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Topic Title: Uses for "pre-splash" DXL (-C command line switch) ?
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Created On: 23-Apr-2008 14:51
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 23-Apr-2008 14:51
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David Jakad

Posts: 94
Joined: 20-Jul-2007

The DOORS User Manual mentions you can run a DXL script before the DOORS splash screen is displayed, using the -C command line switch.

I am curious what interesting things people have used this for.
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 23-Apr-2008 15:00
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Scott Boisvert

Posts: 348
Joined: 14-Apr-2006

You could declare some global variables and mapping functions.

I do something similar, but I don't use the -C switch, I have my DXL dropped in the baseWindowCallbackFiles directory. Though I believe that runs the DXL after/during the Splash screen not before, but it does what I need it to do.

-------------------------
Scott Boisvert
Engineering Tools Administrator
L-3 Communications - Avionics Systems
scott.boisvert@l-3com.com
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 23-Apr-2008 15:28
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David Pechacek

Posts: 674
Joined: 5-Dec-2006

Like Scott I don't use the -C switch, but we have a tool I wrote that goes in the startupFiles folder (and thus runs at startup) which refreshes the addin tools menu. This way when I write a new tool, users don't have to do anything to get it and its distributed on per user basis according to Groups I've set up.

-------------------------
David Pechacek
AAI Services Textron
dpechacek@sc-aaicorp.com
David.Pechacek@gmail.com
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 23-Apr-2008 15:37
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Richard Good

Posts: 152
Joined: 22-Mar-2005

David,
I too had the idea of firing things from the startup files, however testing revealed that if the server holding the addins tools went down (I was referencing files on a networked drive) then the punters were unable to load DOORS whatsoever - therefore I shelved the idea. Do you have a way round this problem or do you just accept this issue.

-------------------------
Regards,

Richard Good
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 23-Apr-2008 17:21
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David Jakad

Posts: 94
Joined: 20-Jul-2007

I am not an admin, so I can't add files to the DOORS directory tree or change any of the standard DXL files. I'm just a user that knows enough DXL to be dangerous.

I use the command line switches to add my own addins, layout, startup DXL. I was wondering, if with -C, I might be able to hide the normal splash screen and/or hide the normal dbExplorer window.
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 23-Apr-2008 17:41
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David Pechacek

Posts: 674
Joined: 5-Dec-2006

Originally posted by: Richard GoodDavid,

Do you have a way round this problem or do you just accept this issue.


Simple.

I just check to make sure the directory on the network exists to the user. If not, it doesn't do anything.

-------------------------
David Pechacek
AAI Services Textron
dpechacek@sc-aaicorp.com
David.Pechacek@gmail.com
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 23-Apr-2008 17:55
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David Pechacek

Posts: 674
Joined: 5-Dec-2006

Originally posted by: David Jakad

I am not an admin, so I can't add files to the DOORS directory tree or change any of the standard DXL files.


You can change whatever you want on your local computer. Unless you're connecting across Citrix (doesn't sound like it).

-------------------------
David Pechacek
AAI Services Textron
dpechacek@sc-aaicorp.com
David.Pechacek@gmail.com
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 23-Apr-2008 20:22
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David Jakad

Posts: 94
Joined: 20-Jul-2007

You can change whatever you want on your local computer. Unless you're connecting across Citrix (doesn't sound like it).


Well, yes, I can write to my local computer, but unfortnately, we're running doors from a server (not sure why). I don't have write access to the server.
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 23-Apr-2008 20:33
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Scott Boisvert

Posts: 348
Joined: 14-Apr-2006

Originally posted by: David Jakad

You can change whatever you want on your local computer. Unless you're connecting across Citrix (doesn't sound like it).




Well, yes, I can write to my local computer, but unfortnately, we're running doors from a server (not sure why). I don't have write access to the server.


Terminal Server?

Do you have more than one site using the same DOORS database? I.E. We have sites in Phoenix, Grand Rapids and Columbus all accessing the same database located in Grand Rapids. Using a terminal server or Citrix is much faster for the users in Phoenix and Columbus than using a locally installed client. At least that has been our experience using DOORS across sites like this.

Typically in this case your IT guys will have to make the updates to the client on the server(s).

-------------------------
Scott Boisvert
Engineering Tools Administrator
L-3 Communications - Avionics Systems
scott.boisvert@l-3com.com

Edited: 23-Apr-2008 at 20:34 by Scott Boisvert
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 23-Apr-2008 21:23
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David Jakad

Posts: 94
Joined: 20-Jul-2007

Yes, there are multiple sites using a single DOORS database. And, unfortunately, I am at one of the remote sites. In addition, our site is running the doors.exe from a local apps server. So, yes, the performance is slow running doors locally, but accessing large amounts of data remotely. The slowest parts are openning documents, changing edit modes, saving changes, viewing history, etc. Yes, performance can improve using a remote terminal (or Citirx or something of the sort), but then there are issues of printing, saving/uploading to/from local PCs, etc.

I think the local IT guys are running doors.exe from an apps server to force everyone to use the same common DXL and to make it easier if/when upgrades from 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 come along since you have to ensure compatibility with the executable, database, and the license server.

In fact, the reason I'm asking so many strange questions is.... I've been working on some DXL that tries to load up (and cache locally) all the data I could possibly want at startup (i.e., a bunch of large documents/modules, load complex DXL views, load up the history data, etc.). It can all take upwards of 10 minutes or more. But, at least this way DOORS is slow just once... when I first login in the morning (I can go get coffee). Rather than DOORS being slow every time it accesses the database server. It works for the most part.... now I'm trying to put this 10+minute startup into the background.... i.e., hide the splash screen, hide the dbExplorer, hide the module windows as the open, until everything is done loading... so I can work on other things on my PC while DOORS is loading up. While my startup script works for the most part, DOORS keeps changing Focus to each window as it opens... which is annoying when you are trying to work other things (and drink coffee).
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 24-Apr-2008 12:28
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David Pechacek

Posts: 674
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I hope you have a lot of RAM.

-------------------------
David Pechacek
AAI Services Textron
dpechacek@sc-aaicorp.com
David.Pechacek@gmail.com
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 24-Apr-2008 14:46
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David Jakad

Posts: 94
Joined: 20-Jul-2007

2GB RAM. Anything less and the PC slows to a crawl.
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 25-Apr-2008 10:54
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Richard Good

Posts: 152
Joined: 22-Mar-2005

David Pechachek,
I don't think we are quite on the same page - more my fault than yours.

I was trying to #include files on a network drive from the startup.dxl I was trying to do this to alter standard behaviour at a later date without having to write to the users hard drives - worked perfectly as long as the network drive stayed up - disastrous if it didn't.

The Stat technique will tell you if the drive exists for a user or not, but dxl does not allow a conditional #include statement hence my problem.

I handle module/ project addins using the -a and -J switches.

The technique of updating the users c drive with tools every time he logons to doors does have merit as if they can fire DOORS then they have the tools assuming the transfer process is flawless, using command line switches gives the user the opportunity of not getting the tools and if the networked drive goes down he/she is also in trouble. However, by opening up a users application drive you run the risk of the user editing the files in it and unless you do something flashy you can never totally guarantee that each users pc has exactly the same files as anothers. I think from an admin point of view it is easier to have company addins posted on a shared drive, but I can see the alternate viewpoint.

-------------------------
Regards,

Richard Good
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 28-Apr-2008 13:46
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David Pechacek

Posts: 674
Joined: 5-Dec-2006

Originally posted by: Richard Good

The Stat technique will tell you if the drive exists for a user or not, but dxl does not allow a conditional #include statement hence my problem.


I'm not doing a conditional include. My script is on the hard drive, the other tools are located on the network. If the network path doesn't exist, the script doesn't run.

-------------------------
David Pechacek
AAI Services Textron
dpechacek@sc-aaicorp.com
David.Pechacek@gmail.com
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