File Transfer

Topic

New Reply

Hi all,

This might be the incorrect forum for this, but many people here have really demonstrated their prowess with Excel and this does to some extent involve Excel, so here goes:

Every night I have six locations dialing my home computer. I have been using a great little program called AutoDUN, which automatically completes the dial up connection, and opens a workbook which I call “FTP”, then closes the dial up connection after the transfer is complete. I am using the task scheduler to open AutoDUN at staggered times depending on the location during the night. I am running dial up server on Win98SE at my house.

The workbook FTP transfers text files between the two PCs. The code in the workbook is as follows:

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
On Error GoTo 10
Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.copyfile "c:grandysoutgoingSales*.txt", "e:serverincomingsales"
fs.copyfile "c:grandysoutgoingYields*.txt", "e:serverincomingyields"
fs.copyfile "e:serverInventoryinvinformation.txt", "c:grandysaccountinginvinformation.txt"
ActiveWorkbook.Save
10 Application.Quit
End Sub

I have mapped a network drive (E) to the computer at my home. Everything works pretty much great unless someone at the other location accidentaly disconnects the network drive at which point I have to go there and manually reconnect it. Also, there seems to be no way to control the speed at which the connection is made, sometimes the other location connects at 9600bps!

Ideally, I would like to run Win98 dial up server at the remote location and have my computer call the remote, however I cannot figure a way to turn dial up server on and off at the remote location through the task scheduler.

My question(s) is this:

Is this the most efficient way to transfer these files?
Does anyone know of a better way to transfer these files automatically?

Thanks,

Reply | Quote

Replies

rather than using drive letters, have you considered using unc format for the path? that ends the drive mapping problem.

you can’t control the remote duns using your task scheduler. I don’t think you can use their task scheduler, at least not the one shipped with windows. You might find some freeware/shareware programs to control it. Dunce comes to mind but i haven’t used it in years.

typically, if you want remote control, you use programs like pc anywhere, net op or VNC. I think for remote calls, pc anywhere or net op are more secure.

you can’t control modem speeds for the most part. they neogiate the speeds and line noise can lower it. there are things you can do to improve the chances that higher speeds will be used.

Reply | Quote

I’m not 100% sure I understand exactly want you want to achieve, but have you considered dumping the files onto a bit of (anonymous) web-space? This would remove the need for both pc’s to be available at the same time and would presumably result in local calls (if this is not the case anyway) and less prone to long-distance interference.
The source pc simply has to transfer the files before xx:xx hours – the recipient pc can collect anytime after.

I’ve never used it myself, but is there not some ‘synchronizing’ bit in IE that can be uitilised?

Reply | Quote

Thanks for your responses, both are very helpful.

Mary could you expand on the UNC format since the network drive is the major area prone to user “destruction”! I will look in the help files for more information on this.

Leif, funny you should mention this because I had another friend suggest a similar approach just yesterday. I have not had a chance to try it, but I think this might have some advantages over my current method. By the way, I am transferring text files between two PCs, and parsing the files into Excel. The remote location sends me sales, inventory results, etc. and I send the remote location price updates for inventory, labor guidelines, etc.

Thank you both,

Reply | Quote

I think if you check the Software forum, there are more than a few Brand Names mentioned!
Please post for all too see, so we can all take advantage – I for one am following this thread with interest

Reply | Quote