Auto clicking

dazz

Hello

I'm really hoping some kind soul can help me with this problem. Hopefully it's something simple that I am overlooking, but I just can't see the wood for the trees.
I am developing a live auction which is a perl cgi script, obviously timing is everything. During testing I have noticed that if there is no user click between
two,three,four etc auction items finishing, the first item to finish taints the data
of the following items. I am looking for a perl solution to the problem i.e. somehow clicking the script every 30 seconds or less or between auction items finishing to stimulate the autoclose part of the script.
As a work around which does seem to work I have the script running in a browser on my local machine and a windows based autoclicking program clicking a script link every 20 seconds.
Although far from elegant it does appear to solve my problem.
I don't think that a cronjob is the answer and I have even tried a dreaded javascript refresh routine which even though it refreshes the script, doesn't provide the necessary click and would potentially irritate users who were trying to fill forms in.
Of course when I finally launch the auction, many users should provide the necessary clicks but until then can anybody suggest a solution, some code or even a clue on where to look.

Thank you in anticipation

Dazz

Jul 7 '08 #1

KevinADC

Your solution sounds like a band-aid. You need to find out why when there are no clicks it creates a problem. If you do not find out what the problem is it will more than likely resurface at another time and place. I am talking from experience having collabarated on several perl based auction projects and writing one of my own about 8-9 years ago. Every contingent has to be taken into account, otherwise any weakness in the script will be found and taken advantage of or the users will not have confidence in the security and accuracy of the auctions.

Jul 7 '08 #2

dazz

Your solution sounds like a band-aid. You need to find out why when there are no clicks it creates a problem. If you do not find out what the problem is it will more than likely resurface at another time and place. I am talking from experience having collabarated on several perl based auction projects and writing one of my own about 8-9 years ago. Every contingent has to be taken into account, otherwise any weakness in the script will be found and taken advantage of or the users will not have confidence in the security and accuracy of the auctions.

Hi Kevin

Thank you for your reply. Yes you're right my current solution is a band-aid, that is why I am seeking a solution that is controlled by the script itself. Unfortunately I do not know if it is possible for the script to generate it's own refresh. As an example of the problem, When an auction finishes with bids, on close the seller is charged an amount, if the next auction finishes without bids and there is no user click between the auctions the seller of the second item will be wrongly charged the same amount as the first seller, almost as if something else needs to reset , however, if there is a user click between the auctions, the second seller will not be charged and his item will be re-listed correctly.
Would I be right in assuming that I need to try and artificially click?, is it possible to artificially click? Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Thank you

Jul 7 '08 #3

KevinADC

Don't even attempt to auto-click, not even sure if it is possible. Find out why the problem is occuring, that is where to fix it. You may just need to add a sleep(1) in your script where appropriate, but having no idea how your script works, and not wanting to know how it works, that is a wild guess.

Jul 8 '08 #4

dazz

Ok Kevin

Thanks for your help

I'll keep plugging away

If anybody else has any suggestions Please let me know

Thanks

Dazz

Jul 8 '08 #5