For a standalone client to access the required GUI form files and data components, they must be available locally on the client workstation. The files can be downloaded as needed from the Web server. Alternatively, the administrator can manually distribute files to the required workstations.
Note: The Web server location is defined by the Component URL value entered in the System Details dialog box, the configuration file, a command prompt, or as an applet parameter.
The download directory is defined by the downloadDir parameter in the configuration file, command prompt, or as an applet parameter.
Files are downloaded from a Web server to the client workstation in any of the following circumstances:
If the host system responds with an Ispec where the corresponding form and/or data component is missing on the client workstation, a connection is made to the Web server. The required files are downloaded and if this includes a data component, it is checked to ensure that it is the version requested by the host system.
Files for a requested Ispec are not downloaded from the Web server if they already exist on the client machine. However, if the version of an IspecModel class file on the client machine does not match that expected by the host system, the file is downloaded again. If the timestamp of a GUI form file on the server is later than that of the local copy, the file is downloaded.
Images can be downloaded from either the Web server or host, using the Workstation Driver Program (WDP). The method to use can be defined using the imagesFromWDP parameter in the configuration file. The Web server supports .gif, .jpg, and .jpeg formats. The format to use is set with the defaultimageType parameter. WDP only supports bitmaps.
Static lists created using the SendList.Static command are retrieved using WDP. Static lists created externally (for example, using Notepad) are distributed by the Web server. Refer to List Box Data Files.