the application folder and running the script below :-

dim v_mast_path as c
dim v_rt_path as c
dim v_control_file as c

v_mast_path = a5.Get_Master_Path()
v_rt_path = trim(a5.Get_Exe_Path())
v_control_file = trim(v_mast_path)+chr(92)+"startup.control"
file.copy(v_control_file,v_rt_path)

ui_msg_box("THE USER CONTROL FILE","Has been updated")

Problem is you get an error message stating that access is denied - I guess maybe because the current Startup.Control file is open.

Has anybody come up with a neat way of doing this ?

Bob Whitaker
Snowbound United Kingdom

[DaveM]

Re: Upgrading the Startup.Control file

Bob,

I know this is not what you were asking, but:

I do this from within a script(ae) that checks the server to see hom many are connected to the server by way of the muf file.

The script(ae) reads a file(text file disguised as a bmp or dll) in alpha that holds the number allowed and the numbers are compared before the instance is allowed. This file is included with a shadow refresh, so it is current on all stations.

If the muf file is at 5 and they try to start another instance of the app, they are told "too many users" and the app stops. Alpha on that work station stops.

Maybe it helped?

I am at work witout any alpha, so I cannot give you the exact code.

.

[Bob Whitaker]

Re: Upgrading the Startup.Control file

Thanks Dave - we will look at that. The startup.control file option seemed to offer the simplest and most "cast iron" method of user control but is clearly not simple to change.

Bob

[Clunes]

Re: Upgrading the Startup.Control file

I am not sure if the startup.control used at any time othere than startup, but you could try a file copy routine in the autoexec. If the startup file is a newer file then copy to the exe directory.

Every time user starts the db this will check. If it is new do the copy and force a restart.