DDEML.au3 - DDE Client + Server

[duzers]

I wrote DDE Client that gets the number from the server DDE. Unfortunately, I have a problem because it stop working after given time.

When I use Sleep(20) its returns empty string after about 8 minutes, or with sleep(5) after 3 minutes. This code is designed to analyze the data collected for 8 hours, as soon as possible.

I know that the problem is server side, but maybe my code is badly written and there are commands that will solve the problem of overflow server.

Mayby I use wrong loop?

Thank you for your help.

#include <DDEML.au3>
#include <DDEMLClient.au3>
sleep(2000)

_DdeInitialize("OnDDE_", $APPCLASS_STANDARD)

$hszService = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Program")
$hszTopic = _DdeCreateStringHandle("DDE")
$hConvSrv = _DdeConnect($hszService, $hszTopic)

$hszItem = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Numbers")

$d = TimerInit()

while 1
    sleep (20)
    $res2 = _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_REQUEST, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem, $CF_TEXT)
    $res_b2 = _DdeGetDataAsString($res2)

    ConsoleWrite("number: " & $res_b2 & round(timerDiff($d)/1000) &@CRLF)
wend

Edited April 21, 2010 by duzers

[doudou]

I wrote DDE Client that gets the number from the server DDE. Unfortunately, I have a problem because it stop working after given time.

When I use Sleep(20) its returns empty string after about 8 minutes, or with sleep(5) after 3 minutes. This code is designed to analyze the data collected for 8 hours, as soon as possible.

I know that the problem is server side, but maybe my code is badly written and there are commands that will solve the problem of overflow server.

Mayby I use wrong loop?

Thank you for your help.

#include <DDEML.au3>
#include <DDEMLClient.au3>
sleep(2000)

_DdeInitialize("OnDDE_", $APPCLASS_STANDARD)

$hszService = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Program")
$hszTopic = _DdeCreateStringHandle("DDE")
$hConvSrv = _DdeConnect($hszService, $hszTopic)

$hszItem = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Numbers")

$d = TimerInit()

while 1
    sleep (20)
    $res2 = _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_REQUEST, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem, $CF_TEXT)
    $res_b2 = _DdeGetDataAsString($res2)

    ConsoleWrite("number: " & $res_b2 & round(timerDiff($d)/1000) &@CRLF)
wend

If you don't answer to callbacks in your client you probably should initialize it with:

_DdeInitialize("", BitOR($APPCMD_CLIENTONLY, $CBF_SKIP_ALLNOTIFICATIONS))

Most servers would only submit requested data associated with a specific topic if it isn't changed and try to notify the clients via callbacks otherwise.

Polling a server with the same request every 20 or even every 5 ms is a bad idea too - if I was the server I'd assume a DOS attack and stop responding, not to speak about 80% processor load you are generating with your loop. If you expect frequent modifications within a specific topic the best solution would be to establish a DDE advise loop where the server notifies clients about changes automatically.

[duzers]

Thx, but Your initialize not work. I use in the loop _DdeFreeDataHandle($res2)(write about use of this instruction) and work very well all time.

With my processor load is not bad - after and now it's about 2%, even when I use sleep (1).

If you expect frequent modifications within a specific topic the best solution would be to establish a DDE advise loop where the server notifies clients about changes automatically.

How I do this (give examples)? Which commands I should use or pay attention?

[doudou]

Thx, but Your initialize not work.

But sure, it does. Unless you need callbacks, in which case you didn't post all relevant code.

I use in the loop _DdeFreeDataHandle($res2)(write about use of this instruction) and work very well all time.

This is again all about your tight loop: normally you don't need to _DdeFreeDataHandle() (s. here), the fact that calling this fixes the issue just shows that your system runs out of resources and gets no chance to free them.

With my processor load is not bad - after and now it's about 2%, even when I use sleep (1).

This is only because the server is slow enough, when I use your loop with my SampleDDEServer I get 80%. Believe me, when I say: this is simply a bad idea. Sleep(1) or Sleep(20) makes no difference in practice since the scheduler may need up to 30 ms to switch between execution contexts and anything below 100 ms in the loop is definitely to tight while bringing virtually no performance advantage.

How I do this (give examples)? Which commands I should use or pay attention?

Take a look at XTYP_ADVDATA transaction. Basically it is the same as XTYP_REQEST except for the server sends data only when the assosiated item has changed and here you will need callbacks on the client side like OnDDE_AdvData to receive the data.

[doudou]

Last version had couple of bugs. Fixed them in 1.5.4.

I wonder, who's still downloading v. 1.2? Are there so many people with AutoIt 3.1.x out there?

[Alisonr]

I have an application (Trading system for Market Shares) that works like a DDE server for excel.

On this application there is a wizard to create links DDE to excel like this one "=BIDS|COTC!'PETR4,LAST'"

I just need to copy and past it to any cell in excel and it will bing the last price of a company share.

So, looking to "=BIDS|COTC!'PETR4,LAST'", it seems:

BIDS is DDE server name

COTC is a type of data (shares quotation)

PETR4 is a (Company share code)

LAST is the last price

Can someone tell me the syntax to get this DDE value and put it into a AutoIt variable ?

Thanks in Advanced.

[doudou]

I have an application (Trading system for Market Shares) that works like a DDE server for excel.

On this application there is a wizard to create links DDE to excel like this one "=BIDS|COTC!'PETR4,LAST'"

I just need to copy and past it to any cell in excel and it will bing the last price of a company share.

So, looking to "=BIDS|COTC!'PETR4,LAST'", it seems:

BIDS is DDE server name

COTC is a type of data (shares quotation)

PETR4 is a (Company share code)

LAST is the last price

Can someone tell me the syntax to get this DDE value and put it into a AutoIt variable ?

I am not familiar with the crude Excel DDE syntax but it looks like it performs a DDE request, so in the simplest case the AutoIt equivalent would be:

#include <DDEML.au3>
#include <DDEMLClient.au3>
Dim $strData = _DDEMLClient_RequestString("BIDS", "COTC", "PETR4,LAST")
MsgBox(0, "PETR4 Price", $strData)

Please note: DDE is a very loose protocol, except for very few rules it leaves all details about conversation to participants. If the example above doesn't work, you will have to consult the documentation of the DDE server and try out different methods and paramters.

[tts]

have "Advise" mode?

can requests "Advise" mode's Sample?

Thanks~

Edited September 12, 2010 by tts

[bile]

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logga($log,"Initializing DDE.....")   ;  logga is a function I use to create a log for my application, just ignore that
$return=_DdeInitialize("OnDDE_", BitOR($APPCMD_CLIENTONLY, $CBF_SKIP_ALLNOTIFICATIONS))

if $return=0 then
    logga($log,"OK")
    Else
    logga($log,"DDEinitialize ERROR:"&$return)
EndIf

$hszService = _DdeCreateStringHandle("MYSERVER")
$hszTopic = _DdeCreateStringHandle("MYTOPIC")
$hConvSrv = _DdeConnect($hszService, $hszTopic)

if $hconvSrv=0 Then
    logga($log,"DDEConnect ERROR")
    Else
    logga($log,"Connected")
endif

;-----------------------------------intializing ADVISE LOOP---------------------------------------------
$hszItem = _DdeCreateStringHandle("MYITEM")

$res = _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_ADVSTART+$XTYPF_ACKREQ, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem, $CF_TEXT)
;
;......................

;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
; Func ON_DDE_AdvData
;
;              $hSz1 and $hSz2 are strings containing the topic and item
;              $uFmt ???? I don't know...my server sends 1 but can't figure out the meaning
;              $hData is a handle to data, I use it calling _DdeGetDataAsString and it works fine
;              $hConv handle to the DDE conversation
;-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1,$hSsz2,$uFmt,$hData,$hConv)

; DO SOMETHING WITH DATA

endfunc

have "Advise" mode?

can requests "Advise" mode's Sample?

Thanks~

Hi tts...and thanks to doudou for this excellent job.

I just wrote a simple client script to receive data from a DDE server (stocks quote...) in advise mode, hope it is useful.

I still can't figure out the meaning of $uFmt passed to the OnDDE_AdvData function...any hints from someone?

EDIT: OK found, It's the clipboard format :-b

Edited September 14, 2010 by bile

[tts]

thanks~

but I dont know this:

Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1,$hSsz2,$uFmt,$hData,$hConv)

; DO SOMETHING WITH DATA

endfunc

how to make it callback?

[bile]

thanks~

but I dont know this:

Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1,$hSsz2,$uFmt,$hData,$hConv)

; DO SOMETHING WITH DATA

endfunc

how to make it callback?

It is defined as the callback function for the event "AdvData" by the previous call to DDEInitialize.

Remember to make your function return the value $DDE_FACK.

[tts]

It is defined as the callback function for the event "AdvData" by the previous call to DDEInitialize.

Remember to make your function return the value $DDE_FACK.

thank you very much~

i got it!

[ValeryVal]

Thank you for DDEML UDF.

This Avenue Console could be an example of ArcView DDE server usage from AutoIt (tested for v.3.2).

Enjoy,

ArcView.au3

[mailro]

thank you very much~

i got it!

I can't understand it. How do I display the data?

[mailro]

I can't understand it. How do I display the data?

This is how excell is getting the data from the source

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752375 Callback:

Type=Connect, fmt=0x0("?"), hConv=0x0, hsz1=0xc000("ES")

hsz2=0xc001("Console"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x1

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752375 Callback:

Type=Connect_confirm, fmt=0x0("?"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc001("ES")

hsz2=0xc000("Console"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752437 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xc370("XlTable"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc000("ES")

hsz2=0xc001("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752437 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xc005("Binary"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc001("ES")

hsz2=0xc000("StdDocumentName"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752453 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xc33a("Biff8"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc000("ES")

hsz2=0xc001("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752453 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xc377("Biff4"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc001("ES")

hsz2=0xc000("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752468 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xc34b("Biff3"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc000("ES")

hsz2=0xc001("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752468 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0x4("CF_SYLK"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc001("ES")

hsz2=0xc000("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752468 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xc339("Wk1"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc000("ES")

hsz2=0xc001("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752484 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xc364("Csv"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc001("ES")

hsz2=0xc000("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752484 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0xd("CF_UNICODETEXT"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc000("ES")

hsz2=0xc001("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x0

"Exch_Time"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x1

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752484 Callback:

Type=Advstart, fmt=0x1("CF_TEXT"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc001("ES")

hsz2=0xc002("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x1

Task:0x11e4 Time:300752500 Callback:

Type=Request, fmt=0x1("CF_TEXT"), hConv=0x59000d00, hsz1=0xc000("ES")

hsz2=0xc002("Last"), hData=0x0, dwData1=0x0, dwData2=0x0

return=0x5f001300

Output data=

...

[bile]

I can't understand it. How do I display the data?

When the callback function is called, requested data are in $hData.

You can get data as string using _DdeGetDataAsString()

Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1,$hSsz2,$uFmt,$hData,$hConv)
local $stringdata

; $hsz2 is a string containing the topic/item you requested (at least in my case)

$stringdata=_DdeGetDataAsString($hData)
;......DO SOMETHING WITH $stringdata

EndFunc

Depending on the DDE server you are connecting to, I suppose _DdeGetDataAsString() may not be suitable...

Edited March 19, 2011 by bile

[mailro]

When the callback function is called, requested data are in $hData.

You can get data as string using _DdeGetDataAsString()

Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1,$hSsz2,$uFmt,$hData,$hConv)
local $stringdata

; $hsz2 is a string containing the topic/item you requested (at least in my case)

$stringdata=_DdeGetDataAsString($hData)
;......DO SOMETHING WITH $stringdata

EndFunc

Depending on the DDE server you are connecting to, I suppose _DdeGetDataAsString() may not be suitable...

Ok.

Here is the code complete and working

expandcollapse popup

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <ButtonConstants.au3>
#include <EditConstants.au3>
#include <StaticConstants.au3>
#include <DDEML.au3>
#include <DDEMLClient.au3>
OnAutoItExitRegister("CleanExit")

_DdeInitialize("OnDDE_", BitOR($APPCMD_CLIENTONLY, $CBF_SKIP_ALLNOTIFICATIONS))

Global $frmMain = GUICreate("Sample DDE Client", 560, 105, -1, -1, BitOR($WS_SYSMENU,$WS_DLGFRAME,$WS_CLIPSIBLINGS), BitOR($WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW,$WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE))
Global $lblOut = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Nothing yet", 11, 60, 333, 31, BitOR($SS_RIGHT,$SS_NOPREFIX))
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

$hszService = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Service")
$hszTopic = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Topic")
$hConvSrv = _DdeConnect($hszService, $hszTopic)

$hszItem = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Item")
$res = _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_ADVSTART+$XTYPF_ACKREQ, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem, $CF_TEXT)

OnDDE_AdvData("","","","","")

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
        Exit
    EndSwitch
WEnd

Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1,$hSsz2,$uFmt,$hData,$hConv)
local $stringdata
; $hsz2 is a string containing the topic/item you requested (at least in my case)
$stringdata=_DdeGetDataAsString($hData)
;......DO SOMETHING WITH $stringdata
GUICtrlSetData($lblOut, "Requested data:" & $stringdata)
EndFunc

Func CleanExit()
    If 0 <> $hConvSrv Then
        _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_ADVSTOP, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem, $CF_TEXT)
        _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszService)
        _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszTopic)
        _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszItem)
        _DdeDisconnect($hConvSrv)
        $hConvSrv = 0
    EndIf
    _DdeUninitialize()
    ConsoleWrite("CleanExit" & @CRLF)
EndFunc

It is working but what I don't understand is that

Either I call it this way

OnDDE_AdvData("","","","","")

either

OnDDE_AdvData("Servie","Topic","","Item",$hConvSrv)

I am getting the same result!!!

[mailro]

I have come to this working code below. The problem that I have is that when I have more than 2 items I can't catch the right callback. I am always getting the last one.

expandcollapse popup

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <ButtonConstants.au3>
#include <EditConstants.au3>
#include <StaticConstants.au3>
#include <DDEML.au3>
#include <DDEMLClient.au3>
OnAutoItExitRegister("CleanExit")
Global $hConvSrv = 0

$return=_DdeInitialize("OnDDE_", BitOR($APPCMD_CLIENTONLY, $CBF_SKIP_ALLNOTIFICATIONS))

If $return <> 0 Then MsgBox(0, "Error", "Failed to Initialize")

Global $frmMain = GUICreate("Sample DDE Client", 560, 105, -1, -1, BitOR($WS_SYSMENU, $WS_DLGFRAME, $WS_CLIPSIBLINGS), BitOR($WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW, $WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE))
Global $lblOut = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Nothing yet", 11, 60, 333, 31, BitOR($SS_RIGHT, $SS_NOPREFIX))
Global $lblError = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Errors: ", 450, 0, 333, 31, BitOR($SS_RIGHT, $SS_NOPREFIX))
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

main()
OnDDE_AdvData("", "", "", "", "")

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
            Exit
    EndSwitch
    $error = _DdeGetLastError()
    GUICtrlSetData($lblError, "Error: " & $error)
WEnd

Func main()

    $hszService = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Service")
    $hszTopic = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Topic")
    $hConvSrv = _DdeConnect($hszService, $hszTopic)
    While $hConvSrv = 0
        Sleep(2000)
        $hConvSrv = _DdeConnect($hszService, $hszTopic)
    WEnd
    _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszService)
    _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszTopic)

    $hszItem1 = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Item1")
    $res1 = _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_ADVSTART + $XTYPF_ACKREQ, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem1, $CF_TEXT)
EndFunc   ;==>main

Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1, $hSsz2, $uFmt, $hData, $hConv)
    Local $stringdata
    $stringdata = _DdeGetDataAsString($hData)
    GUICtrlSetData($lblOut, "Requested data: " & $hSsz1 & ": " & $hSsz2 & ": " & $stringdata)
EndFunc   ;==>OnDDE_AdvData

Func CleanExit()
    If 0 <> $hConvSrv Then
        _DdeDisconnect($hConvSrv)
        $hConvSrv = 0
    EndIf
    _DdeUninitialize()
    ConsoleWrite("CleanExit" & @CRLF)
EndFunc   ;==>CleanExit

When I add:

$hszItem2 = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Item2")
    $res2 = _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_ADVSTART + $XTYPF_ACKREQ, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem2, $CF_TEXT)

I don't know how to make the OnDDE_AdvData to report the first one. It always reports the last one

[doudou]

The second variant of your code looks completely broken, the first one below may be better point to start (anyway you said yourself, it's working).

Ok.

Here is the code complete and working

expandcollapse popup

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>
#include <WindowsConstants.au3>
#include <ButtonConstants.au3>
#include <EditConstants.au3>
#include <StaticConstants.au3>
#include <DDEML.au3>
#include <DDEMLClient.au3>
OnAutoItExitRegister("CleanExit")

_DdeInitialize("OnDDE_", BitOR($APPCMD_CLIENTONLY, $CBF_SKIP_ALLNOTIFICATIONS))

Global $frmMain = GUICreate("Sample DDE Client", 560, 105, -1, -1, BitOR($WS_SYSMENU,$WS_DLGFRAME,$WS_CLIPSIBLINGS), BitOR($WS_EX_TOOLWINDOW,$WS_EX_WINDOWEDGE))
Global $lblOut = GUICtrlCreateLabel("Nothing yet", 11, 60, 333, 31, BitOR($SS_RIGHT,$SS_NOPREFIX))
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)

$hszService = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Service")
$hszTopic = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Topic")
$hConvSrv = _DdeConnect($hszService, $hszTopic)

$hszItem = _DdeCreateStringHandle("Item")
$res = _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_ADVSTART+$XTYPF_ACKREQ, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem, $CF_TEXT)

OnDDE_AdvData("","","","","")

While 1
    $nMsg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $nMsg
        Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE
        Exit
    EndSwitch
WEnd

Func OnDDE_AdvData($hSsz1,$hSsz2,$uFmt,$hData,$hConv)
local $stringdata
; $hsz2 is a string containing the topic/item you requested (at least in my case)
$stringdata=_DdeGetDataAsString($hData)
;......DO SOMETHING WITH $stringdata
GUICtrlSetData($lblOut, "Requested data:" & $stringdata)
EndFunc

Func CleanExit()
    If 0 <> $hConvSrv Then
        _DdeClientTransaction($XTYP_ADVSTOP, $hConvSrv, 0, 10000, $hszItem, $CF_TEXT)
        _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszService)
        _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszTopic)
        _DdeFreeStringHandle($hszItem)
        _DdeDisconnect($hConvSrv)
        $hConvSrv = 0
    EndIf
    _DdeUninitialize()
    ConsoleWrite("CleanExit" & @CRLF)
EndFunc

If you wish to receive callbacks from your server in an advise loop you must not disable them by passing $CBF_SKIP_ALLNOTIFICATIONS in _DdeInitialize(), please consult MSDN for possible values and their meanings.

Further, it's been said here already: return $DDE_FACK (s. MSDN on DdeCallback) from OnDDE_AdvData() otherwise server would consider callback failed.

It is working but what I don't understand is that

Either I call it this way

OnDDE_AdvData("","","","","")

either

OnDDE_AdvData("Servie","Topic","","Item",$hConvSrv)

I am getting the same result!!!

There's absolutely no point for these calls (especially pointless: OnDDE_AdvData("","","","","")) being placed in client code, OnDDE_AdvData() is a callback function and is to be called by DDEML library and this only.

Side note (looking at your 2nd post): don't free $hszService and $hszTopic before you are done with the DDE conversation, the same is valid for $hszItem as long as your client is exchanging data associated with it (i.e. keep it until the advise loop ends).

Edited March 21, 2011 by doudou

[JCarson]

Out of morbid curiosity, has anyone attempted to connect to and OPC server using this code?

Thanks,

Carson