KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q136770: How to Optimize Network Traffic in a Multiuser Application

Article: Q136770
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 13-AUG-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

One way to optimize the amount of network traffic a multiuser application
generates is to minimize the volume of file hits to server-based files.

MORE INFORMATION
================

To build a multiuser database application that minimizes network traffic,
consider the fact that the fewer the number of times your application has to
process server-based files, the less network traffic is generated.

Techniques for reducing network traffic incorporate local-caching strategies and
dynamic usage systems that pull network files into use only when absolutely
necessary. This requires overhead programming, but it can result in a much more
stable, speedy, and reliable network connection.

In a database application, users often need to see only a subset of the data. In
this case, a query to bring what the user needs down into a local table for
manipulation is appropriate. Once the information is local, there is no further
need to access the network until a change is committed.

Whenever you implement a scheme like this, you need to have an effective way to
handle transaction processing. For more information about transaction
processing, please see the "Managing Updates with Transactions" section, pages
440-447, the "Programming for Shared Access" chapter of the "Developer's
Guide."

Optimizing network traffic requires that you reference network files as few times
as possible, and close these files when your application is finished with them
for a while. It is better to work with local data sets and verify
synchronization issues.

For additional information, please see Chapter 4, page 71, of the "Professional
Features Guide."

Additional query words: VFoxWin multi-user net

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.