Subject Re: DDE help From Robbie Nott <robnott@mweb.co.za> Date Wed, 26 Feb 2020 09:44:14 +0200 Newsgroups dbase.getting-started Hi Bruce Pretty cool ! Thanks very much I like the idea of the numbering in the transfer file. Kind regards Robbie On 26/02/2020 02:32, Bruce Beacham wrote: > I have used a timer to push data regularly once the process has been > triggered.    Like Akshat I use a csv as an intermediate file.    But > the receiving process also has to have a timer running in order to go > looking for a new file. > > There are issues with completeness:    you have to be sure the receiving > station finds all transmissions.   So I use a cumulative csv file and a > form of unique numbering so the receiving station can be asynchronous > with the transmitter and yet be sure it has received all data for that day. > > > Bruce Beacham > > > On 25/02/2020 19:48, Robbie Nott wrote: >> Wow ! >> Thanks Akshat >> >> It is a 2 way communication, but I could do the Commence to dBase with >> the Watcher, and the other way with Commence's awesome API >> >> Will certainly look into this as a solution. >> >> Kind regards and gratitude >> Robbie >> >> >> On 25/02/2020 19:56, Akshat Kapoor wrote: >>>> What I'm trying to do ( DDE ) is in the dBase OLH and they even >>>> provide an example which doesn't work. >>>> >>>> DDE is supposed to set up a link between programs ( or separate >>>> instances of dBase ) >>>> Once the link is created then you're supposed to be able to send >>>> data and instructions between the 2. >>> >>> What is the intended target. Will it be one way exchange or 2 way >>> exchange. >>> >>> Will you be required to receive data and then process it only or send >>> back processed data. >>> >>>> Client has an application written in Commence which has an API and >>>> lots of fancy stuff which dBase should have. >>>> I'm writing a dBase program for client and we want the 2 programs to >>>> communicate. >>> >>> DDE is way way above my paygrade. I have not even handled api's so >>> cannot even think of DDE >>> >>>> Have been stuck with this problem for a few months and have been >>>> told that dBase wasn't created to this kind of thing - why then is >>>> it in the OLH ? >>>> >>>> Why also does dBase have no API ? >>>> >>>> I have loved and used dBase for ages and this is the first time I've >>>> found something that it can't do - that's why I keep on thinking >>>> that it's me at fault. When I ask for help I get shut down at every >>>> turn. >>>> >>>> I'm looking to impress the client and so far all I can come up with >>>> is second rate work arounds... >>> >>> I am just inquiring not because I may be in a position to suggest but >>> because you may think of another alternative way thinking to reply. >>> >>> >>> Please think over once again what will be the exchange of data be. 1 >>> way or 2 way. Only then can we be able to think of alternatives. >>> >>> At times we receive much more data than we intend to and we have to >>> filter it out. >>> >>> Eg. Biometric attendance system that I installed about a month ago. >>> Usually employees press the finger o the sensor more than it is >>> required for a single event, resulting in multiple loggings within a >>> gap of few seconds. In dBase I filter out the extra data using the >>> bare minimum required. >>> The steps involved are >>> convert txt to csv >>> import csv to dbf >>> filter out unnecessary data >>> append the data to mariadb table. >>> >>> So it is up to you to think what needs to be achieved. Maybe there >>> could be other alternatives. >>> >>> I have attached a post related to file system watcher. So if commence >>> saves to a specific location (should be easy with API's of commence) >>> dBase can automatically import it and process it. >>> >>> Regards >>> Akshat >>