[DUG] Question about running an app. across a network

[Jolyon Smith]

Bottom line:  No ONE mechanism is appropriate (let alone "best") for ALL
data.

Machine specific information is best maintained *on the machine*.
Otherwise you have the problem of identifying the machine in the database
(or whatever shared location you employ) and there are very few
characteristics with which to *reliably* identify a machine that are not
subject to and vulnerable to change, however rarely or infrequently you
might think that is likely to occur.  ime it is the things that happen
infrequently that are the *last* thing to be considered when a problem
occurs and an explanation is being sought... "Why has the system lost my
settings ?" ....

Also, some information can be indirectly machine specific.  e.g. "Last
window position/size" might be thought of as a user preference/session
datum, but if a user uses different machines and some machines have
multiple monitors while others do not, or different resolution displays (or
changes display configuration on the one machine they use), then this can
easily lead to situations where a user finds that their windows are opening
in inaccessible/inappropriate positions.

Machine specific settings                             : COMMON_APPDATA
Machine + User specific settings                  : APP_DATA
Machine independent session/user settings   : DB / File server / etc

What you absolutely should do of course is implement a "Configuration
Manager" class or framework, which removes the details of which setting is
stored where from your application code and indeed allow you to *change*
these details without requiring changes in the application, should you ever
need to.

+0.02

On 9 July 2015 at 10:55, Tony Blomfield <tonyb at precepthealth.com> wrote:

>  My opinion is.
>
>
>
> 1.       Config file should only hold definitions that are mandatory for
> app start up. EG end point connectivity definition.
>
> 2.       All other configurations are best placed in a DB structure. Here
> you have central management, security, convenience, and it’s easy to make a
> nice Gui management tool.
>
> 3.       As others suggested, store your config using the Win API. You
> will find it a very agreeable way.
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* delphi-bounces at listserver.123.net.nz [mailto:
> delphi-bounces at listserver.123.net.nz] *On Behalf Of *Leigh Wanstead
> *Sent:* Thursday, 9 July 2015 9:56 a.m.
> *To:* NZ Borland Developers Group - Delphi List
> *Subject:* Re: [DUG] Question about running an app. across a network
>
>
>
> Hi Jeremy,
>
>
>
> In the end, it is your baby :-)
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Leigh
>
>
>
> On 9 July 2015 at 09:22, Jeremy Coulter <jscoulter at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  a mere 20 years Leigh....so your still a newbie then :-)  You are
> correct, but in this case whilst its not the best solution, it will suffice
> for now and will only require a function to find the correct folder
> location and then do a copy and replace as apposed to a rather larger
> potentially code-breaking changes. But I will definitely be changing the
> way it works.Its a matter of time- as always
>
> Jeremy
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 9, 2015 at 9:13 AM, Leigh Wanstead <leigh.wanstead at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>  Hi Jeremy,
>
>
>
> You might be spend time to wondering what is going wrong if you deploy the
> easiest solution to your customer.
>
>
>
> From my 20 years experience, the "easiest" solution might require lots of
> more time and energy than better way.
>
>
>
> Just my 2 cents
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Leigh
>
>
>
> On 9 July 2015 at 09:09, Jeremy Coulter <jscoulter at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  I too think it might be the "better" way too Leigh, but the above ideas
> are the easiest to implement "now" and I can spend the time later to add it
> to the database.
>
> Jeremy
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 9, 2015 at 8:59 AM, Leigh Wanstead <leigh.wanstead at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>  Hi Jeremy,
>
>
>
> I think that your idea about dropping the INI and transferring the
> settings to a database with a row for each machine that connects is the
> correct way to do that.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Leigh
>
>
>
>
>
> On 8 July 2015 at 21:58, Jeremy Coulter <jscoulter at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>   Hi All.
>
> I have an app that I will be running from a server location. However, I
> want the app. to read an ini file that is located in a folder on a client
> machine.
>
> A Shortcut to the app on the server and the ini file will live in a folder
> on the client machine, but I cant work out how to get the app, when its run
> via the shortcut, to read the ini file on the client machine.
>
> Anyone know how to go about doing this?
>
> I have thought about dropping the INI and transferring the settings to a
> database with a row for each machine that connects, but before I get that
> carried away, I just wanted to see if someone had any ideas to do the above
> with the ini file.
>
> The reason I want an ini for each computer is about settings. Not all
> machines have the same settings etc.
>
>
>
> Thanks, Jeremy
>
>
>
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