March 1999 - Zope - Zope lists

Pb: REQUEST.set with formating.
by Gilles.Lavaux 24 Mar '99

24 Mar '99

Hello I try to set a variable to the current date with some formating: This works:  But how can I format the ZopeTime to get only the part I want.(month/year for exemple: fmt="%m/%Y") ?? Gilles Lavaux

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[Project Idea] Looking ahead to the future of Linux ...
by Bryan J. Smith 24 Mar '99

24 Mar '99

[Project Idea] Looking ahead to the future of Linux ... [ I am on the Digest list, so send responses directly if you expect an immediate response. ] Although I am a new user, I am quickly growing very fond of Zope. Quite amazing, multiplatform and all. The option to use either the built-in DB or an external one, the built-in web server or an external one. My entire company is thinking of standardizing on Zope since we run Solaris, Linux and NT (along with a few, rogue *BSD variants) on our server-end. Little and big internal projects aside, I was wondering if Zope could possibly fill a gap that will come about with Linux shortly. That gap is software distribution at the enterprise server to client level. Linux (and many other OpenSource software and systems) is winning in the server arena, but the corporate desktop world is staying with NT and the consumer world is staying 95/98. While the third will take awhile, the corporate desktop is something that is attainable in the next few years (with all the Windows 2000 issues which I do not want to get into). Microsoft has SMS for NT and even Apple has a better system for MacOS X Server. What does Linux have? First off, most Linux distributions have RPM. While the format is the same, the filesystem and other distribution or installation-specific configuration may differ. Quite possibly, a Zope-based distributed management system could be built to serve this purpose. I guess my main question is if anyone else is trying to forge such a project togther. E.g., does the Caldera Open Administriative System (COAS) plan to solve such software distribution issues? If not, do any others? If not, I'd say it is a BIG DEAL to get such a project underway. And Zope may be the perfect fit for the back-end (hence, why I am posting this to this list instead of a my local LUG). Just an idea. Please feel free to pick it apart (short of calling me an idiot, well maybe you should anyway :-). I am still learning Python at this stage (big-time Perl advocate, but Python is definately better for web-apps). -- Bryan Bryan J. Smith mailto:b.j.smith@ieee.org,bjs@crc.com Software Engineer http://www.SmithConcepts.com/legal.html ============================================================== How can you say your operating system (OS) is enterprise- scalable when you run a competing operating system for your mail services (Solaris for Hotmail), sport the absolute worst uptimes for application services versus all other OSes (con- tinuous crashes under heavy loads), and have just now, finally started an 64-bit port let alone it is a completely incompa- tible fork from your existing 32-bit API?

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RE: [Zope] ZOracleDA and long numbers
by TFE MMS JARVIS JOHN 24 Mar '99

24 Mar '99

Thanks for the pointer! I have to retract what I said in a previous post about not having a problem with the ZODBCDA--it has the same problem. I had made a small hack of a product for my own study that connected through ODBC and that didn't have the problem because I used Python longs. I somehow got the two confused... This works, but everything gets converted to floats like you said. In my case, this is not so much a problem because I use a lot of large numbers but doesn't seem practical for general use. I found that if, in Buffer.c, I change lines 143 and 144 to case 'd': return PyLong_FromDouble(self->val.d[ii]); I can get the same results as my product--everything is a long. Unfortunately, this causes everything to be printed with Python's 'L' appended instead of '.0'. Either can be fixed by using fmt="%.f" to all of my number fields, but that seems like a lot of extra work (maybe a quick hack to the Z Search Interface would do the trick?) Plus, what if I really have floats somewhere? Would something like: elif dbtype==2: # Number if scale: buf=Buffer(arraysize,'f') dbtype=4 dbsize=8 else: buf=Buffer(arraysize,'d') dbtype=4 dbsize=8 in ociCurs.py (lines 123-131) handle this? I haven't tested it yet on float fields. It might be better to just leave everything as floats. John Jarvis Tokyo Electron FE, Ltd. > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Fulton [SMTP:jim@digicool.com] > Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 12:00 AM > To: TFE MMS JARVIS JOHN > Cc: zope(a)zope.org > Subject: Re: [Zope] ZOracleDA and long numbers > > > > TFE MMS JARVIS JOHN wrote: > > > > Hi all! > > > > I'm having a problem with running queries containing long numbers. > > I found in db.py that the data type NUMBER is converted to an > > integer which overflows in my case. > > > > The errors: > > > > Error, oci.error: (1455, 'ORA-01455: converting column overflows integer > > datatype\012') > > > > Traceback (innermost last): > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/ZPublisher/Publish.py, line 877, in > publish_module > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/ZPublisher/Publish.py, line 590, in publish > > (Info: /queries/wisdom/customer-Line/manage_test) > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/Shared/DC/ZRDB/DA.py, line 305, in manage_test > > (Object: CopySource) > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/Shared/DC/ZRDB/DA.py, line 286, in manage_test > > (Object: CopySource) > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/Shared/DC/ZRDB/DA.py, line 390, in __call__ > > (Object: CopySource) > > File db.py, line 198, in query > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/Products/ZOracleDA/DCOracle/ociCurs.py, line > 317, > > in fetchmany > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/Products/ZOracleDA/DCOracle/ociCurs.py, line > 279, > > in fetchone > > File /usr/lib/python1.5/Products/ZOracleDA/DCOracle/ociCurs.py, line > 75, > > in _error > > oci.error: (see above) > > > > I tried changing line 219 in query() in db.py: > > from > > if scale==0: type='i' > > to > > if scale==0: type='f' > > > > in order to force a float type, but this has no effect, it seems. > > This typr only affects meta-data seen by some Zope tools. > > > I'm sure that I'm misunderstanding something here. > > Nope, you aren't. > > > Any pointers to where I can look to fix this would be greatly > > appreciated. > > There is a similar change that needs to be made to *work around* > this problem. In DCOracle/ociCurs.py, change: > > elif dbtype==2: # Number > if scale: > buf=Buffer(arraysize,'d') > dbtype=4 > dbsize=8 > else: > buf=Buffer(arraysize,'i') > dbtype=3 > dbsize=4 > f=None > > to: > > elif dbtype==2: # Number > if scale or 1: > buf=Buffer(arraysize,'d') > dbtype=4 > dbsize=8 > else: > buf=Buffer(arraysize,'i') > dbtype=3 > dbsize=4 > f=None > > This has the undesirable effect of causing all > numbers to be treated as ints. (This is what oracledb > does) :( Unfortunately, you can't tell from Oracle column > meta data whether values in a column will fit into Python ints. > > The right way to fix this is to implement Oracle's > NUMBER or VARNUM C data types and convert to Python > ints or longs on a case by case basis. > > Jim > > -- > Jim Fulton mailto:jim@digicool.com Python Powered! > Technical Director (888) 344-4332 http://www.python.org > Digital Creations http://www.digicool.com http://www.zope.org > > Under US Code Title 47, Sec.227(b)(1)(C), Sec.227(a)(2)(B) This email > address may not be added to any commercial mail list with out my > permission. Violation of my privacy with advertising or SPAM will > result in a suit for a MINIMUM of $500 damages/incident, $1500 for > repeats.

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quoting in python
by julian＠zereau.net 24 Mar '99

24 Mar '99

I need to be able to use the var tag's capabilities to neatly quote URL metacharacters, but I need to do it within an expr="foo" mini python snippet. This is so that I can quote individual included variables into a query string I am building. Is there any way to do this? --- Julian Morrison Programmer (Zereau Ltd)

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handling exceptions in DTML
by Jordan B. Baker 24 Mar '99

24 Mar '99

Beyond writing an ExternalMethod, is there a good way to catch exceptions? For example, I have a database application that looks pretty ugly if someone attempts to add a duplicate key to the database. Ideally, I'd use a  tag to trap exceptions and to provide handlers for them. Anyone have any thoughts on this? ------- Jordan B. Baker -- jbb(a)spyderlab.com weaving the web @ http://www.spyderlab.com

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RE: [Zope] [Project Idea] Looking ahead to the future of Linux .. .
by Paul Everitt 24 Mar '99

24 Mar '99

Bryan wrote: > Little and big internal projects aside, I was wondering if Zope could > possibly fill a gap that will come about with Linux shortly. > That gap is > software distribution at the enterprise server to client level. The field of online software distribution is certainly hot. Marimba, the original Java darling, has reinvented themselves in this field: http://www.marimba.com/products/products.htm They are playing, though, in a pretty complicated mission-critical kind of field. The requirements are pretty daunting. > Linux (and many other OpenSource software and systems) is > winning in the > server arena, but the corporate desktop world is staying with > NT and the > consumer world is staying 95/98. While the third will take > awhile, the > corporate desktop is something that is attainable in the next > few years > (with all the Windows 2000 issues which I do not want to get into). > Microsoft has SMS for NT and even Apple has a better system > for MacOS X > Server. What does Linux have? > > First off, most Linux distributions have RPM. While the > format is the same, > the filesystem and other distribution or > installation-specific configuration > may differ. Quite possibly, a Zope-based distributed > management system > could be built to serve this purpose. One thing I've seen that's pretty interesting in a low-tech kind of way is rpmfind from rufus.w3.org from a repository. > I guess my main question is if anyone else is trying to forge > such a project > togther. E.g., does the Caldera Open Administriative System > (COAS) plan to > solve such software distribution issues? If not, do any > others? If not, > I'd say it is a BIG DEAL to get such a project underway. And > Zope may be > the perfect fit for the back-end (hence, why I am posting > this to this list > instead of a my local LUG). It's certainly a big deal in that it is an enormous initiative. Take some time to jot down what you think the business goals and the requirements of such a project might be and recruit some volunteers! > Just an idea. Please feel free to pick it apart (short of > calling me an > idiot, well maybe you should anyway :-). I am still learning > Python at this > stage (big-time Perl advocate, but Python is definately better for > web-apps). Oh you certainly say all the right things. --Paul

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RE: [Zope] Zope Database in XML
by Theodore Patrick 24 Mar '99

24 Mar '99

Ahhhh.... Oracle's approach to this is an add-on to 8i called IFS(Internet File System). It renders a database to http(woo...woo, Zope does this in its native functionality). Although, they are working on a renderer for native file systems. This would enable object methods for making files on the fly. As Zope already accomplishes this(rendering objects), thus presenting the view of the oo database is thus a filter. HTTP,FTP,CIFS,NFS,POP,IMAP all are protocols that speak the requesting clients language. Make Zope the engine and supply a framework in Zserver to plug in the server renderer. Samba is a great example. It renders between file systems quite well, although it is rather a tough and complex animal and very specialized. Although it would work along the same lines. Actually, there is a PERL module to simulate file systems already. It could be good start. Considering that most file viewing on Windows is moving to HTML, the Network Drive is looking more and more like a simple security login with a connection that is persistent, rather than actually mapping the drive. A distributed (native-CIFS/NFS) file system would change the industry. Actually it already has (http) through a browser window. I am wondering when it will occur as seamlessly as not having to be in a browser. If an ORB existed that could render data to the requesting protocol, it would be a great product, I think ZOPE could do this through the ZServer architecture. The Server in this case is the renderer, the ORB is the fulfillment component and the OO Database is the storage mechanism. The protocol plug-in is stored in Zserver and renders the appropriate view of the data. PROTOCOL | SERVER | ORB | OO DATABASE | </OS ADD-ON CLIENT> HTTP | ZSERVER | --- ZOPE --- | Client dependencies FTP | ZSERVER | --- ZOPE --- | Applications designed to be client/server!!! IMAP | ZSERVER | --- ZOPE --- | POP | ZSERVER | --- ZOPE --- | </OS ADD-ON CLIENT> <OS NATIVE> CIFS | ZSERVER | --- ZOPE --- | No Client dependencies - Native Applications NFS | ZSERVER | --- ZOPE --- | CLIENT/SERVER functionality yet no dependencies! </OS NATIVE> OS support is the dependency! If the rendering engine were modular, ZOPE would always be first in delivering support for new protocols and client functionality(DAV Support!!!), without changing the structure of the underlying database. The data exchange between the ZSERVER AND ZOPE would have to be managed. "You wouldn't want to serve a POP client an Excel file unless it is an attachment just as you wouldn't want to render a query to a FILE SYSTEM accept ones that have been designated as OK." Get It? It would save the world a little time and effort if one system could render data to a diverse set of clients. Rather than making a new server every time a new client arrives. I could simply build a layer of translation(XML) for a client and BINGO! New client/server. At the Native OS level this has the most power. Rendering live data into an Excel file on the fly is a real world application that would be a huge hit right now. "I want this months sales report... open Sales.xls BINGO!!! The data is there." I would really like to edit html in Dreamweaver as I regularly do and have it render into Zope. If you had file system level support every known application could be stored inside of Zope or have access to the data inside of ZOPE. Here is the interesting one: If you can have direct file access you could: Open a client application out of an oo database that rendered a view of the database back at you. (Sounds awfully like an OS!!!) Just Thoughts..... Theodore E. Patrick email: tpatrick(a)indigonetworks.com <mailto:tpatrick@indigonetworks.com> phone: 615-777-0070 ext.125 Indigo Networks - The Ultimate Choice In Who Sees You. http://www.indigonetworks.com -----Original Message----- From: Ross J. Reedstrom [mailto:reedstrm@rice.edu] Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 1999 3:57 PM To: Zope Mailing List Subject: Re: [Zope] Zope Database in XML Theodore Patrick wrote: > > What I am referring to is rendering objects in the ZOPE database to a file > system view. The object database could be managed as a Network Drive(except > that the view would be data in the ZOPE object database). You could through > some translation (xml or other) render the object database to CIFS/NFS. <snipped various interesting examples of filesystem access to zope> > > I guess what I am asking is: Can Zope act like a CIFS/NFS file > system(virtual file system) with a layer of translation for converting Zope > Objects to File system objects directly (XML or other)? > You seem to be asking for a hybrid of Zope and Samba ;-) Seriously, we have Samba, so one answer would be a filesystem driver for the undelying OS that talks to the Zope server to get its information. This could be re-exported as a samba share, or NFS or AFS or Coda or what-have-you. I've been musing about it for linux for a little bit - I'm going to try and convince one of the bright sparks around here to take a crack at it. For NT hosted Zope, you'd need to write an equivalent filesystem driver - apparently the the SDK for that is ~$1000. Oh, and parts of this are already present in the ZServer - it talks FTP, and there was some discussion of exposing object properties as virtual docs of some sort. Check the list archives. Ross -- Ross J. Reedstrom, Ph.D., <reedstrm(a)rice.edu> NSBRI Research Scientist/Programmer Computer and Information Technology Institute Rice University, 6100 S. Main St., Houston, TX 77005 _______________________________________________ Zope maillist - Zope(a)zope.org http://www.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope (For developer-specific issues, use the companion list, zope-dev(a)zope.org - http://www.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-dev )

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Using database-connection from external methods
by raver＠box.dust.za.net 23 Mar '99

23 Mar '99

Hi! This will hopefulle be my last questions in a while... Is there some way I can reach/use ZMySQL connection method from within an external method? Rephrase - I have a connection established within Zope - I want to call an external method that handles some sql-queries - is this possible, or should I still have the external method handle it's own connection? Can external methods set/send back variables to the calling document/method? Another question while I'm at it - is the DateTime module in 1.10.2 broke in some way? (I get an error if I try to make a new property with the date type set) Help is much appreciated Sture Lygren

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RE: [Zope] Zope Database in XML
by Theodore Patrick 23 Mar '99

23 Mar '99

What I am referring to is rendering objects in the ZOPE database to a file system view. The object database could be managed as a Network Drive(except that the view would be data in the ZOPE object database). You could through some translation (xml or other) render the object database to CIFS/NFS. 1. Run applications directly from the ZOPE file system. 2. Modify and Render objects through a regular file explorer or file manager potentially an external text editor or file editor(word,excel,other). 3. Objects that had no meaning to the file system view would not be rendered. Attributes to file properties. This is a feature of 8i that oracle is pushing. The rendering of a database to a user that does not realize it is a database. ie. 1. Open a spreadsheet in the Network Drive and see a current version of a file and its data. 2. Intranet is now a shared drive - depending on your privileges - you see different objects. I guess what I am asking is: Can Zope act like a CIFS/NFS file system(virtual file system) with a layer of translation for converting Zope Objects to File system objects directly (XML or other)? If I understand it, this is how the database is rendering objects to HTTP or now(Zserver)FTP. Why can't you render them as a Network file system? Any thought? -----Original Message----- From: Jim Fulton [mailto:jim@digicool.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 1999 2:39 PM To: Theodore Patrick Cc: Zope Mailing List Subject: Re: [Zope] Zope Database in XML Theodore Patrick wrote: > > If you can access the database directly through this interface(xml/pickle), > couldn't you *potentially* map a network drive to the interface(cifs/nfs). > This could allow you to render data in and out of the database through the > file system interface rather than ftp/http. I'm not sure what you are getting at here. You can export and import data to a file system now, using the Zope database format, which is built on Python's pickle format. The XML conversion feature just gets the data into a slightly more editable form. One key difference between http/ftp and the file system is that Zope trusts the file system much more and is willing to get pickles (binary, XML, whatever) from it. This is a sort of a security feature. In the future, I'd like to make a variation on the Python pickler that was easier to configure to be pickier and safer to use with network supplied pickles. Jim -- Jim Fulton mailto:jim@digicool.com Python Powered! Technical Director (888) 344-4332 http://www.python.org Digital Creations http://www.digicool.com http://www.zope.org Under US Code Title 47, Sec.227(b)(1)(C), Sec.227(a)(2)(B) This email address may not be added to any commercial mail list with out my permission. Violation of my privacy with advertising or SPAM will result in a suit for a MINIMUM of $500 damages/incident, $1500 for repeats.

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RE: [Zope] Database connections
by Paul Everitt 23 Mar '99

23 Mar '99

Oleg writes: > I've finished large project using pure CGI concept (I used Neale's > html.py). Now I (and my boss) are thinking of switching to Zope, or at > least ZTemplates. > > While playing with Zope and SQL (I am using Postgres, hence ZPygres > Database Adapter), I found that Zope, when loaded into memory > by Zope.cgi > (I am using Apache, and need to use in the future) opens a database > connection for every Folder where I created Connection object. Ahh, no need. Just put one Database Connection object in the top folder and all the subfolders will "acquire" it. That is, any SQL Method defined lower down can use it. > It is bad, as I have many databases, so Zope eats up > memory. Another > problem - what would do Zope if I restart Postgres (so all current > connections break)? Would Zope reestablish connections or just report > error? It should re-establish the connection. If it doesn't then there's a bug. This works fine with all the Database Adapters I've used. > How could I limit number of connections Zope opens? How could I There is one connection per Database Connection object. > define a timeout, after which Zope close a connection if there is no Hmm, this is quite a hard thing to do, unfortunately. > activity between Zope and Postgres? and reestablish connection when > application ask for SQL data? > > With ZTemplates and CGI all these questions has one easy > (but not so > nice) answer - there is no constant connection, a connection > established on > every CGI invocation. Of course this means the CPU gets a tremendous beating on every request and the response time goes down. > PS. BTW, I wrote short introduction to Zope in Russian: > http://sun.med.ru/~phd/Russian/Zope/ > Any Russian here to verify my understanding of Zope? Mind if I add a blurb to the Zope News about it? --Paul

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