HOW CAN I RUN MY APPLICATION OVER INTERNETBROWSER ?

[farzad321]

Hi to Every One.
I was write a big application for a factory . but this factory is very big place and we can not cover it with LAN cable or WiFi. At first I think about MESH modems for cover the factory. But I think better idea is convert the program to run in browser . Because we have internet is ready anywhere in factory.

I need to know the sequence of converting. This is my first try in this area.

I will be very glad to hear about any reference or Idea that can help me.

thank you so much
FARZAD

 

[TamarGranor]

This isn't an easy thing to do with a VFP application. How hard it is depends on the structure of your application. The first tool to consider is FoxInCloud:

http://foxincloud.com/.

But before doing that, I'd try harder to find a way to use a single network.

Tamar

 

[tomk3]

Hello,

you might think of using a remote session tool like Teamviewer or anydesk
These require one pc for each one in office

or usea terminalservice (MSTSC, RDP) or a similar tool like tsplus

https://tsplus.net/

These require one "server" for as many office pcs as licenced

Maybe you will need a fixed IP on the "server" or at least a dyndns service to ensure its always the same adress.

regards
tom

 

[hardianwn]

Directly, you cant.
There are several ways to do so and it depend on your situation/s

Basic setup would be directly connecting to the single database (main database) using ODBC but you need to add those public IP's to the main firewall (only for each IP with specifics ports, ie, 3306 for mySQL/mariaDB)
So you need Public IP for each factory (a factory would most likely have one)

Or you can use PHP API and open them with Ms Web Browser control (easy to INSERT, DELETE, REPLACE, EDIT but not for SELECT)

but then again, different situation, different setup, so you need to be more specific on your case

 

[GriffMG]

How are you providing "internet is ready anywhere in factory" if you can't do wired or WiFi? because if you are hoping to
provide multiple access to a VFP application across the mobile phone network... well, you are just asking for problems.

You could rewrite the application in ASP via the OLEDB driver (if you have a native VFP database that is reliable enough)
and make that available as a browser based system, but the rewrite for " big application for a factory " would be costly.

If you have an app that works, I'd wire the factory for ethernet, then put WiFi strategically where it was hard to reach
or even consider ethernet over mains if your supply is clean enough to support it...

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

I'm trying to cut down on the use of shrieks (exclamation marks), I'm told they are !good for you. ​

 

[Steve Meyerson]

Farzad,
This works for me, but I don't know if my scenario is possible in your situation. Generally:

1. I pay a web host (Hostgator). I create a database with several tables on their site, which is fairly easy to do with THEIR on-site PHP software.

2. Each user downloads ODBC (or I do it for them using Teamviewer). Also (as usual), my exe is downloaded on the users' machine along with the normal libraries required.

3. My exe makes use if the SQLEXEC command to SELECT the data the user needs for the program.
Hope this might help.

Steve

 

[farzad321]

Hi to everyone
thank you very much for the response and good help technique.
this factory made in large land and Many buildings on it. Every buildings has a modem with SIM card (Wireless) and also no access to main network in central office.
I think foxincloud need to hard try and many test for success.

Second way : WE have a Static IP address for cameras , But I can not work good with ports and IP

The Griff's suggestion sounds good about ASP and OLEDB driver . I most read more about it

The steve way is lowest time and cost I think.
I can install my main EXE file in any Station we need (via External hard drive) , and I forget to say (We have website and maybe i can use it for data sharing anyway) or other web hosts. And the rest stays the method of connection between the program and web host database.

I hope I succeed.
Thank you again for all help and with best regards.
FARZAD

 

[GriffMG]

With that infrastructure, you can only really go with either a complete rewrite (asp or fox-in-cloud) or more immediately
try RDP to a central server.




Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

I'm trying to cut down on the use of shrieks (exclamation marks), I'm told they are !good for you. ​

 

[foxincloud]

Hi all,

Just a couple of observations and answers

I think foxincloud need to hard try and many test for success.

We provide a free tool, the FoxInCloud Adaptation Assistant that tells you exactly what you need to do on your app. and how long it will take you (you can even adapt your unit time from your personal experience).
During adaptations your app. works the same on the dekstop/LAN as usual, so you can progress at your pace.
We support you for free on any public VFP-dedicated forum such as here.

a complete rewrite (asp or fox-in-cloud)

As explained earlier, FoxInCloud only requires adapting 1-2% of the existing code base, mainly by:
[ul]
[li]replacing native VFP commands or functions by FoxInCloud wrappers compatible for both desktop and web mode,[/li]
[li]moving code across methods,[/li]
[li]adding web-based code such as:[/li]
[/ul]

if thisForm.wlLAN && desktop mode
   REPORT FORM …
else && ADDED for web mode
  … "xxx.pdf" && generate PDF using XFRX or FoxyPreviewer
  thisForm.wFileSaveAs("xxx.pdf") && deliver PDF to the user for display in the browser and local printing
endif

FoxInCloud is very far from a 100% rewrite.

Besides, FoxInCloud generates state-of-the-art, responsive HTML, CSS and JS that you can later enhance and adapt to another server language of your choice (asp.net, php, etc.)

 

[hardianwn]

Second way : WE have a Static IP address for cameras , But I can not work good with ports and IP

Get router on each factory, cameras has different ports than database.
Assign NAT on each them router on each factory and forward those packet by their ports.
Then you can just use ODBC on your app.

Connection trough GSM is not as viable as you might think. its unstable and most often has high latency which would really hurt the overall performance (if not data loss)
I would highly suggest getting internet from ISP either using wired or dedicated wireless 2,5/5GHz PTP/MTP before even thinking on your apps.

I live in 3rd world country, and I know 1st hand how those GSM (bandwidth is NOT the issue here, be it GPRS, 3G, or even 5G) is not a good choice for your app.

Well, if your app has some complexity on its transaction that is. Simple transaction such as data logging will not having any problem at all as long as you dont mind the latency.

out of curiosity, what database you're using?

 

[farzad321]

Thank you to all friends for help to solve this problem.

One of my friend describe a new plan for access to application from anywhere.

I need to know this way is okay or not. Because dont need to any other setting.

At First we have a static IP Address. for example if three people need to connect to my app , just need 3 account on my server, then the can connect via (RDP) remote desktop to my IP number and then login to his account. After that they can run any app on server. I can send any report to pdf and transfer that pdf to user desktop and print it. (But just 3 user can run system remotely at the moment.)

IS THIS POSSIBLE ? If YES I can set that .

I Will be very glad to hear about the any problem may occurred.

thanks again to all IT Mans

 

[hardianwn]

There are few things to consider in regards of using RDP or any other remote control software.
1. All task is run at the host PC (this can be either benefit or a disaster depending on the situation)
2. Any data streams between host and guest pc is not in your control, unless you build your own RDP server (theres NIX for that)
3. Following no 2, security is questionable, hence, its up to you to decide weather any breach to your network is acceptable or how you secure your network.

Lets just ay that no 2 and 3 is solved, than the other thing you want to consider is how many user you need to run on the host PC.

The more user you want to run at once, the more "power" and resource you need on the host PC, which translate to the more investment and maintenance cost to add.

BUT, it is the easiest of the bunch.

I mean, you could just install your app on the host PC, makes several account for them, then slap them with RDP.

Viola, your client could work remotely from anywhere, anytime (though, the performance is sometime frustrating)

I too would choose this when :
1. You cant do anything to the apps (I assume, its developed with free table and shares path?), if I could change them into ODBC then I wouldnt choose this path.
2. I dont have Public Static IPs on each factory, if I do, I would rather sets up my own vpn server IF I couldnt change the app, or use ODBC completely and be done with it

But since it seems that you only need 3 users and you cant change the apps, I think RDP is the best path for you.

 

[farzad321]

Thank you hardianwn and sorry for delay to answer.
As you said this scenario is possible. Its good news for me.
In this level we need just 3 user to work with exe on server side. maybe in future we need more !
this application was written by me and i can edit it. But I don't know very good about ODBC and need to read more about it.
So in this time we can do this successful.
Thanks again to you.
With best regards
farzad

 

[Chris Miller]

ODBC can't simply replace natie access without change of code. I wonder how hardianwn thinks its easy to transform any VFP app to using ODBC, but his major confirmation is that 3 users with RDP are doable and the easiest solution without needing any changes.

Chriss