SPUG: A refreshing look at a file system

[Richard Wood]

SPUGsters,

I have three directories for holding scripts (these
scripts are used in telnet sessions with telco
switches).  The directories are: pending, queued, and
complete.

I currently have a web based interface which resembles
a three tab folder with headings: PENDING, QUEUED,
COMPLETE.

Selecting a tab will display the scripts in that
particular dir.  On the Pending tab you can press a
button for a script to send it to the queue to be
picked up and run by a daemon.  It is also possible to
"VIEW" and "DELETE" scripts on this tab with
appropriately named buttons.  The Queue and Complete
tab also have buttons.

HERE IS THE QUESTION
HERE IS THE QUESTION
HERE IS THE QUESTION

Can anyone think of a qood way to keep the interface
refreshed when a change occurs to the directory being
displayed, e.g. when a script is completed, it is
moved to the complete directory, but how can I reflect
that on the users interface where the Queue tab is
currently displayed?

I could use some form of META=REFRESH but that has
some problems because this is a form and the refresh
is pretty annoying especially when the refresh is
rapid enough to be timely and when the result of the
refresh is nothing happens.  A friend suggested I
embed a JAVA applet which would connect to the server
and initiate a process to monitor the directory and
signal when a change occurred.  But that might run
into firewall issues.

I am open to some other form of interface besides web.
 Mostly, I would like to hear if anyone has any ideas.

Regards,

Rich Wood

=====
Richard O. Wood
Wildwood IT Consultants, Inc.
wildwood_players at yahoo.com
206.605.2539
http://resumes.dice.com/richardowood

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