UniGUI as FTP Server - possible?

[elGringo]

Hello, all !!!

 

I'm writing mixed App VCL client + UniGUI Server. So, is that possible to use UniGUI as FTP Server? To plug from VCL and upload and get links to VCL app ?

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[zilav]

SeverModule has event for custom HTTP requests, so you can POST a file as octet stream from VCL app to your UNI app.

 

However I recommend to use cloud services like Amazon S3 for example. There are existing Delphi libs to manage cloud services and you'll get a working link when file is uploaded without cluttering your server.

[elGringo]

Zilav - thank you very much for the answer!!! I will try to do that for myself - but could your give a small example - an idea how to do that - if i will choose the 1 variant. One thing in that I write program that will be deployed on different VPS Windows Servers, so it must not depend on Amazon only.

 

Also, I have Azure account - maybe there's complete lib for that task too... - but it also means dependence on Azure only... So I'm in process...

[zilav]

I made a simple demo app to post "test.txt" file and receive POST request in UniGUI. It will output encoded multipart data stream, google how to decode it with Indy, there are plenty of examples like this.

Don't have time myself to implement that. I'd rather use clouds anyway.

UniPostFile.zip

[elGringo]

Zilav - thank you very much !!! I will post here my results anyway. And about clouds - i will test it too. Have a nice day there.

[zilav]

Zilav - thank you very much !!! I will post here my results anyway. And about clouds - i will test it too. Have a nice day there.

Here is an example from my project where I generate thubmnails and upload them to S3 with public access for internet shop.

function TFrameItems.UploadThumbnail(aStream: TStream; aName: string): Boolean;
var
  s3: TAmazonS3;
begin
  Result := False;
  s3 := TAmazonS3.Create(Self);
  try
    try
      s3.AccessKeyID := data.GetSetting('AWSAccessKeyId');
      s3.SecretAccessKeyID := data.GetSetting('AWSSecretKey');
      s3.AmzHeaders.Values['x-amz-acl'] := 'public-read';
      s3.AmzHeaders.Values['x-amz-storage-class'] := 'REDUCED_REDUNDANCY';
      s3.UploadObject(data.GetSetting('AWSBucketName'), aName, 'image/jpeg', aStream);
      Result := True;
    except
      // handle error here
    end;
  finally
    s3.Free;
  end;
end;

AmazonS3.zip

[elGringo]

TAmazonS3? Genious!

I will test both variants on UniGUI Server and on my Azure cloud and will post my results here in a few days.

[elGringo]

And can this task decided with TidFTPServer and TidFTP?

[zilav]

And can this task decided with TidFTPServer and TidFTP?

Only if you run a single instance of UniGui app on the host machine (standalone or server). ISAPI won't work at all.

 

If you still insist on using FTP, then install any free FTP server. From your VCL app generate unique name for a file to upload (probably some hash), send it to FTP server with TIdFTP, then http POST uploaded unique file name to UniGUI app as I've shown you.

[elGringo]

My task quite simple - to put file (for example 123.jpg or 123.mp3 or 123.mp4) near UniServer from my vcl app and to get link - for example http://localhost:8077/123.jpg and to use it in vcl.

It is clear for me that with ftp i will put it

I need link in vcl app, so in that case http.post no needed?

 

Also you say interesting thing - i'm trying to understand

 

Only if you run a single instance of UniGui app on the host machine (standalone or server). ISAPI won't work at all.

 

In attachment - picture from http://www.unigui.com/explore/technology-overview

 

ISAPI Handler create MainModule which is creating DataModules and so on. So if to put IdFTPServer on MainModule for example - will it be multiplied to number of sessions? 

 

I ask because just want something embedded (some ftp server embedded or http server embedded) in my program to not to install hundered of additional programs.

 

[zilav]

In that case just redirect FTP server's default dir to any subfolder inside UniGUI's folder and upload there. No need to do anything in UniGUI app itself.

[elGringo]

Yes, i also came to that decision. Sheme is following

 

to upload file from vcl app (Ftp Client) to ServerMachine

 

-Check FTPServer Is Started, in not than start FTPServer as EXE on ServerMachine

-send file from FTPClient

-receive approval that file is uploaded

..next steps

 

than next question - how remotely start EXE file on Server Machine from for example FTPClient? 

[elGringo]

Maybe UniGUI Server can check and start FTP Server? They will be on the same machine

[elGringo]

Don't you know if I do like so

procedure TMainForm.UniButton1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
ShellExecute(Handle, 'open',
  'c:\Windows\notepad.exe', nil, nil, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
end; 

Do I start it on local client machine or on Server Machine? I will test it on my Azure today

[elGringo]

Ok. I tested

ErrorCode:=shellAPI.ShellExecute(Handle, 'open',
  PWideChar('c:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe'), nil, nil, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

this opens notepad on ServerSide - on my Azure Machine

 

So, using this approach - I can start FTP Server on my Azure and any other EXE

 

But how to start or stop remotely UniGUI.EXE Itself?

[WildFrag]

build isapi dll and no problem with autostart unigui application

[elGringo]

Yes. It is clear, but looked for alternative variants