Can't stop programatically an asp.net 2, app

VictorVictor · January 31st, 2007, 04:36 PM

All:

It's frequently the simplest things that 'get' me.

I've got a multipage asp.net 2 app website with many pages. I want to put a button on each and every page that when the user clicks, the app ends and their computer returns to where ever it was before they started the app.

Darned if I can find a way to do this. In Asp.net 1.1 one could code: Application.Exit(). But, there is no Exit method in the Application object in asp.net 2.
Help, anyone?

VictorVictor

Imar · January 31st, 2007, 04:52 PM

What is it that you expect to happen???

"Application" runs on the server, so what do you want it do do there? I don't think you want to shut down the server, do you?

I think what you're looking for is the JavaScript Close method that closes the browser running on the *client*. Since each request to the server is stateless, and the server generally doesn't know much about you after each request, closing down the browser is usually enough.

See here for more info about the Close method:

http://www.javascript-coder.com/wind...ow-close.phtml

Cheers,

Imar
---------------------------------------
Imar Spaanjaars
http://Imar.Spaanjaars.Com
Everyone is unique, except for me.
Author of ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results and Beginning Dreamweaver MX / MX 2004
Want to be my colleague? Then check out this post.

VictorVictor · January 31st, 2007, 05:07 PM

Hello Imar:

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, exactly, I want the user's browser to return to the state it was in just before the user clicked on the link to begin a session at my webiste, and the server to stop running the code for the application.

I want this to happen without the user having to use his/her mouse to click on the big X button in the IE6/IE7 upper right corner. One click on my app's button should emulate the functionality of the window's X button and be done with it -- no more user clicks should be needed to exit.

I'll check out the javascript function you referenced and see if that will give me the functionality I want.

Thanks again.

VV

Imar · February 1st, 2007, 04:16 AM

Occasionally, I have clients that want similar things in their applications.

It always takes a lot of time to convince them that they shouldn't want this. A user is used to closing an application by clicking that red X or by other existing ways. That's what they do all day with other web sites and applications. IMO, it's often not necessary to add this functionality yourself, and it will only confuse them.

Since you're not paying me, and since I am not responsible for your application, I won't try to convince you that hard ;) Of course, your reasons for the button may be different. However, it's worth considering if you really need / want this.

BTW, I don't think you can "return to the state it was in just before the user clicked on the link to begin a session". You can close the window, but you'll probably get a confirmation dialog asking if you're sure.

You could keep track of the number of pages a user visited and then do a history.go(numberOfPages) to bring the user back to where they started, but this is difficult if not impossible to implement.

Cheers,

Imar
---------------------------------------
Imar Spaanjaars
http://Imar.Spaanjaars.Com
Everyone is unique, except for me.
Author of ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results and Beginning Dreamweaver MX / MX 2004
Want to be my colleague? Then check out this post.

VictorVictor · February 1st, 2007, 11:02 AM

Imar:

Thanks for the advice. You know that I take very seriously your comments and suggestions because you have an outstanding track record for helping me.

With regard to stopping the app, I can simply do nothing and let a user red X out, as happens in many other server apps.

I went to that javascript-coder site you mentioned and printed the popuponclick function writeup. I'll check it out.

Thanks again.

VV

VictorVictor · February 1st, 2007, 11:09 AM

Imar:

This just occurred to me:

Is there a way to duplicate the functionality of a user click on the red X?

In effect I'm wondering if I can save the user the trouble of navigating his or her mouse to the screen right top and clicking there, and instead providing the same result in a button in the app.

VV

Imar · February 1st, 2007, 01:02 PM

The close method comes closest (no pun intended) to the normal Close button for the browser.

However, you'll find that sometimes you get a dialog box asking for confirmation. For example, try this:

Code:

<html>
<head>
    <title>Test</title>
</head>
<body>
<form name="frmTest" id="frmTest">
  <input type="button" onclick="self.close();" value="Close" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

You'll get a dialog that confirms you're sure you want to close the window or tab....

Imar
---------------------------------------
Imar Spaanjaars
http://Imar.Spaanjaars.Com
Everyone is unique, except for me.
Author of ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results and Beginning Dreamweaver MX / MX 2004
Want to be my colleague? Then check out this post.

VictorVictor · February 1st, 2007, 02:21 PM

Imar:

I implemented your idea about a selfclose javascript function. Yup, it works just as you and the documentation state: If java does not open the window, a confirmation message appears asking if you really want to do this.

I tried setting several of the window properties to values that I hoped would bypass the confirmation (.closed), and a few other things. I was not able to avoid the message and I am not going to use the javascript window.open functionality.

The situation is worse now because a user would click my page's "Exit App" button and then have to click again on the confirm close window message.

This is not the hotest item on my plate so for now I am going to lay this aside and move on with more development.

So.... Thanks much for your input.

Regards,

VV

Imar · February 1st, 2007, 05:23 PM

Yes, exactly. That's why I usually recommend not to offer features like this... ;)

There are some tricks where you can assign a reference to this to self.opener to trick the window into thinking it opened itself. However, I believe this no longer works in IE7 and certainly doesn't work in other browsers.

http://www.guyfromchennai.com/?p=18

So, just rely on your user's intelligence to find the normal Close button. Bill and his friends have thought about it for years, so I am sure it's in a logical spot.... ;)

Imar
---------------------------------------
Imar Spaanjaars
http://Imar.Spaanjaars.Com
Everyone is unique, except for me.
Author of ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results and Beginning Dreamweaver MX / MX 2004
Want to be my colleague? Then check out this post.

planoie · February 5th, 2007, 02:42 PM

Victor,

One trick I have seen work is to self the window's 'opener' property to itself. This tricks the browser to thinking it was opened by another browser, and thus allow you to programmatically close it without confirmation. Here's the modification to Imar's onClick code:

self.opener=self;self.close();

-Peter