Calling an external file every 10 seconds

[Agent Dwarf]

Hello,

I'm trying to accomplish something I can't figure out. Basically, I want Javascript to call an external file every ten seconds, and output the results. Is this possible?

Example:

javascript.php is the external file - when javascript.php is called, it checks if you have a window to open. If it does, javascript.php will output some javascript that opens the window.

[spartan]

OK, I won't ask why

but one way would be to have a invisible Iframe in you page...
<iframe id=myfram style="display:none">

then have a function that calls itself every 10 secs...

funtion callme(){

settimeout(callme(),10000)
}

and in that function you submit the php file into the iframe... so it doesn't open a new window! and let it do what it does...

myframe.location.href = "myphpfile.php"


Umm, ps.... You just need to check my syntax and all that, I'm just thinking aloud here

hope that gives you something to work with though

cheerio

[Agent Dwarf]

Got it working in IE, but not Netscape. Thanks for you help, but is there any solution that works on both netscape and IE?

[Skunk]

Do you need a solution that works in Netscape 4? If so, first ask yourself why you are still having to support a 5 year old browser, then bang your head on a wall for a bit out of sheer frustration at being held back by such a completely outdated piece of technology.

Finished? Good

What you need is a technique called "remote scripting", which basically means you can use javascript to grab information from a server without reloading the whole page (and without even having to use a frame or iframe). It is explained in detail here: http://www.ashleyit.com/rs/

The library you want is JSRS, which is "known to work on Win9x, WinNT/2000, WinXP, Unix/Linux, and Mac with IE4+, NS4.x, NS6.x, Mozilla, and Galeon": http://www.ashleyit.com/rs/jsrs/test.htm

I'm a fan of the remote scripting technique used for the dChat chat client on http://bodychat.org/dchat/ - basically it uses the DOM to append (and shortly afterwards delete) a <script> element every few seconds and the script element pulls in additional information from a server. Unfortuantely it doesn't work in IE5/Mac or NS4.

Hope that helps.

[Agent Dwarf]

Hi,

I've found a solution to this, all that is required is simple Javascript support. Even 5 year old browsers support it.

If anyone is REALLY interested, if I have time, I will write a tutorial on it. But I don't really have time, otherwise.