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8 Replies Last post: Nov 6, 2009 8:02 AM by Squidly Man

AppSync using File share posted: Aug 12, 2009 4:21 AM

RonIntergamma

7 posts since
Jul 27, 2009

Hi, I'm using firefox as ThinAppad application

I want to use the AppSync variable to make it updatable. Hereunder I explain what I did so far. I assumes further that just as long the application on the update server is different in date/time is enough to tricker the upload process

I'm using a fileahare on a server which is password protected. With user/password it is accessable.
In the manual is an option mentioned to give in the AppSyncURL the user and password to connect to a server using HTTPS/HTTP

When I use this option in firefox -> http://user:password@doamin.com it works while connecting to a webservice.
When I try this using the command-> file:///user:password@server/share it does NOT work

I don't know if ThinApp uses the straight URL as given at the AppSyncUrl variable but if it does this will not work.

A- If I just try this and use the variabe without usernae:password the application just starts, but nu update takes place and no messages appear.
B- If I put the user:password I do het a message that the application was unable to connect to the server.
C- I also tried manually making a fileshare and the starting the application as in option A, with the assumption that the user ia at that moment allready known, but no update takes place and no message appears

Questions:
Is my assumption correct that the file needs only be different on date/time?
Am I doing things wrong with user:password using file share?

Any help is welcome

Thanks Ronald

Re: AppSync using File share

1. Aug 12, 2009 5:15 AM

in response to: RonIntergamma

ggeldorp

435 posts since
Feb 29, 2008

Your assumption is not correct, AppSync doesn't use the date/time stamp but it uses a hash stored in the package to determine if the package changed.
Username/password is only supported for http/https, not for file.

Re: AppSync using File share

2. Aug 12, 2009 5:55 AM

in response to: ggeldorp

RonIntergamma

7 posts since
Jul 27, 2009

does that mean that you only can use a file share automatically if user name/password is the same both on client aswell as server?
I can use a script around ThinApped application which can create a mapping with username/password, but I need to check that this be sufficient. I need to take your remark acording the hash value into account

The 'updated applcation' i've used is just a rebuild of the current one. I'm not sure if that also changes the hash-value.
I will try to change one of the options, like clearing Cookies, this should result in a different hash value

Re: AppSync using File share

3. Aug 12, 2009 6:00 AM

in response to: RonIntergamma

ggeldorp

435 posts since
Feb 29, 2008

Username/password doesn't have to match, but if they don't match you need to set up a mapping before running the ThinApp application (e.g. using "net use \\server\share /user:serverusername serverpassword").

Just rebuilding a package unchanged won't give a new hash. Adding a fake option to [BuildOptions] (e.g. "Force=NewHash") will.

Re: AppSync using File share

4. Aug 12, 2009 6:46 AM

in response to: ggeldorp

RonIntergamma

7 posts since
Jul 27, 2009

Ok, i'm going to try that tomorrow.

What I've done so far is:

set up a file mapping to the Z:-drive
changed the AppSyncURL to fiel://z:/folder/firefox.exe
run build
Copied a older version to that folder (no now that it won't update)
run the Thinapped application
get the message that the server could not be reached during the last 0 days

I'm not sure now if this means that it indeed could not get to the drive, which is strange

is the file://folder correct, if I type this in the URL of a browser a need 3 slashes, but i've tried this aswell, with the same result
because according hash value it might be the same application for ThinApp giving the message as stated

To be continued

Re: AppSync using File share

5. Oct 1, 2009 5:46 AM

in response to: ggeldorp

RonIntergamma

7 posts since
Jul 27, 2009

You were right offcourse. Changing an option in the Build settings did the trick.

But I needed to change another thing as well. As mentioned in my comment on 18 augthe handbook says that you should add 2 slashes after file: in the AppSyncUrl. I had to change that in 3 slashes which is the same in a browser. Then it worded like a charm.

Thanks again

Ronald

Re: AppSync using File share

6. Oct 1, 2009 6:05 AM

in response to: RonIntergamma

ggeldorp

435 posts since
Feb 29, 2008

Can you point me to where the docs incorrectly show two slashes, so I can ask the doc people to fix it? http://pubs.vmware.com/thinapp4/help/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm?href=pkg_AppSyncURL.html lists the following two examples:

file:///C:/<path>/<package_name>.exe
file://<server>/<share>/<path>/<package_name>.exe

both of which are correct. You need 3 slashes for a path containing a drive letter and 2 when using sever\share.

Re: AppSync using File share

7. Oct 1, 2009 6:58 AM

in response to: ggeldorp

RonIntergamma

7 posts since
Jul 27, 2009

My fault.

I've found the "thinapp4_manual.pdf" in which the server URL is mentioned but not the file URL.

So I've search the community and came on a blog: http://blogs.vmware.com/thinapp/2009/05/appsync-notes-and-tips.html

Here is mentiond the file url with 2 slashes. That's why.

I will use your URL which points to the online version of the handbook.

Re: AppSync using File share

8. Nov 6, 2009 8:02 AM

in response to: RonIntergamma

Squidly Man

26 posts since
Aug 18, 2008

The Blog URL is corrected.

Additionally, a video has been posted demonstrating ThinApp.

http://blogs.vmware.com/thinapp/2009/11/appsync-explained.html

-Dean F.
http://pubs.vmware.com/thinapp4/help

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