Serving data to a Web Page

[Richard Cann]

This is a request for general advice on how to tackle a problem. Being a novice I do not know what parts need to be fitted together. Neither do I know the appropriate keywords to do a search!!

I want to serve a web page from PBCC. The page gets updated every second. There are about 500 bytes of data and a total file size of about 10k. Of course I could refresh the whole page every second but this results in irritating blinking. So I would like to update the data only.

So what are the elements need to do this job? For example, do I need Java script, etc.? How do the best choices integrate with PBCC?. What aspects of PBCC do I need to make myself familiar with? I prefer to avoid using files as intermediaries.

Any relevant PBCC code examples, CBT or book references or links would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Rich

[Edwin Knoppert]

One of the reasons it flickers is because of the rendering engine used.
MSIE flickers while Opera does not.

To update only a small part of your webpage you'll mosty likely hear and read about AJAX.
By using AJAX you can make requests and do something with the result like setting the innerhtml of a div or so.
I have no experiance with that.
A similar idea can be making use of an IFRAME and update only the part you need.
This has nothing to do with PB/CC, you simply react on requests by returning html.

[Michael Mattias]

What kind of "web" application needs the page updated every second?

But if you have to, Edwin's suggestion - only updating what has to be updated, not the lazy, careless, sloppy and unprofessional approach of updating the whole **** page - is a good one.

MCM

[Edwin Knoppert]

We *do* the lazy thing all the time

Note that we often use frames, if the body is the only thing being updated it doesn't flicker.

It's reason is subjective, people experiance flicker only if the content remains the same or slightly changed.
Iow if the full 'bodyframe' changes it does not have to appear flickering.

[Michael Mattias]

>We *do* the lazy thing all the time

Let's be careful about whom is included in this "we", OK?

[Cliff Nichols]

Actually I am curious about the whole concept (not just PBCC), but would a better forum to search be "Programming for the Internet"???

My 1st ideas are about depending on my app, I create a webpage, fill in fields, and maybe later interop with that page.

Ultimately I would like to do it irregardless of if its IE/Mozilla/Opera/ etc.. Html is html afterall...despite the engine that displays it to the user

[Joe Byrne]

but would a better forum to search be "Programming for the Internet"???

Yes. You're basically talking about 'cgi' type of programming. A good starting point would be the tutorials I've written on the subject.

[Paul Franks]

What kind of "web" application needs the page updated every second?
MCM

Streaming video, streaming audio, stock quotes, realtime graphs, etc. Most of these use plugins such as Flash, which can establish a stateful connection, instead of stateless http.

[Michael Mattias]

Maybe I'm just negative on the whole idea from my experience at NHL.com, The National Hockey League's site.

Some of the statistics pages automatically refresh about every 10 seconds, and if you've scrolled down to read the bottom of the page, when it refreshes you get sent back to the top.. losing both your place and your whole train of thought.

Why it has to do that is a mystery to me, since the game has already been completed and the shift charts and other info are not going to change!!

MCM

[Edwin Knoppert]

Hockey is for girls anyway

[Michael Mattias]

What's the smiley for, "I'll slam your butt into the boards!?"

[Richard Cann]

Thanks

Thanks guys for all your help!

Michael:
What kind of "web" application needs the page updated every second?
The application is distributing process control data over an intra net.

Edwin:
I'll check out Ajax, thanks.

Joe:
Great, I will study your tutorial, looks useful.
Since we will be installing the server, can your recommend one that includes SSI?

And that hockey exchange.....reminds me that we want to avoid getting refreshed to the top of the page too.

Good suggestion to switch the questions to Programming for Internet

Thanks


Rich

[Mike Doty]

Another way would be to use IFRAME and perhaps fastcgi.