Push with PHP4

Anon

Hello,

I need to display sequentially the images contained in a directory. I know there is a technology named "push". Therefore I browsed through the archives and I found a thread about this topic but unfortunately neither right answer nor exemple (they don't work correctly).

Could someone give me more informations about how to do push with PHP.

You can also redirect me to usefull ressources.

regards

Jean Pierre

Anon

HTTP "Push" is an old buzz-word without much concrete meaning. Actually, "push" has always really been pull-solutions, but marketing folks liked the Push-word some years ago.

What you need is a client-side solution, probably based on JavaScript. Alternatively, you could create an ugly frame-based solution where one frame refreshes with regular intervals.

Finally, if you really want true information pushing, you could try doing it with another protocol than HTTP (solutions involving Java applets come to mind). However, such solutions will often create problems for the audience due to aggressive firewalls.

yelvington

I don't think Jean Pierre is referring to that sort of "push," but rather the HTTP push that Netscape implimented circa 1995. Microsoft never picked up on it and it is not part of any standard, as far as I know.

If you want to do a slide show, use META REFRESH tags with a delay to implement a sequential client-pull process.

Anon

I think that we basicly agree.

But: Wasn't the 1995 "push" flop actually still a system where the client software took all initiatives?

Anon

Yes, I tried an exemple with http push but effectively it doesn't work with IE5.

I can't use META REFRESH tags with a delay to implement a sequential client-pull process because I want to change only one image, not the all page.

As I read in your replies, this technic seems very ugly to implement and may cause many difficulties for the client. I also did some trials with java applets but they are quite heavy.

The less "bad" should be to put all images in a flash file. The plug-in is now widely installed on client side.

Jean Pierre

Anon

Hmm you can do a time delayed change of the image in javascript if that is an option, the script is quite easy, you do a self calling mouseover routine, so to say. The drawback would be that you have to make all images the same size... or you use a layer and change its content dynamically. If JS/DHTML is an option for you, pass me an email, as it is not to be discussed here :-)

And pushchannels were a fucking drag to code, especially the ones for ie ...

/chris

Anon

Thanks for yr reply.

All images have the same size.

I found an applet who does this job quite nicely. It adds some transition effects between each image.

Now I've to check it in various server/client configuration.

Jean Pierre

codepo8

I found an applet who does this job quite nicely. It adds some transition effects between each image.

Now I've to check it in various server/client configuration.

Jean Pierre

Never ever use Java when it is not really needed... Think of peope with 56k modems and netscape users that hate java clogging up the server just to display images. If you want a javascript solution (probably 10 lines of code!), tell me directly...

/chris

Anon

I once found a nice javascript that made several pictures act like an animated gif (so as to avoid using gifs alltogether). If it's something similar you are looking for you may want to look at:
http://www.infohiway.com/javascript/imgctl.htm

UWE.

yelvington

Yes, it was basically client-pull in push clothing. The Pointcast system is a good example. The client (software, not user) was completely in control of the interaction. The data source was not really able to "push" timely data, such as breaking news, out to the desktop. It just looked that way because the client updated itself frequently.

But when you think about it, that's how most email works, too. Although the sender can control the sending process, the mail generally goes and sits in a POP mailbox until the client comes and picks it up. Relatively few of us have our own SMTP servers. (I do, but I still use POP to read the stuff.)