Subject Re: DDE help From Bruce Beacham <bbeacham@no_plm_lowman.co.uk> Date Wed, 26 Feb 2020 22:54:42 +0000 Newsgroups dbase.getting-started Incidentally I use an ftp site as the repository for the csv files.   As it happens that has enabled a colleague to develop other uses, also drawing on this ftp site. Bruce On 26/02/2020 07:44, Robbie Nott wrote: > 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 >>> >