Winton DeShong

Web / Flash Development

A few weeks back I gave a presentation at the Central Pennsylvania Flash User Group (CPFUG) on the ActionScript Message Format, or AMF. Below is a screen capture of the presentation along with audio. You can also download a higher quality 800×600 version here.

Adobe Flash Player version 9 or higher is required.

Problem Summary

File browsing/uploading/saving is a common task. What is the best way to implement file handling while using the PureMVC framework?

Solution Summary

Below I propose a foundation for handling file browsing/uploading/saving in a single-core PureMVC application.

Explanation

In both single-core and multi-core PureMVC applications, I tend to keep all of the FileReference/FileReferenceList event handling in a Proxy. This allows for application/module -wide handling/presentation of errors related to file uploading. It also abstracts the code for re-use in all of your components in the application.

For more, check out my Flex Cookbook post at http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/communityengine/index.cfm?event=showdetails&postid=12706&loc=en_US&productid=2.

Project source files

Today I experienced quite the issue with my ASP.NET development environment. I have been using a virtualized instance of Windows XP Pro with VMWare/Parallels for quite some time now without any issues. Apparently, none of my previous experiences has quite the same amount of files and directories as my latest project. While developing some ASP.NET 2.0 SOAP web services I began to receive the following error in Visual Studio 2008:

An error occurred loading a configuration file: Failed to start monitoring changes to ‘[…]’ because the network BIOS command limit has been reached. For more information on this error, please refer to Microsoft knowledge base article 810886. Hosting on a UNC share is not supported for the Windows XP Platform.

After the typical procedure of restarting Visual Studio and restarting IIS I was out of luck. I tried to by pass the error being that it really had nothing to do with what I was doing. Finally, after quite a lengthy conversation with Sir. Google, I found a solution. Not the most elegant solution, but a solution nonetheless. Heck, what solution is elegant when developing on Windows? I digress…

Anyway, without wasting any more time that you probably have wasted with this issue, here is the fix.

You need to add an additional registry key:
Add the following DWORD value at the following registry key:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\ASP.NET\FCNMode

The following table lists possible values for the FCNMode DWORD value and the behavior that is associated with each value.

Value Behavior Does not exist This is the default behavior. For each subdirectory, the application will create an object that will monitor the subdirectory.

0 or greater than 2 This is the default behavior. For each subdirectory, the application will create an object that will monitor the subdirectory.

1 The application will disable File Change Notifications (FCNs).

2 The application will create one object to monitor the main directory. The application will use this object to monitor each subdirectory.

I recommend setting the value to 1, to disable the FCN. This is what is causing the error when you try to use the debugger.

Finally, after applying the registry changes, don’t forget to restart your Visual Studio. Good luck!

It’s official, I am attending 360|Flex in San Jose on August 18-20 with the team at andCulture. Hit me up at contact@wintondeshong.com if you are going to be at 360|Flex or in the area.

At the beginning of this month, Sposto Interactive treated me to the Adobe MAX Conference. Tim O’Hare at Scripps Networks had recommended attending this conference instead of others and I cannot complain. The conference was a great experience and I hope to attend for years to come!