RunAProgram - Revision history

TonyG at 22:05, 15 May 2015

2015-05-15T22:05:12Z

Show changes

Conversion script: link fix

2015-02-26T23:48:55Z

link fix

Show changes

TonyG: Created AccuTermFileTransfer page and added link here

2010-02-15T23:25:03Z

Created AccuTermFileTransfer page and added link here

New page

HomePage>>HowTos>>RunAProgram

The problem: you want a program to run on a windows PC as a result of something that happens on your Windows or Unix-based server.
It's usually less of an issue to have a Unix server run something on a Unix client, or Windows server to Windows client - there's plenty of built in ways for that to work. So we'll just consider a Windows PC with a network connection (LAN,WAN or VPN) to a Unix server.

For this to work "something", some program, has to be running on the PC.

==== 0) TerminalEmulators ====

The most common "something" is a terminal emulator and they pretty much all allow you to send an escape sequence and fire off a program. If you want the program to run in response to something the user did on the server, this is the most straightforward way to do it. Also, if you have a serial connection, this is probably the only option.

* wIntegrate:
<PRE>
Use the WIN.PCRUN command installed on the server, CALL WIN.PCRUN(COMMAND,ARGS)
</PRE>

* Accuterm:
To execute a command and return to PICK/BASIC immediately:
<PRE>
PRINT CHAR(27):CHAR(2):"<":command:CHAR(13)
</PRE>
To execute a command and wait for the command to terminate before returning to PICK/BASIC:
<PRE>
PRINT CHAR(27):CHAR(2):">":command:CHAR(13)
</PRE>

See <nowiki>AccuTerm</nowiki> help for details: From the Help Introduction, see <nowiki>AccuTerm</nowiki> Programming. Also see Help on Object Bridge.

More examples are at AccuTermFileTransfer.

* ViaDuct:
<PRE>
?
</PRE>

* Powerterm:
<PRE>
PRINT CHAR(27):"$tS":COMMAND:CHAR(27):"\"
</PRE>

* Netterm:
Start/run the program specified by COMMAND.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):"[]":COMMAND:CHAR(27):"[1*
</PRE>
Send the URL to the client's WWW browser for processing.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):'[]':URL:CHAR(27):'[0*'
</PRE>
Start/run the program specified by COMMAND and wait till it terminates. COMMAND can contain both the program to run and command line arguments.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):"[]":COMMAND:CHAR(27):"[9*"
</PRE>
Start the program associated with the extension contained within FILENAME.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):"[]":FILENAME:CHAR(27):"[12*
</PRE>

==== 1) Doit ====

Doit is a small utility program that installs a tray applet on the client. The server sends it the path of a file to open.

<PRE>
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/doit/
</PRE>

==== 2) Install rcmd ====

Either from the windows resource kit, or purchase it from mks. You can then issue an rcmd from the unix side.

<PRE>
http://www.dynawell.com/support/ResKit/winnt.asp
http://www.mkssoftware.com/support/kb/faqs.asp?product=Toolkit&type=tech#art140
</PRE>

==== 3) Install or turn on a telnet server ====

W2K/XP come with a telnet server, or you can purchase one. Then use http://expect.nist.gov to script the login/command process.

<PRE>
http://www.goodtechsys.com/
</PRE>

==== 4) Install an ssh server ====

Just like telnet, only secure!

<PRE>
http://tech.erdelynet.com/cygwin-sshd.html
</PRE>

==== 5a) Write a small server program ====

Have the program listen on a predefined port. There are obvious security issues here, but with a little handwaving we can move past them :-)

Recent U2 products can create socket connections from basic and connect to the server. Sample code for this is at BasicSocketClient.

Here's a stripped down example of a server in <a href="http://www.python.org">Python</a>:

urlserver.py
<PRE>
import SocketServer
import os

class UrlHandler(SocketServer.StreamRequestHandler):
def handle(self):
url=self.rfile.readline(512)
print "opening "+url
os.system("start "+url)

server=SocketServer.TCPServer( ('', 79), UrlHandler)
server.serve_forever()
</PRE>

On the pc, type "python urlserver.py" to start the server up, then from another machine, "telnet pc-address 79" and then type the url to go to - the client will open up a browser and go to that address.

==== 5b) ...and here's another in vbscript ====

urlserver.vbs
<PRE>
Option Explicit

' Heavily cribbed from the amazing 4K webserver at:
' http://www.interclasse.com/scripts/4KWebServer.php

Dim oSck
On Error Resume Next
Err.Number=0
Set oSck=WScript.CreateObject("MSWinsock.Winsock","s_")
Select Case Err.Number
Case 0
case &H80040112
echo "No licence found. Install Visual Studio"
case &H80020009
echo "ActiveX Winsock not in the registry, check if installed or use regsvr32"
Case else
echo "Error " & Err.Number & " - &H" & Hex(Err.Number) & " - " & Err.Description
End Select
On Error Goto 0

oSck.LocalPort=79
oSck.Listen
echo "Listening on port " & oSck.LocalPort
Do
' Sleep for 2 seconds
WScript.sleep 2000
Loop

Sub echo(S)
WScript.Echo Now & " " & S
End Sub

Sub s_ConnectionRequest(Byval requestID)
oSck.Close
echo oSck.RemoteHostIP & " - Connection request:" & requestID
oSck.Accept requestID
End Sub

Sub s_Close
oSck.Close
echo "closed - re-listening"
oSck.Listen
End Sub

Sub s_SendComplete
oSck.close
oSck.Listen
End Sub

Sub s_Error(ByVal N, D, ByVal C, ByVal S, ByVal F, ByVal H, Y)
echo "Error" & N & " - " & D
oSck.Close
oSck.Listen
End Sub

Sub s_DataArrival(Byval b)
Dim S,sh

S=""
oSck.GetData S
S=left(S,len(S)-2)
S=left(S,512)
echo S

set sh = createobject("wscript.shell")
on error resume next
sh.run "cmd /c start " & S
on error goto 0

oSck.Close
oSck.Listen
End Sub
</PRE>

On the pc, type "cscript urlserver.vbs" to start the server up, then from another machine, "telnet pc-address 79" and then type the url to go to - the client will open up a browser and go to that address.

==== 6) Have a polling program on the client ====

If the client and the server share access to a directory (via samba or NFS for example), the server can drop a file in the common directory and a program running on the client can watch for new files. When one is found it can read the file and perform some action based on the contents. Here's a VB example:

<PRE>
Private Sub Form_Load()
txtScheduleNum.Enabled = False
cboCategory.Enabled = False
cmdOK.Enabled = False
cmdPreview.Enabled = False
Label1.Enabled = False
Label3.Enabled = False

Me.Show
' Start the poll right away
Timer1_Timer
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
TxtLog.ForeColor = vbBlack
LogMsg "Checking c:\batch"
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set dir = fso.GetFolder("C:\BATCH")

For Each file In dir.Files
If LCase(Right(file.Name, 3)) = "pdf" Then
Timer1.Enabled = False
TxtLog.Enabled = False
fstr = file.Name
hpsname = Left(fstr, Len(fstr) - 3) & "hps"
justname = Left(fstr, Len(fstr) - 3)
LogMsg fstr
Label1.Enabled = True
Label3.Enabled = True
cboCategory.Enabled = True
cmdOK.Enabled = True
cmdPreview.Enabled = True
' Enable some controls and do something with the file
txtScheduleNum.SetFocus
Exit For
End If
Next
End Sub
</PRE>

==== 7) Consider using a solution created specifically to solve the problem ====
(Ad)
The following link goes to the Nebula R&D forum where an offering is discussed and a link is provided to a blog entry for more information. As of the time of this writing the software is fully usable but is not being offered as a product simply for lack of demand. That situation can change with a compelling business case. http://nebula-rnd.com/forum/index.php/topic,51.0.html
(/Ad)

A general description of this approach, not specific to the Nebula solution, would be to write a PC program in your favourite language (.Net, Java, Flex for example), that runs on the PC and makes periodic calls to a Pick program using whatever technology makes sense for your Pick variety. In the U2 world, this would be UniObjects, though a web services call that hides the connection details from the client, and be much more likely to work through firewalls, would make more sense.

Note: this is not exactly the problem we are trying to solve on this page. The problem is "how do I run a program on the client side, on demand from a Pick program?" The polling solutions presented suffer from a lag between something happening on the server and a program running on the client.

==== Running a program on the server from outside ====
Connectivity to MV is discussed many places in this wiki and any language can be used to execute BASIC business rules and return a result. A unique freeware program called [http://nebula-rnd.com/freeware/ MV Exec] uses [[Mv.NET|mv.NET]] to run any query, any command, any program on a MV server from any PC.

TODO: Expand on this topic with info about D3 compile to executable with G option, UDT, notes about unique jBASE exe/dll design...

== Discussion ==
[TG] There are three topics: 
1) Running a program on the client from the server 
2) Running a program on the server from a remote client 
3) Running a program on the server from the MV environment 
Anyone think it's worthwhile to separate these into different pages?

TonyG: Add discussion

2009-02-03T08:44:43Z

Add discussion

New page

HomePage>>HowTos>>RunAProgram

The problem: you want a program to run on a windows PC as a result of something that happens on your Windows or Unix-based server.
It's usually less of an issue to have a Unix server run something on a Unix client, or Windows server to Windows client - there's plenty of built in ways for that to work. So we'll just consider a Windows PC with a network connection (LAN,WAN or VPN) to a Unix server.

For this to work "something", some program, has to be running on the PC.

==== 0) TerminalEmulators ====

The most common "something" is a terminal emulator and they pretty much all allow you to send an escape sequence and fire off a program. If you want the program to run in response to something the user did on the server, this is the most straightforward way to do it. Also, if you have a serial connection, this is probably the only option.

* wIntegrate:
<PRE>
Use the WIN.PCRUN command installed on the server, CALL WIN.PCRUN(COMMAND,ARGS)
</PRE>

* AccuTerm:
<PRE>
PRINT CHAR(27):CHAR(2):"<"
</PRE>
See <nowiki>AccuTerm</nowiki> help for details: From the Help Introduction, see <nowiki>AccuTerm</nowiki> Programming. Also see Help on Object Bridge.

* ViaDuct:
<PRE>
?
</PRE>

* Powerterm:
<PRE>
PRINT CHAR(27):"$tS":COMMAND:CHAR(27):"\"
</PRE>

* Netterm:
Start/run the program specified by COMMAND.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):"[]":COMMAND:CHAR(27):"[1*
</PRE>
Send the URL to the client's WWW browser for processing.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):'[]':URL:CHAR(27):'[0*'
</PRE>
Start/run the program specified by COMMAND and wait till it terminates. COMMAND can contain both the program to run and command line arguments.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):"[]":COMMAND:CHAR(27):"[9*"
</PRE>
Start the program associated with the extension contained within FILENAME.
<PRE>
CRT CHAR(27):"[]":FILENAME:CHAR(27):"[12*
</PRE>

==== 1) Doit ====

Doit is a small utility program that installs a tray applet on the client. The server sends it the path of a file to open.

<PRE>
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/doit/
</PRE>

==== 2) Install rcmd ====

Either from the windows resource kit, or purchase it from mks. You can then issue an rcmd from the unix side.

<PRE>
http://www.dynawell.com/support/ResKit/winnt.asp
http://www.mkssoftware.com/support/kb/faqs.asp?product=Toolkit&type=tech#art140
</PRE>

==== 3) Install or turn on a telnet server ====

W2K/XP come with a telnet server, or you can purchase one. Then use http://expect.nist.gov to script the login/command process.

<PRE>
http://www.goodtechsys.com/
</PRE>

==== 4) Install an ssh server ====

Just like telnet, only secure!

<PRE>
http://tech.erdelynet.com/cygwin-sshd.html
</PRE>

==== 5a) Write a small server program ====

Have the program listen on a predefined port. There are obvious security issues here, but with a little handwaving we can move past them :-)

Recent U2 products can create socket connections from basic and connect to the server. Sample code for this is at BasicSocketClient.

Here's a stripped down example of a server in <a href="http://www.python.org">Python</a>:

urlserver.py
<PRE>
import SocketServer
import os

class UrlHandler(SocketServer.StreamRequestHandler):
def handle(self):
url=self.rfile.readline(512)
print "opening "+url
os.system("start "+url)

server=SocketServer.TCPServer( ('', 79), UrlHandler)
server.serve_forever()
</PRE>

On the pc, type "python urlserver.py" to start the server up, then from another machine, "telnet pc-address 79" and then type the url to go to - the client will open up a browser and go to that address.

==== 5b) ...and here's another in vbscript ====

urlserver.vbs
<PRE>
Option Explicit

' Heavily cribbed from the amazing 4K webserver at:
' http://www.interclasse.com/scripts/4KWebServer.php

Dim oSck
On Error Resume Next
Err.Number=0
Set oSck=WScript.CreateObject("MSWinsock.Winsock","s_")
Select Case Err.Number
Case 0
case &H80040112
echo "No licence found. Install Visual Studio"
case &H80020009
echo "ActiveX Winsock not in the registry, check if installed or use regsvr32"
Case else
echo "Error " & Err.Number & " - &H" & Hex(Err.Number) & " - " & Err.Description
End Select
On Error Goto 0

oSck.LocalPort=79
oSck.Listen
echo "Listening on port " & oSck.LocalPort
Do
' Sleep for 2 seconds
WScript.sleep 2000
Loop

Sub echo(S)
WScript.Echo Now & " " & S
End Sub

Sub s_ConnectionRequest(Byval requestID)
oSck.Close
echo oSck.RemoteHostIP & " - Connection request:" & requestID
oSck.Accept requestID
End Sub

Sub s_Close
oSck.Close
echo "closed - re-listening"
oSck.Listen
End Sub

Sub s_SendComplete
oSck.close
oSck.Listen
End Sub

Sub s_Error(ByVal N, D, ByVal C, ByVal S, ByVal F, ByVal H, Y)
echo "Error" & N & " - " & D
oSck.Close
oSck.Listen
End Sub

Sub s_DataArrival(Byval b)
Dim S,sh

S=""
oSck.GetData S
S=left(S,len(S)-2)
S=left(S,512)
echo S

set sh = createobject("wscript.shell")
on error resume next
sh.run "cmd /c start " & S
on error goto 0

oSck.Close
oSck.Listen
End Sub
</PRE>

On the pc, type "cscript urlserver.vbs" to start the server up, then from another machine, "telnet pc-address 79" and then type the url to go to - the client will open up a browser and go to that address.

==== 6) Have a polling program on the client ====

If the client and the server share access to a directory (via samba or NFS for example), the server can drop a file in the common directory and a program running on the client can watch for new files. When one is found it can read the file and perform some action based on the contents. Here's a VB example:

<PRE>
Private Sub Form_Load()
txtScheduleNum.Enabled = False
cboCategory.Enabled = False
cmdOK.Enabled = False
cmdPreview.Enabled = False
Label1.Enabled = False
Label3.Enabled = False

Me.Show
' Start the poll right away
Timer1_Timer
End Sub

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
TxtLog.ForeColor = vbBlack
LogMsg "Checking c:\batch"
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set dir = fso.GetFolder("C:\BATCH")

For Each file In dir.Files
If LCase(Right(file.Name, 3)) = "pdf" Then
Timer1.Enabled = False
TxtLog.Enabled = False
fstr = file.Name
hpsname = Left(fstr, Len(fstr) - 3) & "hps"
justname = Left(fstr, Len(fstr) - 3)
LogMsg fstr
Label1.Enabled = True
Label3.Enabled = True
cboCategory.Enabled = True
cmdOK.Enabled = True
cmdPreview.Enabled = True
' Enable some controls and do something with the file
txtScheduleNum.SetFocus
Exit For
End If
Next
End Sub
</PRE>

==== 7) Consider using a solution created specifically to solve the problem ====
(Ad)
The following link goes to the Nebula R&D forum where an offering is discussed and a link is provided to a blog entry for more information. As of the time of this writing the software is fully usable but is not being offered as a product simply for lack of demand. That situation can change with a compelling business case. http://nebula-rnd.com/forum/index.php/topic,51.0.html
(/Ad)

A general description of this approach, not specific to the Nebula solution, would be to write a PC program in your favourite language (.Net, Java, Flex for example), that runs on the PC and makes periodic calls to a Pick program using whatever technology makes sense for your Pick variety. In the U2 world, this would be UniObjects, though a web services call that hides the connection details from the client, and be much more likely to work through firewalls, would make more sense.

Note: this is not exactly the problem we are trying to solve on this page. The problem is "how do I run a program on the client side, on demand from a Pick program?" The polling solutions presented suffer from a lag between something happening on the server and a program running on the client.

==== Running a program on the server from outside ====
Connectivity to MV is discussed many places in this wiki and any language can be used to execute BASIC business rules and return a result. A unique freeware program called [http://nebula-rnd.com/freeware/ MV Exec] uses [[Mv.NET|mv.NET]] to run any query, any command, any program on a MV server from any PC.

TODO: Expand on this topic with info about D3 compile to executable with G option, UDT, notes about unique jBASE exe/dll design...

== Discussion ==
[TG] There are three topics: 
1) Running a program on the client from the server 
2) Running a program on the server from a remote client 
3) Running a program on the server from the MV environment 
Anyone think it's worthwhile to separate these into different pages?