When is a text file ready to read?

[Albireo]

Suppose there is another program that creates a readable txt file.
Autohotkey is waiting to read the created file.
(some files may take 1 second to create while others take 30-40 seconds (or more) to create.)

Is there a good way to know when the text file is ready to read?

[WarlordAkamu67]

Hello. This has worked for me, but maybe somebody has a better/more optimal solution.

I have AHK that creates text files, then runs JavaScript that reads those files, which in turn creates other text files that AHK reads. I have not run into any issues with it. The spoiler contains some of my code.

Spoiler

This is a snip of my code:

Code: Select all

	if (pro_Art_ABIndex = 1) {
		FileAppend("LTS-A", A_Temp "\abVariable.txt")
} else if (pro_Art_ABIndex = 2) {
		FileAppend("LTS-M", A_Temp "\abVariable.txt")
} else if (pro_Art_ABIndex = 3) {
		FileAppend("LTS-A", A_Temp "\abVariable.txt")
}
	wait_for_File(A_Temp "\abVariable.txt")
	FileInstall("Z:\01 EMPLOYEE FILES\00 Me\Code\JavaScript_Currently_Used\0_All_In_One.jsx", A_Temp "\0_All_In_One.jsx", 1)
	run_Through_Illustrator("0_All_In_One.jsx")
	wait_for_File(A_Temp "\workComplete.txt","5000")
	workComplete_Variables := readVariableTextFile(A_Temp "/workComplete.txt")

The "run_Through_Illustrator" function looks like:

Code: Select all

; Function to run .JSX files into illustrator.
run_Through_Illustrator(file_to_Use) {
	static capturedIllustratorPath := ""
	if (capturedIllustratorPath == "") {
		Loop(5) {
			checkYear := (A_YYYY + 2 - A_Index)
			Loop Parse DriveGetList() {
				if FileExist(capturedIllustratorPath := A_LoopField ":\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator " checkYear "\Support Files\Contents\Windows\Illustrator.exe") {
					Break(2)
}
}
}
}
	wait_for_File(A_Temp "\" file_to_Use)
	try {
		RunWait("Illustrator.exe " A_Temp "\" file_to_Use, , "Max")
		ToolTip("Method 1", 0, 0)
		SetTimer () => ToolTip(), -3000
} catch {
		try {
			adobe_ill := ComObjActive("Illustrator.Application")
			adobe_ill.DoJavaScriptFile(A_Temp "\" file_to_Use)
			; ObjRelease("Illustrator.Application") <-- Not working?
			ToolTip("Method 2", 0, 0)
			SetTimer () => ToolTip(), -3000
} catch {
			try {
				RunWait(capturedIllustratorPath " " A_Temp "\" file_to_Use, , "Max")
				ToolTip("Method 3", 0, 0)
				SetTimer () => ToolTip(), -3000
} catch {
				MsgBox("Error!")
}
}
}
	try FileDelete(A_Temp "\" file_to_Use)
	try FileDelete(A_Temp "\Script_Actions.aia")
  return
}

and the "wait_for_File" is:

Code: Select all

; Function to wait for files.
wait_for_File(loction_to_Check, set_Duration := 500) {
  time_Out_Counter := 0
  while (!FileExist(loction_to_Check)) {
    Sleep(100)
    if (time_Out_Counter > set_Duration) {
      Exit
}
    time_Out_Counter++
}
	return
}

The JS then spits out a text file which my function "readVariableTextFile" reads:

Code: Select all

readVariableTextFile(fileToRead, deLim := "/") {
	originalText := Fileread(fileToRead)
	finalArray := []
	Loop parse, originalText, deLim {
		finalArray.Push(RegExReplace(A_LoopField, "\^\.\^", "/"))
}
  return(finalArray)
}

[mikeyww]

Mine is below.

Code: Select all

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0
fPath := 'test.txt'
txt   := read(fPath)
MsgBox txt, 'Text', 'Iconi'

read(fPath) {
 Loop {
  Try FileRead(fPath)
  Catch {
   SoundBeep 1500
   Sleep 900
  } Else {
   Sleep 1500
   Return FileRead(fPath)
  }
 }
}

[Albireo]

Thanks! (both of you)
@mikeyww:s suggestions are easier to understand.
But, I don't see what parses if the text file is ready to read.
Is the file locked for reading while it is being created? (I'm not sure)
I don't know how the file is created by the other program.
Suppose I'm going to create a CSV file with a loop and fileAppend.
Isn't the text-file locked for a very short time?

Will experiment a bit..
I'm thinking a bit about eof (end of file)
When is eof created in a text file?
Or is the filesize better to analyse? (When did the CSV file stop growing in size?)

_ - - - - _ - - - - -_ - - - - _ _ - - - - _ _ - - - - _ _ - - - - _ _ - - - - _

Can describe some cases where this occurs.
1)
In a PDA, a database is created by scanning barcodes. (I don't know how to read the database with AHK directly in the PDA)
When the PDA is placed in a docking station, AHK can start a communication program,
that transfers data from the database to a text file (CSV format) on the computer (Windows).
The content must then be analyzed by AHK.
When can AHK analyze the file? (want to start analyzing as soon as possible)

2)
AHK launches another program that creates a CSV file.
1) When is the file available?
2) When is the export of the CSV file finished?

[mikeyww]

Try it and see. You will be the person who decides upon the definition of a "completed" file. Various definitions could be crafted.

Most likely, a text file can be read when it exists, but you can try it to confirm. You are able to answer your question by running your script.

[TAC109]

If you instead use the FileOpen object to read your file you can specify the appropriate sharing mode to ensure that the file has been closed by other processes.

Cheers