Slow Accessing a memo field on a network

Anyone have any ideas about this: here's the situation,

I have a memo field that I use in a table and I read various lines from the
memo field for default settings. This makes it so that I don't always have
to modify the structure of the table. The total length of the memofield is
small (under 3K). However, I have to read the memo field multiple times to
get the default values on any particular line. For example:

set memowidth to 8192
test1 = mline(mytable.mysettings, 1)
test2 = memline(mytable.mysettings, 2)
test3 = memline(mytable.mysettings, 3)
test4 = memline(mytable.mysettings, 4)

There are about 150 lines at present in the field. Here's the strange
thing. I have a method in a form that reads all the values and sets the
objects on the form accordingly. It seems like it is starting to take a
long time to load the form (around 6-10 seconds). But, this delay is ONLY
PRESENT if the table is open on another computer on the network. If I open
the table on the same computer in a separate program (such as VFP) or I run
another instance of my application, then everything is fast. The slowness
only happens if the table is open on another workstation and it appears that
it is just as slow if the table is open on 2 workstations or 10 (makes no
difference). It drastically speeds up when the table is open on only one
workstation and is fast even if that table is open on one computer with
multiple programs (such as if it is open in my app as well as open in VFP).

I have noticed this problem on both an XP Pro computer (as the server) with
XP workstations and I have also noticed this problem on a real Win 2000
server with XP workstations. I'm using VFP 6/SP3. The problem only seems
to happen when doing multiple reads from the same memofield many times. In
other words, if I do this instead:

m.lcMain = mytable.mysettings

and I then populate the form using m.lcMain then everything is very fast.
It's as if multiple reads to the same memofield is really slow but only if
the table is open on another workstation. There are no virus checkers or
other programs (that I know of) to slow it down). I can't understand why
this is happening but I'm not sure if it is happening on other server OS's
as well or just these few examples I have provided. I'm running the exe on
the local machine. But, it seems to be some kind of network issue because
the speed drastically slows down (reading the memo field multiple times)
whether the table is open on two workstations or 10. It's then pretty much
the same slow speed when open at 2 computers or more but lightening fast
when open at only one. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Mike


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Slow Accessing a memo field on a network
    ... I have a memo field that I use in a table and I read various lines ... the table is open on 2 workstations or 10. ... slows down (reading the memo field multiple times) whether the table ...
    (microsoft.public.fox.programmer.exchange)
  • Re: Slow Accessing a memo field on a network
    ... I played around with my memo field and I noticed ... Part of best practices over a network is to not do more reads ... on a second workstation that it could then take some 5-10 seconds to open ... I understand that the memofield access can be slow ...
    (microsoft.public.fox.programmer.exchange)