Remotely start import on text file update.

[aas4mis]

Is it possible to remotely start an import on machine "A" when a text file on machine "B" is modified? I can setup linked tables and run the following,...

qry_ManifestUpdateAndInsert:

UPDATE tbl_tempManifest AS tm LEFT JOIN tbl_Manifest AS m ON tm.tracking=m.tracking SET m.name = tm.name, m.store = tm.store, m.orderNum = tm.orderNum, m.tracking = tm.tracking;

but not sure how to setup a "trigger" if you will to let machine "A" know the text file has been updated. Open for suggestions, even more open for suggestions that would not require a linked table. I would like machine "B" to have control, machine "B" can be windows XP or linux.

Thanks!

[ADezii]

Assuming Machine B can 'see' the Text File on Machine A:

1. Create a Form in a Database on Machine B.
2. Create the following 2 Form Level Variables:
   

   Dim strFileToCheck As String
   Dim varFileDateTime As Variant

3. Open the newly created Form either Hidden or Minimized, and initialize the 2 previously Declared Variables in the Open() Event:
   

   Private Sub Form_Open(Cancel As Integer)
     strFileToCheck = "T:\Stuff\Test.txt"       'a Shared Drive on Machine 'A'
     varFileDateTime = FileDateTime(strFileToCheck)
   End Sub

4. Set the Form's Timer Interval to 30000 (30 seconds), and in the Timer() Event place the following code:
   

   Private Sub Form_Timer()
     If varFileDateTime <> FileDateTime(strFileToCheck) Then
       'initiate UPDATE Operation here
       varFileDateTime = FileDateTime(strFileToCheck)    'reset
     End If
   End Sub

5. When the Form Opens, the Variables will be initialized, the File's (Test.txt) Date/Time Stamp will be stored in the Variable. Every 30 seconds, the File's Date/Time Stamp will be checked against the previously stored Value. If they differ, the File was Modified, perform the Update Operation, Reset the Variable (varFileDateTime), and then start all over with the 30 second cycle.
6. Make the necessary adjustments to suit your specific needs.
7. The following was only Theory, will it work? I'll leave that up to you.

[aas4mis]

Sweet! Thanks for the help ADezii. I'll give this a shot next chance I get.

[aas4mis]

Another job well done. Client has a front end, Server (code below) monitors and updates on filechange. Here's the code...

Option Compare Database
Dim strFileToCheck As String
Dim varFileDateTime As Variant
 
 
Private Sub Form_Open(Cancel As Integer)
 
    strFileToCheck = "c:\inetpub\ftproot\inhouseman.txt"
    varFileDateTime = FileDateTime(strFileToCheck)
 
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form_Timer()
Dim strSQL As String
 
    If varFileDateTime <> FileDateTime(strFileToCheck) Then
        DoCmd.SetWarnings False
        DoCmd.TransferText acImportDelim, "InHouseManImportSpecs", "tbl_tempManifest", "c:\inetpub\ftproot\inhouseman.txt", False
        DoCmd.OpenQuery "qry_ManifestUpdateAndInsert"
 
        strSQL = "DELETE * FROM tbl_TempManifest"
        DoCmd.RunSQL strSQL
        DoCmd.SetWarnings True
 
        Me.txtUpdated.Value = Now()
        'MsgBox "The file has been modified!"
        varFileDateTime = FileDateTime(strFileToCheck)
    Else
        Me.txtActivity.Value = Now()
        'MsgBox "The file is the same!"
    End If
 
 
End Sub
 

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction ADezii!