How to Optimize Network Traffic in a Multiuser Application

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SUMMARY

One way to optimize the amount of network traffic a multiuser application generates is to minimize the volume of file hits to server-based files.

MORE INFORMATION

To build a multiuser database application that minimizes network traffic, consider the fact that the fewer the number of times your application has to process server-based files, the less network traffic is generated.

Techniques for reducing network traffic incorporate local-caching strategies and dynamic usage systems that pull network files into use only when absolutely necessary. This requires overhead programming, but it can result in a much more stable, speedy, and reliable network connection.

In a database application, users often need to see only a subset of the data. In this case, a query to bring what the user needs down into a local table for manipulation is appropriate. Once the information is local, there is no further need to access the network until a change is committed.

Whenever you implement a scheme like this, you need to have an effective way to handle transaction processing. For more information about transaction processing, please see the "Managing Updates with Transactions" section, pages 440-447, the "Programming for Shared Access" chapter of the "Developer's Guide."

Optimizing network traffic requires that you reference network files as few times as possible, and close these files when your application is finished with them for a while. It is better to work with local data sets and verify synchronization issues.

For additional information, please see Chapter 4, page 71, of the "Professional Features Guide."