Ken Reiss' Blog - Flex Programming

What FTP Client do you use?

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:51:00 -0400

I use to use CuteFTP way back, but then changed over to Van Dyke's AbsoluteFTP years ago. I can't recall why we made this change, but it seemed better. Lately, however, AbsoluteFTP (now called SecureFX) likes to download 0-sized files about once every 3 times on one of our computers. Other programs don't do this and it doesn't happen on any computer. I used to like how CuteFTP allowed multiple instances at a time (i.e. one for the public folders and one for the admin folders). This made it easy to upload changes made in 2 seperate areas without having to navigate folders. So, I think we'll change to a new FTP client. What do you use? What do you like about it? What are it's drawbacks?

Can't get Flex 2.0 and ColdFusion 7.0.2 to work together in a remote server environment

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 23:26:00 -0400

I have Flex 2.0 and CFMX7.0.2 on a shared server. Whenever I try to use a RemoteObject, I get a "TypeError: Error #1034: Type Coercion failed: cannot convert Object@2f044c1 to mx.messaging.messages.ErrorMessage." error. There is a great article at: http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/helloworld.html which helps understand how to use Flex 2.0 and CF 7.0.2 when you have CF running locally. However, after numerous hours, I just can't get this to work when CFMX7.0.2 is running on a remote server. Do I need to modify my C:\CFusionMX7\wwwroot\WEB-INF\flex\services-config.xml file on the server? What should I put as my compiler argument (since there is no C drive because the server is remote). I don't assume it is still --services=C:\CFusionMX7\wwwroot\WEB-INF\flex\services-config.xml right? What I should put in for my RemoteObject source name (the folder of the cfc?) I can do fine with web services, but can't seem to get data to move through RPC/AMF. Any help is apprecaited - I assume others are having this same problem. If you have succeeded at running a Flex 2.0 app by moving data through CFMX7.0.2, pleaes comment on this entry. Thank you! Ken. PS - See others with the same problem at: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=585&threadid=1169105&forumid=60

Time to "PUSH" the limits on the Internet

Fri, 12 May 2006 23:57:00 -0400

I'm truly excited about a new product produced by Adobe/Macromedia called Flex 2.0. This amazing product should be available by Summer 06 and will completely revolutionize the Internet. I know you've heard this before, but I've been involed in telecommuncations since 1982 and have watched the Internet become main-stream and eveolve. Here's why I think Flex 2.0 will change the world: Everyone (developers and users) currently have accepted and live inside a client-server paradigm. We expect to send a page request to a server, then get a reply. We understand that sometimes we have to 'refresh' the page. We never expect the page to actually change itself. With Flex 2.0 sockets remain open and a server can acually push data to the end-user. Take a moment to think about what this means. Effectively, this is equivalent to having your keyboard and monitor directly connected to another computer. Here are a few examples of ways we can use this new PUSH technolgoy that I've heard recently:

Auctions: No need for special java or ajax to try to poll data periodically. Just let the data flow (push) to the end-user.

Stock data/trades

Customer support: Suppose someone is in the middle of placing an order and requsts online help. The rep could actually see their order and work with the end-user real-time in a simultaneous shopping cart With Flex 2.0 a 'shared object' is created and the Flex Data Server handles distributing any changes to that object out to all who are sharing it! I truly beleive that not only will Adobe become the next Microsoft, but that the Internet will completely change. I think the past 10 years have been the Internet just warming up. With univeral broadband and push technology, its a whole new world! Please comment on this article with your ideas for Push technology. What could it possibly do, that our minds are not open to because we're trapped in the client-server transaction-request paradigm.

Flex, Flex, Flex!

Thu, 11 May 2006 01:21:00 -0400

Flex 2.0 is coming!!! HURRAY!