Initiate VB/DLL from ASP

[HaveTrouble]

My current ASP is calling DLL (written in VB6) and return confirmation page after DLL finished processing. DLL will be sending email with information requested. Sometimes DLL is taking long time to process and I don't want user to wait forever. Is there a way for ASP to initiate and pass parameters to DLL, then display a confirmation page saying "your request is in process" and user can browse to another ASP if they wish ? DLL can send out email to user whenever it's done. Below is the DLL called that I currently have:

some ASP codes before the call....

Set obj= server.CreateObject ("myDLL.cls")
rc = obj.doThis (param1, param2, param3, param4)
Set obj= nothing

some ASP codes after the call....

 

[Sheco]

Make it an ActiveX EXE so it runs out of process.

Call it the same way as a DLL.

The public method takes the parameters, sets a timer, sets a lock, and returns.

ASP finishes processing and sets object reference to nothing.

Object is not destroyed because of the lock.

Timer fires, sends email using parameters, and releases lock.

Now that lock is gone, there the automation object is destroyed.

This won't scale as well as a DLL but it will get the job done unless you are seeing a very heavy load.

 

[dilettante]

Write a non-GUI EXE that monitors an MSMQ local machine queue for new messages requesting "work." Have the ASP page insert messages into the queue with the parameters.

Even better have the EXE or COM component fired up upon a "trigger" based on queue insertion.

MSMQ Triggers Overview

Working with MSMQ Triggers

 

[Sheco]

dilettante,

I love it!

 

[dilettante]

It sure is another toy to play with. ;-)

 

[HaveTrouble]

Where can I install MSMQ from ? I think MSMQ has to be installed before installing trigger.

 

[Sheco]

Look in the control panel under add/remove programs.. and in windows components under that you find message queuing service. You might not see it on all windows versions but it will be there on server 2000. On 2003 server it is in the details under Application Server.