Blazor: Poll a server's object in an interval? - asp.net-core

It seems that Blazor makes it easy for the client to call a server's method using something called SignalR underneath. But when I searched if Blazor does that for the other direction, the answer was that Blazor does not do that and I have to implement it myself using SignalR. So, I thought about polling.
That is, I like to read a property or call a method in the server's object at an interval to determine if something has changed. To test this, I added this property to the WeatherForecastService class. The property increases every time when read.
int _Value = 0;
public int Value
{
get
{
_Value++;
return _Value;
}
}
In the weather tablet sample plage, I removed the code to display the weather and added this.
<p>This component demonstrates fetching data from a service.</p>
<div>Value = #this.Value</div>
#code {
private int Value = 0;
protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
{
System.Timers.Timer t = new System.Timers.Timer();
t.Elapsed += (s, e) => { Value = ForecastService.Value; };
t.Interval = 1000;
t.Start();
}
}
And it did not work. I found an existing question, but it uses F# which I don't understand, and I don't know what ClientTImer is, so the answer was not helpful to me.

t.Elapsed += async (s, e) =>
{
Value = ForecastService.Value;
await InvokeAsync(StateHasChanged);
};

Related

EF Core not setting class variables automatically

I want to switch my code to an async implementation. When I want to do this then I notice that my related data gets not set automatically after I retrieve them like it used to do it.
This is the initial function that gets called from an API controller. I used the AddDbContext function to add the dbcontext class via dependency injection into my controller:
public async Task<Application> GetApplicationById(AntragDBNoInheritanceContext dbContext, int id)
{
List<Application> ApplicationList = await dbContext.Applications.FromSqlRaw("Exec dbo.GetApplication {0}", id).ToListAsync();
Application Application = ApplicationList.First();
if(Application != null)
{
await CategoryFunctions.GetCategoryByApplicationID(Application.Id);
}
}
The GetCategoryByApplicationId function loads the related category of an application which is a many to one relation between Category and Application:
public async Task<Category> GetCategoryByApplicationID(int applicationID)
{
var optionsBuilder = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<AntragDBNoInheritanceContext>();
optionsBuilder.UseSqlServer(ApplicationDBConnection.APPLICATION_CONNECTION);
using (var dbContext = new AntragDBNoInheritanceContext(optionsBuilder.Options))
{
List<Category> category = await dbContext.Categories.FromSqlRaw("Exec GetApplicationCategory {0}", applicationID).ToListAsync();
if (category.Any())
{
return category.First();
}
}
return null;
}
When I want to retrieve an application then the field Category is not set. When I did not use async/await it would set the category automatically for me. Of course I could just return the Category Object from the GetCategoryByApplicationId and then say:
Application.Category = RetrievedFromDbCategory;
But this seems a bit unmaintainable compared to the previous behaviour. Why does this happen now and can I do something about it? Otherwise I don't see much benefits on using async/await .

Delay a task in Blazor without blocking the UI

I created a .razor Notification Component in Blazor, and I'm trying to autoclose the notification div after xx seconds.
So far it works with this Method
private async Task CloseToast(Guid Id, bool autoclose = false)
{
if (autoclose)
{
await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
}
//Code to remove the notification from list
StateHasChanged();
}
The problem is that for 5 seconds the UI data binding is stuck, any one way or two way binding update to variables (text fields etc..) is on hold until the Notification is closed and the Task resumes.
How can I launch a method or code block after xx seconds without blocking the main UI task in Blazor?
A component with a timer that counts back
<h3>#Time</h3>
#code {
[Parameter] public int Time { get; set; } = 5;
public async void StartTimerAsync()
{
while (Time > 0)
{
Time--;
StateHasChanged();
await Task.Delay(1000);
}
}
protected override void OnInitialized()
=> StartTimerAsync();
}
Usage:
<Component />
<Component Time="7"/>
Tested on client side Blazor. Should behave the same way in server-side Blazor.
Hope this helps
You can use .NET Timer from System.Timers as well and set the Delay in milisec. When it elapsed event will triggered and you can put your logic into the event handler. If you don't want to bother with all the config and Disposing of Timer you can use this Nuget package. It is a very convenient wrapper for the Timer with many extra features see docs.
<AdvancedTimer Occurring="Times.Once()" IntervalInMilisec="#_closeInMs" AutoStart="true" OnIntervalElapsed="#(e => { IsVisible = false; })" />
#code {
private int _closeInMs = 5000;
...
}
The official Blazor Server EFCore sample project includes this as an example, in TextFilter.razor. The essence of the code is:
Timer? timer;
// ... code in a function to start the timer
timer?.Dispose();
timer = new(DebounceMs);
timer.Elapsed += NotifyTimerElapsed;
timer.Enabled = true;
private async void NotifyTimerElapsed(object? sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
timer?.Dispose();
timer = null;
// SomeMethodAsync will need to call StateHasChanged()
InvokeAsync(() => SomeMethodAsync());
}
and a Dispose() function for the page to dispose any timer in progress when user navigates away.

Outlook Add-In :: COM object that has been separated from its underlying RCW cannot be used

While I have found many instances of this question on SO, none of the solutions I have implemented have solved my problem; hopefully you can help me solve this riddle. Note: This is my first foray into the world of COM objects, so my ignorance is as deep as it is wide.
As a beginning, I am using Adrian Brown's Outlook Add-In code. I won't duplicate his CalendarMonitor class entirely; here are the relevant parts:
public class CalendarMonitor
{
private ItemsEvents_ItemAddEventHandler itemAddEventHandler;
public event EventHandler<EventArgs<AppointmentItem>> AppointmentAdded = delegate { };
public CalendarMonitor(Explorer explorer)
{
_calendarItems = new List<Items>();
HookupDefaultCalendarEvents(session);
}
private void HookupDefaultCalendarEvents(_NameSpace session)
{
var folder = session.GetDefaultFolder(OlDefaultFolders.olFolderCalendar);
if (folder == null) return;
try
{
HookupCalendarEvents(folder);
}
finally
{
Marshal.ReleaseComObject(folder);
folder = null;
}
}
private void HookupCalendarEvents(MAPIFolder calendarFolder)
{
var items = calendarFolder.Items;
_calendarItems.Add(items);
// Add listeners
itemAddEventHandler = new ItemsEvents_ItemAddEventHandler(CalendarItems_ItemAdd);
items.ItemAdd += itemAddEventHandler;
}
private void CalendarItems_ItemAdd(object obj)
{
var appointment = (obj as AppointmentItem);
if (appointment == null) return;
try
{
AppointmentAdded(this, new EventArgs<AppointmentItem>(appointment));
}
finally
{
Marshal.ReleaseComObject(appointment);
appointment = null;
}
}
Bits not relevant to adding appointments have been redacted.
I instantiate the CalendarMonitor class when I spool up the Add-in, and do the work in the AppointmentAdded event, including adding a UserProperty to the AppointmentItem:
private void ThisAddIn_Startup(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
_calendarMonitor = new CalendarMonitor(Application.ActiveExplorer());
_calendarMonitor.AppointmentAdded += monitor_AppointmentAdded;
}
private async void monitor_AppointmentAdded(object sender, EventArgs<AppointmentItem> e)
{
var item = e.Value;
Debug.Print("Outlook Appointment Added: {0}", item.GlobalAppointmentID);
try
{
var result = await GCalUtils.AddEventAsync(item);
//store a reference to the GCal Event for later.
AddUserProperty(item, Resources.GCalId, result.Id);
Debug.Print("GCal Appointment Added: {0}", result.Id);
}
catch (GoogleApiException ex)
{
PrintToDebug(ex);
}
finally
{
Marshal.ReleaseComObject(item);
item = null;
}
}
The error is thrown here, where I try to add a UserProperty to the AppointmentItem. I have followed the best example I could find:
private void AddUserProperty(AppointmentItem item, string propertyName, object value)
{
UserProperties userProperties = null;
UserProperty userProperty = null;
try
{
userProperties = item.UserProperties;
userProperty = userProperties.Add(propertyName, OlUserPropertyType.olText);
userProperty.Value = value;
item.Save();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Debug.Print("Error setting User Properties:");
PrintToDebug(ex);
}
finally
{
if (userProperty != null) Marshal.ReleaseComObject(userProperty);
if (userProperties != null) Marshal.ReleaseComObject(userProperties);
userProperty = null;
userProperties = null;
}
}
... but it chokes on when I try to add the UserProperty to the AppointmentItem. I get the ever-popular error: COM object that has been separated from its underlying RCW cannot be used. In all honesty, I have no idea what I'm doing; so I'm desperately seeking a Jedi Master to my Padawan.
The main problem here is using Marshal.ReleaseComObject for RCW's that are used in more than one place by the managed runtime.
In fact, this code provoked the problem. Let's see class CalendarMonitor:
private void CalendarItems_ItemAdd(object obj)
{
var appointment = (obj as AppointmentItem);
if (appointment == null) return;
try
{
AppointmentAdded(this, new EventArgs<AppointmentItem>(appointment));
}
finally
{
Marshal.ReleaseComObject(appointment);
After the event returns, it tells the managed runtime to release the COM object (from the point of view of the whole managed runtime, but no further).
appointment = null;
}
}
Then, an async event is attached, which will actually return before using the appointment, right at the await line:
private async void monitor_AppointmentAdded(object sender, EventArgs<AppointmentItem> e)
{
var item = e.Value;
Debug.Print("Outlook Appointment Added: {0}", item.GlobalAppointmentID);
try
{
var result = await GCalUtils.AddEventAsync(item);
This method actually returns here. C#'s async code generation breaks async methods at await points, generating continuation passing style (CPS) anonymous methods for each block of code that handles an awaited result.
//store a reference to the GCal Event for later.
AddUserProperty(item, Resources.GCalId, result.Id);
Debug.Print("GCal Appointment Added: {0}", result.Id);
}
catch (GoogleApiException ex)
{
PrintToDebug(ex);
}
finally
{
Marshal.ReleaseComObject(item);
Look, it's releasing the COM object again. No problem, but not optimal at all. This is an indicator of not knowing what is going on by using ReleaseComObject, it's better to avoid it unless proven necessary.
item = null;
}
}
In essence the use of ReleaseComObject should be subject to a thorough review of the following points:
Do I need to actually make sure the managed environment releases the object right now instead of at an indeterminate time?
Occasionally, some native objects need to be released to cause relevant side effects.
For instance, under a distributed transaction to make sure the object commits, but if you find the need to do that, then perhaps you're developing a serviced component and you're not enlisting objects in manual transactions properly.
Other times, you're iterating a huge set of objects, no matter how small each object is, and you may need to free them in order to not bring either your application or the remote application down. Sometimes, GC'ing more often, switching to 64-bit and/or adding RAM solves the problem in one way or the other.
Am I the sole owner of/pointer to the object from the managed environment's point of view?
For instance, did I create it, or was the object provided indirectly by another object I created?
Are there no further references to this object or its container in the managed environment?
Am I definitely not using the object after ReleaseComObject, in the code that follows it, or at any other time (e.g. by making sure not to store it in a field, or closure, even in the form of an iterator method or async method)?
This is to avoid the dreaded disconnected RCW exception.

When calling a WCF RIA Service method using Invoke, does the return type affect when the Completed callback is executed?

I inherited a Silverlight 5 application. On the server side, it has a DomainContext (service) with a method marked as
[Invoke]
public void DoIt
{
do stuff for 10 seconds here
}
On the client side, it has a ViewModel method containing this:
var q = Context.DoIt(0);
var x=1; var y=2;
q.Completed += (a,b) => DoMore(x,y);
My 2 questions are
1) has DoIt already been activated by the time I attach q.Completed, and
2) does the return type (void) enter into the timing at all?
Now, I know there's another way to call DoIt, namely:
var q = Context.DoIt(0,myCallback);
This leads me to think the two ways of making the call are mutually exclusive.
Although DoIt() is executed on a remote computer, it is best to attach Completed event handler immediately. Otherwise, when the process completes, you might miss out on the callback.
You are correct. The two ways of calling DoIt are mutually exclusive.
If you have complicated logic, you may want to consider using the Bcl Async library. See this blog post.
Using async, your code will look like this:
// Note: you will need the OperationExtensions helper
public async void CallDoItAndDosomething()
{
this.BusyIndicator.IsBusy = true;
await context.DoIt(0).AsTask();
this.BusyIndicator.IsBusy = false;
}
public static class OperationExtensions
{
public static Task<T> AsTask<T>(this T operation)
where T : OperationBase
{
TaskCompletionSource<T> tcs =
new TaskCompletionSource<T>(operation.UserState);
operation.Completed += (sender, e) =>
{
if (operation.HasError && !operation.IsErrorHandled)
{
tcs.TrySetException(operation.Error);
operation.MarkErrorAsHandled();
}
else if (operation.IsCanceled)
{
tcs.TrySetCanceled();
}
else
{
tcs.TrySetResult(operation);
}
};
return tcs.Task;
}
}

Race condition in Rhino DSL?

In my current project I am working with Boo/Rhino DSL (what a great thing(s) by the way).
In digging in the code I came across the following piece of code:
engine.Cache.WriteLock( () =>
{
engine.Storage.NotifyOnChange(urls, delegate(string invalidatedUrl)
{
engine.Cache.Remove(invalidatedUrl);
if (!standAloneCompilation.Contains(invalidatedUrl))
standAloneCompilation.Add(invalidatedUrl);
});
});
the intention here is pretty clear: the engine.Cache has to be protected from race condition when a url is removed from it. The problem I see here is that what is really protected is a call to the Storage.NotifyOnChange - not the Cache.Remove.
And all NotifyOnChange does is taking the supplied delegate and attach it as an event handler to the 'FileWatcher' it creates. So instead of protecting the Cache.Remove the write lock here protects creating the the FileWatcher, and leaves the Cache.Remove unprotected.
I have great respect to both Boo and Rhino, which makes me wonder - am missing something here? or the write lock should be really moved inside the delegate?
Here is the NotifyOnChange code if you are wondering:
public virtual void NotifyOnChange(IEnumerable<string> urls, Action<string> action)
{
lock (pathToFileWatchers)
{
string[] commonPaths = GatherCommonPaths(urls);
foreach (string path in commonPaths)
{
FileSystemWatcher watcher;
if(pathToFileWatchers.TryGetValue(path, out watcher)==false)
{
pathToFileWatchers[path] = watcher = new FileSystemWatcher(path, FileNameFormat);
watcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
}
watcher.Changed += delegate(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e)
{
action(e.FullPath);
};
}
}
}