[F8] Wait Until a Function Completes Processing

[JohnButlerFan]

Hi all,

I’ve got two functions that need to process. I need the second one “nowGoDoSomeMoreStuff” to wait until the first one “goDoABunchOfStuff” is done processing. goDoABunchOfStuff’s processing time can vary from half a second to about 30 seconds so I can’t do a simple timed delay. Anyone know how to do it? Thanks…

goDoABunchOfStuff();
//I need flash to wait until the first function completes processing
nowGoDoSomeMoreStuff();

function goDoABunchOfStuff()
	{
		ABunchOfStuff
	}

function nowGoDoSomeMoreStuff()
	{
		SomeMoreStuff
	}

[gparis]

depends on the stuff it you can somehow send a signal that the last stuff has been done, you can call the second function in the else of the first.

gparis

[JohnButlerFan]

I guess it does. Here is what I'm doing:

sayHiToVbNet();
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function sayHiToVbNet()
{
	var assignmentString = "Monday,0015a4cd124a"
	getURL("FSCommand:sending", assignmentString);
	keepWaitingForResponse(); // call the flash function
} // End of the function
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// this function doesn’t go ahead until the VBCalling is set from VB
function keepWaitingForResponse() {
	intervalID = setInterval(
		function () { // this function is called every 100 ms until the intervalID is cleared
		if (VBCalling != _level0.VBCalling) {
			VariableReturned(VBCalling);
		}
	}, 100);
}
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// this function is called only after the variable is set from VB
function VariableReturned(value) {
	clearInterval(intervalID); // clear the interval and stop the looping
	VBDone();
}
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function VBDone(){
						
	fidelity = l1.text
	procMon = l2.text
	maxInterval = l3.text
	minInterval = l4.text
	abSecant = l5.text
	abCos = l6.text
	delta = l7.text
		
	tSpan = maxInterval - minInterval
	trace(tSpan)
}

The flash file is hosted by a VB.NET Windows form. When the flash file loads it sends it's name and identity to VB. From there VB makes a call to a few databases, does a few calculations, and then sets the value of a textbox in Flash called VBCalling once VB is done processing. That all works. VB sets the value of VBCalling, and the values of a few other text boxes, in Flash and the looping stops. I can see the values set in the textboxes in flash. The problem lies with not being able to get Flash to do anything useful with the data once it has it (e.g., nothing in the function "VBDone()" will execute). Maybe I'm not clearing the interval properly? Not sure. Any help is appreciated...

[gparis]

can you use LoadVars instead of getURL(). The onLoad of LoadVars only triggers when vars have loaded successfully.

gparis

[Kostas Zotos]

Hi,

You can call the second function inside the first..

Regarding the code in your 2nd post: maybe try to execute directly the contents of "VariableReturned" function and not use at all this function, I mean:

sayHiToVbNet();
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function sayHiToVbNet()
{
    var assignmentString = "Monday,0015a4cd124a"
    getURL("FSCommand:sending", assignmentString);
    keepWaitingForResponse(); // call the flash function
} // End of the function
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// this function doesn’t go ahead until the VBCalling is set from VB
function keepWaitingForResponse() {
    intervalID = setInterval(
        function () { // this function is called every 100 ms until the intervalID is cleared
        if (VBCalling != _level0.VBCalling) {
            clearInterval(intervalID); // clear the interval and stop the looping
            VBDone();
            //VariableReturned(VBCalling);
        }
    }, 100);
}
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////



/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function VBDone(){
                        
    fidelity = l1.text
    procMon = l2.text
    maxInterval = l3.text
    minInterval = l4.text
    abSecant = l5.text
    abCos = l6.text
    delta = l7.text
        
    tSpan = maxInterval - minInterval
    trace(tSpan)
} 

This is just a variation, as your code seems to be OK in general..
(I did'nt see your code very detailed and don't know details of your VBnet, so maybe the problem is anything else)..

Kostas

[JohnButlerFan]

I got everything working and I'm including the following text: sending and receiving VB C# J# Flash AxShockwaveFlash SetVariable
if it will help anyone dealing with this problem (nightmare).

Here's how I got Flash to talk to VB and VB to talk to Flash:

First add a textbox to Flash called VBCalling
Then copy and paste what you need from below

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Flash Script>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

VBCalling.text = "NoVBYet"
sayHiToVbNet();
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function sayHiToVbNet()
{
	var assignmentString = "Monday"
	getURL("FSCommand:sending", assignmentString);
	keepWaitingForResponse(); // call the flash function
} // End of the function
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// this function doesn’t go ahead until the VBCalling is set from VB
function keepWaitingForResponse() {
	intervalID = setInterval(
		function () { // this function is called every 100 ms until the intervalID is cleared
		if (VBCalling.text != "NoVBYet") {
			VariableReturned(VBCalling);
		}
	}, 100);
}
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// this function is called only after the variable is set from VB
function VariableReturned(value) {
	clearInterval(intervalID); // clear the interval and stop the looping
	VBDone();
}
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function VBDone(){
						
	fidelity = l1.text
	procMon = l2.text
	maxInterval = l3.text
	minInterval = l4.text
	abSecant = l5.text
	abCos = l6.text
	delta = l7.text
		
	tSpan = maxInterval - minInterval
	trace(tSpan)
}

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<VB Script>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Private Sub AxShockwaveFlash1_FSCommand(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As AxShockwaveFlashObjects._IShockwaveFlashEvents_FSCommandEvent) Handles AxShockwaveFlash1.FSCommand
        If e.command = "sending" Then
            If e.args = "Monday" Then
                mondayQuery(e.args)
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

Public Function mondayQuery(ByVal dayIn As String)
        Dim day As String = dayIn

        Dim fidelity As String = "60"
        Dim procMon As String = "alpha2"
        Dim maxInterval As String = "100"
        Dim minInterval As String = "9"
        Dim abSecant As String = "17.0"
        Dim abCos As String = "1.2"
        Dim delta As String = "1"

        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("l1.text", fidelity)
        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("l2.text", procMon)
        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("l3.text", maxInterval)
        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("l4.text", minInterval)
        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("l5.text", abSecant)
        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("l6.text", abCos)
        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("l7.text", delta)
        Call AxShockwaveFlash1.SetVariable("VBCalling", "Hi Flash")

        Return day
    End Function

VB changes the text value of VBCalling from NoVBYet to Hi Flash, the loop terminates, flash has the focus of control again, and flash has all the variables from VB to work with.

[JohnButlerFan]

Thanks gparis and Kostas Zotos

[Kostas Zotos]

Your welcome!

Is it possible to tell us the Browser, OS , and flash player version where you have test it ?

(I am saying that because it is not completely clear if the "SetVariable" method and even the fscommand is working in a broad number of OS/Browsers/FlashPlayer versions)

I know cases with old code based on "SetVariable", fscommand in which there are problems when comes to pass data from script languages back to flash, especially in non IE browsers..

Thank you in any case!

Kostas

[JohnButlerFan]

Yes, that is important. The motivation behind this is to create attractive and powerful GUIs that use VB on the back end for data handling. No browsers are involved yet. The host is a Windows form in Visual Studio 2005. The OS is Windows XP Pro. Macromedia Flash is version 8. Flash Player version uses Flash9d.ocx. The version of the ocx is important, because I could not get VS2005 to work with the current version that comes with flash player. Some people have been able to get it working in VS2005 but I'll distribute with Flash9d. If I have any further troubles/successes I'll post back here...

Hope that helps,
Jeff

[Kostas Zotos]

OK,

Thanks for the detailed report!

From my tests, the "SetVariable" method not work with Flash Player 9 (in Netscape, Mozilla and Opera) in Windows
Also in Flash Player 8 not work in Opera too..

I think is not a "reliable" method for passing data from script languages in browsers back to Flash.. and the external Interface alternative is not also a cross browsers/platform solution yet..

Bye!