ASP crosspage notifications

[SniperDemon]

I am not sure what exactly it is that i am looking for or what it is called, but i can explain the situation i have. I am hoping someone can suggest some possible solutions.

I have a multi-page application that does several different functions. Some of these functions include pulling single reports from an SQL server, tracking user data entry, and creating multiple .pdf and .xls files at the same time. The last of those functions is that main source of my situation.

When a user sends the request to have the files to be created(80-150 files) they need to be able to leave the page after it has been submitted. They are currently able to leave the page and the job will continue to run but i need a way to provide notification to the user that the job has received an error or has completed.

The application uses windows authentication and also uses a master page. A users login status is displayed on the page. I was thinking of something that would allow a user to mouse over their login status and have a bubble popup or box slide out that displayed any current jobs and their progress. Also when the job finished it would somehow provide a notification message somewhere on the screen to the user no matter what page they are on.

Thank you for any help or suggestions.

[danp129]

I would have the page that creates the files log them to a database record, assigning it to that user. Create a javascript that's included on all pages do an AJAX query to another page that queries the database and returns any completed jobs that user has not looked at yet. If there are jobs returned, have the javascript do a DHTML popup or write some html into a previously hidden DIV near the users login status, then unhide the DIV. You could set the javascript to check the job status every 30 seconds so people that are not surfing will see the job is done instead of having to refresh or browse to another page to get a status update.

[SniperDemon]

That sounds pretty much exactly what i am looking for, but do you have or know of anywhere for some code samples for the dhtml popup and possibly the ajax calls.

[danp129]

Javascript / DHTML / Ajax Forum would be a good start for those questions. You may want to browse Javascript / DHTML / Ajax Articles. Or see if you can do what you need just by reading Ajax Example.

For DHTML popups look here , be sure to click the various examples in the nav bar.

[DrBunchman]

Moved to .NET forum.

Dr B

[JamieHowarth0]

If you are using SQL Server, then you could be a bit clever and drop your .NET processing code into a SQL stored procedure and enable CLR (Common Language Runtime) integration through SQL Server Configuration Manager. This way, your .NET code inside SQL Server can create PDF/XLS files, and the server can then pick up the responsibility of notifying the user when the files are ready (i.e. stored procedure complete) by using Database Mail.

It'd be something I'd be quite interested in trying at some stage. PM me if you want an extra hand.

medicineworker

[SniperDemon]

I just thought i'd show what i came up with and see if anyone had any suggestions.

My Javascript file

var XMLHttpRequestObject
 
function getData()
{
XMLHttpRequestObject = getXmlHttpObject();
 
if (XMLHttpRequestObject==null) {
    alert("Browser does not support HTTP Request");
    return;
}
    var obj = document.getElementById("targetDiv");
    XMLHttpRequestObject.open("GET","http://localhost:49646/getProcesses.aspx");
    XMLHttpRequestObject.onreadystatechange = function()
    {
        if (XMLHttpRequestObject.readyState == 4 &&
          XMLHttpRequestObject.status == 200) {
            obj.innerHTML = XMLHttpRequestObject.responseText;
        }
        if (XMLHttpRequestObject.readyState==4 || XMLHttpRequestObject.readyState=="complete")
        { 
        document.getElementById("targetDiv").innerHTML=XMLHttpRequestObject.responseText;
        } 
    }
 
    XMLHttpRequestObject.send(null);
    setTimeout("getData ()", 5000);
}
 
function getXmlHttpObject()
{
var objXMLHttp=null;
if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
{
objXMLHttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
}
else if (window.ActiveXObject)
{
objXMLHttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
}
return objXMLHttp
}

.aspx page that is called to retrieve data

Imports System
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Web.Configuration
 
Partial Public Class getProcesses
    Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
 
    Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Dim mConnectionString = WebConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("Database_Connection").ToString
        Dim conn As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(mConnectionString)
        Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("select * from tbl_APP_Processes where status = 'complete' ", conn)
        Try
            conn.Open()
            Dim reader As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
            Response.Write("<table>")
            Response.Write("<thead><tr><th>User</th><th>Application</th><th>Status</th></tr></thead>")
            While reader.Read()
 
                Response.Write("<tr><td><b>" & reader.GetString(1) & "</b></td><td>" & reader.GetString(2) & "</b></td><td>" & reader.GetString(3) & "</b></td></tr>")
            End While
            Response.Write("</table>")
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw ex
        Finally
            cmd = Nothing
            conn.Close()
        End Try
    End Sub
 
End Class

The main .aspx page(it only contains a div called "targetDiv"

Public Partial Class _Default
    Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
 
    Private Sub _Default_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Dim str As String
        str = "<script language=javascript> {getData();}</script>"
        Me.Page.RegisterStartupScript("Startup", str)
    End Sub
End Class