RSNE Web-Link
Web-Link allows files to be distributed to users via a web/ftp server.
An administrator uploads files to the server using Web-Link Administrator, and then each user downloads the files using Web-Link.
Some data loggers can upload data directly to a web server.
The list of files for downloading can be prepared either by the administrator or by the user.
Files can also be sent from the user to the administrator, to backup the files or so that the administrator can provide support to the user.
Web-Link User
To use the system, the system administrator will send to the user...
- The web address of a system configuration file e.g
www.rsne.com.au/goanna.cfg - A UserID e.g.
fred - A password e.g.
ABCDEF
Use , and the folders for the files will come from the Administrator (via the web server).
Users can overide the folders where the files will be saved on your PC.
The application folder is for files used by the application e.g. C:\MLOG.
The data folder, user folder and user current folder are where data files are saved (depending on file location).
Automatic
The programme can be set to automatically download at intervals - every hour for example.
The programme can also run automatically every time the computer is started - when it is running it will appear as an icon in the bottom tool bar.
List of files to process.
The files tab shows details of each file that will be processed, either downloaded or uploaded.
Files can be data from loggers; current crop ET values; sensor calibrations; weather from other systems....
The file list can come from either the administrator (in which case users do not need to do anything) or the user can add and edit the list of files.
- A file will only be processed if it is active.
- The file can be zipped after downloading, or before uploading.
- Name is a simple name for the file e.g.
South Block - Filename is the actual name of the file, without folder or drive letter. e.g
logger3.dat
The file can be changed with and edited with . - The complete file can be downloaded or uploaded, or just new data lines sent (based on the date).
The correct date format needs to be selected - different loggers save dates in various formats. - The file can be downloaded...
- Never
- Always
- Only once (if it does not yet exist on the user PC)
- Only if a later version is available
- The file can also be uploaded.
This allow for backing up data files; to transfer data to another user; or for support. - The file location is where the file will be saved to...
- The Application Folder e.g.
C:\Mlog - The Data Folder, which could be the application folder or some other folder e.g.
C:\Mlog\Data - The User Folder (e.g. Northcot) - the folder will be e.g.
C:\Mlog\Northcot - The User Current Folder (e.g. 2009) - the folder will e.g.
C:\Mlog\Northcot\2009 - The Other Folder (e.g. CALIBRATIONS) - the folder will e.g.
C:\Mlog\Calibrations
- The Application Folder e.g.
- A new file can be added with ; and deleted with . File(s) can also be added by dragging them from Windows File Manager.
- Files can be re-ordered with and .
- If the user is editing the file list, it can be saved with . A new list can be started with , and another list opened with .
- A file list downloaded from the administrator will always be called
files.txt.
New Season
By setting the 'from' date to the beginning of the season, only data after this date will be downloaded. (Only for 'incremental' download)
Options
This option allows a third party (not the administrator) to look at all data files belonging to a user.
The third party would need to be given the user's password.
A special folder to hold all user data should be entered e.g. C:\Mlog\Users
All the files for a user on the server will be downloaded to a folder for the user below this folder e.g. C:\Mlog\Users\Turkey
Security
Web-Link is potentially dangerous - it uploads and downloads files to your PC.
Every PC that connects to the internet should be running a firewall (such as ZoneAlarm) , and the firewall should ask you to confirm it is ok when Web-Link tries to access the internet.
The name of the programme is WebLink.EXE, and it will identify itself to the ftp and http server as RSNEWeb-Link.
The firewall should again ask for confirmation after an upgrade to the software has been installed.
If the list of files itself is to be downloaded from the web server (and this is the default), the files.txt will be copied from the server to your PC, and saved in the data folder.
You can then see the list of all files that will be uploaded or downloaded from your PC on the files tab.
This list should be carefully checked before using .
Files should normally only be in the Application or Data folders, but WebLink can also upload files from anywhere on your PC.
This is to allow uploading INI files in the C:\Windows folder.
A potential problem is that if you use Automatic or Run at startup, the list of files will be processed automatically.
The file list could be changed at any time by the Administrator, but the user might not regularly check the list.
So you need to either trust the Administrator and their system, or remember to keep checking the files list.
Every time a file is uploaded or downloaded it is logged in ftp.log, in the data folder.
A special 'file to process' called DIR will generate a directory listing of all files in the Application and Data folders, and sent it to the Administrator.
This is to help with support, if you are having problems
Another special 'file to process' is FROMDATE. This will change the season start date on the 'new season' tab, so that only data for the new season is downloaded.
Command line switches
The following command line switches are available. They can be entered on a shortcut command line.
| /S | Startup. Run minimised; wait 60 secs; login; process all files. Designed for running at startup. |
| /D | Download all files that are specified for downloading. |
| /U | Upload all files that are specified for uploading. |
| /M | Run WebLink minimised. |
| /X | Run, and then exit. e.g. WebLink.EXE /D /X will download all files and then exit. |