Java.nio setting the socket channel output buffer size

No afaik

Why do you want to do this? There has to be a work-around, like sending not more than a certain fixed length of data everytime. The size should ideally not be fixed because the socket can be used for any type of communication, e.g., making an HTTP request and reading the contents of a web-page, in which case the number of bytes that you read could be anything.

mayankeagle,
   I want to do this because I have written a mail feeder that utilizes the SMTP protocol. To get the rate of speed required I need to use the java.nio package... and for the most part this works extremely efficiently. But when the size of the email body gets to be 9k or greater, nio cannot write the whole chunk of data at once to the socket channel. Because of this I have a while loop which executes until all of the data was written. When I do this however, the performance degrades horribly for larger email sizes. My thinking is that if I can perform a calculation to figure out the optimal size of the output buffer, and then set the size on a per campaign basis I can minimize the degradation and get a more constant line of performance.

Cheers,
Rick

CEHJ,
what does 'afaik'  mean?

Cheers,
Rick

As Far As I Know

The effect you mention may not be influencable by altering the buffer size, even if you could. It could be caused by network effects

CEHJ,
I'm pretty sure that the network is not the issue... the test equipment is a dual xeon box, with a dedicated 100mb lan, all top of the line hardware. The problem is definitely occurring on the box as opposed to network traffic.

Cheers,
Rick

That won't help

CEHJ,
What wont help? The selector?

Cheers,
Rick

>>What wont help? The selector?

Yes. If you have a blockage *writing* to a Socket it's not likely to help if it's that data not being pushed over the wire that's your concern (which i seem to remember is the case)

You are right about this. The problem isnt with the wire however, its writing the entire 9k or greater at once to the socket channel. if it overflows the buffer I now have a while loop just waiting until its ready to go.  I have a few thoughts about a different way of approaching the problem that I think may be work well assuming certain limitations can be overcome.

The idea is to check the available size of the output buffer for the socket channel prior to attempting the write. If the space is available then write all the data, if not wait until the next cycle of the thread, if the space is available then write the data, etc, and this will happen indefinitely until the write occurs.
   Now there is one major problem with this approach that I see. First, if the amount of data is always going to be greater than the output buffer then the thread will not accomplish anything.
That is why I need to be able to set the socket channel output size. I seem to recall reading something about using properties classes within java to set things like that, but I have not yet figured out how the properties classes work exactly so that is an option that may or may not come to fruition.

What are your thoughts?

Cheers,
Rick

CEHJ,
Just another thought.... Its hard to believe that its not possible to set the sendbuffersize, as you can do so with a normal java socket method setSendBufferSize(int size) . There's got to be a way to accomplish this. Its just a matter of tracking it down at this point.

Cheers,
Rick Simnett

you don't need to set the buffer size.

CEHJ,
Do you think it is somehow possbile to grab an instance of the socket from the socketchannel (using the socket() method in socketchannel), and directly change the settings?

Cheers,
Rick

objects,
why do u say I do not need to set the buffersize? I think that is the best solution at this time, short of a complete rewrite of the code. Which is not something I definitely dont want to do....

Cheers,
Rick

errr...
definitely not something I want to do.....
haha... its after 7pm again.. im fried.


Cheers,
Rick

if u want use nio then you need to understand about selectors.
unless cehj has any better suggestions which does not appear to be the case.

Objects / CEHJ,

Here is the complete code of the mail feeder app I have written. As it is I do not use any selectors, everything works great with exception of large email sizes. Its extremely fast, and works 100% except for this problem. The big performance issue is found in the sockConn class, in the writeln method. As you can see I am looping until the write is complete. I think if i can just get the buffer bigger the speed will be normal for larger emails. Basically, a 1.5k email I can deliver at
rates of 37,000 emails a minute. But when you jump up to 9k, the number of deliveries per minute is less than 1000, and the bottleneck is that while loop. If I can somehow make the buffer larger the looping will be minimized. I know this is a very long post, and I apologize for it, but I want you guys to reallly see what I am working with here.... In a way I have almost emulated selectors with the getstatus function in sockConn.

Let me know what you think I should do.

Cheers,
Rick


// MPFEEDER Class main class
//MailPro Delivery Feeder
//Scope: The MailPro Delivery Feeder is a stand-alone application that generates and transmits
//email at very high rates. The requiring is the algorithm that must be followed, and the pre-planned
//solutions.

//1.Initialize
//2.Query SQL Database for appropriate record.
//3.Set the records status.
//4.Loop
//5.Generate The Email
//6.Push the rendered email to storage.
//7.Push the email to the MTA.
//8.End Loop
/*
Required Classes:

      Storage Classes:

             Campaign Class - the campaign class is the most basic class for any outgoing campaign.
             It stores the complete campaign record from the database. It is responsible for the
             rendering of all outgoing email.

             Email Holder Class - the email holder class basically holds each of the "rendered" email
             messages for the delivery thread to pick up and deliver. It can hold X amount of messages,
             each message stored can be retrieved, or deleted by its reference number.

             Config Class - the config class holds the basic running values of the MailPro Feeder. These
             values are loaded from the SQL database. The data includes the number of delivery threads,
             MTA IP's and port configurations. In addition to this it will read from a base db.dat config
             file on startup, this file contains the database configuration and access information.

      Interface Classes:

             Database Class - communicates with the database server. Must open connection on start up
             and query the configuration and campaign information. IN addition to this it must have
             functions to run queries, and return datasets.

             Connection Class - manages connections to the MTA. It provides port status, as well as
             read / write abilities, it opens the ports and closes the ports. It also detects the type
             of MTA it is connected to (SMTP / PMM).

             SMTP Class - works with Connection class and delivery thread to provide an smtp interface
             for delivery.

             PMM Class - works with connection class and delivery thread to provide an PMTA mail merge
             interface.

             Recipients Class - an interface to provide row by row data to the render thread. In addition,
             to its primary role it provides status of the data... ie done status to the rest of the program.

       Worker Threads:

             Render Thread - based on the status of the email holder class (does the holder class have
             any open containers) the render class pulls the email body, and header information from the
             campaign class, the next recipients database row and renders the final outgoing mailpiece
             and dumps it to the email holder class.

             Delivery Thread - the delivery thread works with the connection class and the email holder. It
             rapidly checks the status of each connection in a round robin type of manner. If the connection
             reports that it is ready it will work with the email holder class and the set protocol interface
             for the port to send each email through to the mta. Once the given message is complete it deletes
             it from the email holder.

*/

import java.lang.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;

public class mpfeeder
{

       public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException
       {
             //THIS IS THE ACTUAL CODE

             /* INITIALIZATION */

             //First initialize the config class

             config sCfg = new config();

             //Now initialize the campaign class
             campaign cmpStorage = new campaign(sCfg);

             //Now initialize email holder class

             emailHolder eHolder = new emailHolder(sCfg);

             //initialize the recipients class

             recipients rcpt = new recipients(sCfg,cmpStorage);

             //finally initialize the connection class

             connections cInt = new connections(sCfg,cmpStorage);

             //set the campaign status

             cmpStorage.setCampaignStatus(0);

             /* END OF INITIALIATION */

             /* START THREADS */

             render rThread = new render(sCfg, cmpStorage, eHolder, rcpt);
             rThread.setPriority(2);
             rThread.start();

             delivery dThread = new delivery(sCfg, eHolder, cInt,cmpStorage);
             dThread.setPriority(2);
             dThread.start();

             statusThread sThread = new statusThread(sCfg,eHolder,cInt, cmpStorage);
             sThread.setPriority(2);
             sThread.start();

             /* END OF THREADS */
        }
}


//Campaign class
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.text.*;

public class campaign
{
   //campaign storage values
   Hashtable campaigns;
   public int campaign = -1;
   config mCfg;
   String[] subjectLines;
   String[] fromLines;
   int sbjCount = 0;
   int frmCount = 0;
   String tablename = "";
   String htmlFooter = "";
   String textFooter = "";

   public campaign(config sCfg)
   {
      //query the database for an active campaign
      mCfg = sCfg;

      database application = new database(sCfg.dbURL(1),sCfg.dbUser(1),sCfg.dbPassword(1));

      //build the maildate

      Date today;
      String mdate;
      SimpleDateFormat formatter;

      formatter = new SimpleDateFormat("Mddyyyy");
      today = new Date();
      mdate = formatter.format(today);

      if (application.executeQuery("select top 1 * from campaigns where maildate <= " + mdate + " and completed = -1 order by id asc") == 1)
      {
            campaigns = application.getNextRow();
      }
      else
      {
            System.out.println("Initialization Error : There are no campaigns to generate.");
      }

      application.closeDBConnection1();
      application.closeDBConnection2();

      String t = (String) campaigns.get("subjectlines");
      subjectLines = t.split("\n");

      t = (String) campaigns.get("fromlines");
      fromLines = t.split("\n");

      application = new database(mCfg.dbURL(1),mCfg.dbUser(1),mCfg.dbPassword(1));

      if (application.executeQuery("select datatablename from lists where id = " + (String) campaigns.get("listid")) > 0)
      {
            tablename = (String) (application.getNextRow()).get("datatablename");
      }
      else
      {
            System.out.println("Initialization Error: Email List does not exist in lists table.");
      }

      application.closeDBConnection1();
      application.closeDBConnection2();

      application = new database(mCfg.dbURL(1),mCfg.dbUser(1),mCfg.dbPassword(1));
      if (application.executeQuery("select * from footers") > 0)
      {
             Hashtable temp = application.getNextRow();

             htmlFooter = (String) temp.get("htmlfooter");
             textFooter = (String) temp.get("textfooter");

       }
       else
       {
            System.out.println("Initialiation Error: No Footers Defined. CAN-SPAM non-compliance issue.");
       }

       application.closeDBConnection1();
       application.closeDBConnection2();

   }

   String getNextSubject()
   {
         String temp = subjectLines[sbjCount];

         ++sbjCount;

         if (sbjCount == subjectLines.length)
         {
               sbjCount = 0;
         }

         return temp;
   }

   String getNextFrom()
   {
         String temp = fromLines[frmCount];

         ++frmCount;

         if (frmCount == fromLines.length)
         {
               frmCount = 0;
            }

            return temp;
   }


   String getValue(String key)
   {
         //return the value for the given key
         return (String) campaigns.get(key);
   }


   void setCampaignStatus(int status)
   {
         //set the campaign status

      database application = new database(mCfg.dbURL(1),mCfg.dbUser(1),mCfg.dbPassword(1));

         if (status == 0)
         {
           application.executeUpdate("update campaigns set status = 'Transport In Progress.', intstatus = 1 where id = " + getValue("id"));
         }
         else if (status == 1)
         {
           application.executeUpdate("update campaigns set completed = 1, status = 'Done.', intstatus = 0 where id = " + getValue("id"));
         }

      application.closeDBConnection1();
      application.closeDBConnection2();

   }

}

//CONFIG Class

import java.lang.*;
import java.util.Hashtable;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import java.util.Enumeration;

public class config {

    Hashtable mCfg;
      int ErrorLevel = 0;
      String[] domains;
      int domainCount = 0;

      String[] mailservers;
      String[] ports;
      int[] maxconnections;

    public config() {
      //mxcfg constructor
      //creates new config hash

            mCfg = new Hashtable();
            if (loadConfig() == false)
                  {
                        ErrorLevel = 1;
                  }

            //First get the list of useable domains
            database application = new database(dbURL(1),dbUser(1),dbPassword(1));

            int rcount = application.executeQuery("select domain from domains");

            if (rcount > 0)
            {
                  domains = new String[rcount];
                  for (int i = 1; i <= rcount; i++)
                  {
                        Hashtable temp = application.getNextRow();

                        domains[i-1] = (String) temp.get("domain");
                  }

                  application.closeDBConnection1();
                  application.closeDBConnection2();
            }
            else
            {
                  System.out.println("Initialization Error: No Domains Defined.");
            }

            //Next get the mtaservers
            application = new database(dbURL(1),dbUser(1),dbPassword(1));

            rcount = application.executeQuery("select mtaserver,port,maxconnections from mtaservers");

            if (rcount > 0)
            {
                  mailservers = new String[rcount];
                  ports = new String[rcount];
                  maxconnections = new int[rcount];

                  for (int i = 1; i <=rcount; i++)
                  {
                        Hashtable temp = application.getNextRow();
                        mailservers[i-1] = (String) temp.get("mtaserver");
                        ports[i-1] = (String) temp.get("port");
                        maxconnections[i-1] = new Integer((String) temp.get("maxconnections")).intValue();
                  }

                  application.closeDBConnection1();
                  application.closeDBConnection2();

            }
            else
            {
                        System.out.println("Initialization Error: No Transports Defined.");
            }
    }

      String getNextDomain()
      {
            String temp = domains[domainCount];

                     ++domainCount;

                     if (domainCount == domains.length)
                     {
                           domainCount = 0;
                     }

         return temp;
      }

    public void addOption(String Key, Object value)
    {
            //Adds a new configuration key & value combination to the
            //mCfg hash
            mCfg.put(Key,value);
      }

      String dbURL(int i)
      {
            // return the database string
            String URL = "";

            URL = "jdbc:microsoft:sqlserver://" + (String) mCfg.get("database" + i) + ":" + (String) mCfg.get("dbport" + i) + ";DatabaseName=" + (String) mCfg.get("datasource"+i);

            return URL;
      }

      String dbUser(int i)
      {
            //return the username for the given connection
            return (String) mCfg.get("dbuser" + i);
      }

      String dbPassword(int i)
      {
                  //return the username for the given connection
                  return (String) mCfg.get("dbpassword" + i);
      }

      public void removeOption(String Key)
      {
            //Removes an option bucket from the hashtable
            mCfg.remove(Key);
      }

      public boolean loadConfig()
      {
            //Loads the configuration file from the config.ini file in the same directory
            int Error = 0; //Error Level Indicator
            //Catch error opening file for reading
            try
            {
                  //First Open mta.ini
                  BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new FileReader("db.dat"));

                  //1-Next read line by line config options
                  String cfgLine = "";
                  while ((cfgLine = in.readLine()) != null)
                        {
                              //2-for each individual line split the string in two utilizing StringTokenizer class on = delimiter
                              StringTokenizer st = new StringTokenizer(cfgLine,"=");
                              String token1 = st.nextToken();
                              String token2 = st.nextToken();

                              addOption(token1,token2);
                        }
                  //4-repeat steps 1 - 4 until EOF
                  in.close();
            }
            catch (IOException e)
            {
                  //if error level status Error = 2;
            }

            if (Error == 0)
             {
                    return true;
              }
             else
              {
                   return false;
              }
      }

      public boolean saveConfig()
      {
            //Dumps the current hash table to a file in [KEY]=VALUE Pairs
            //Catch error opening file for writing
            int Error = 0;
            //Open file mta.ini
            try
            {
                  BufferedWriter out = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter("mta.ini"));
                  //1-Parse hashtable for next key,value combination
                   for (Enumeration keys = mCfg.keys() ; keys.hasMoreElements() ;)
                   {
                         String aKey = keys.nextElement().toString();
                     out.write(aKey+"="+mCfg.get(aKey));
                     out.newLine();
                  }


                  out.close();
            }
            catch(IOException e)
            {
                  ErrorLevel=2;
                  Error = 1;
            }
            if (Error == 0)
            {
                  return true;
            }
            else
            {
                  return false;
            }
      }

      public Object getValue(String KEY)
      {
            //return the value associated with given key
            return mCfg.get(KEY);
      }
}


//Connections Class

import java.util.Hashtable;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import java.util.Enumeration;

public class connections
{
   config dCfg;

   sockConn[] sConnections;

   int socketCount = 0;

   public connections(config sCfg, campaign cmp)
   {
         dCfg = sCfg;
         //System.out.println(dCfg.maxconnections[0] + " " + dCfg.ports[0]);
         sConnections = new sockConn[dCfg.maxconnections[0]];

         for (int i = 0; i<=dCfg.maxconnections[0]-1; i++)
         {
                sConnections[i] = new sockConn(cmp);
                     sConnections[i].connect(dCfg.mailservers[0],dCfg.ports[0]);
                     //System.out.println("Connect Call #" + i);
            }
   }

  int getSocketStatus(int cNum)
   {
         //code = -3 : Not Connected
         //code = -2 : Not Connected but a connection is pending
         //code = -1 : Not Connected but Domains in the queue (reconnect)
         //code = 0  : Connected but no data
         //code = 1  : Connected with Data Present

         return sConnections[cNum].getStatus();
   }

   String readSocket(int cNum)
   {
         return sConnections[cNum].readln();
   }

   void writeSocket(int cNum, String outs)
   {
         sConnections[cNum].writeln(outs);
   }


}


//DATABASE CLASS

import java.lang.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.sql.*;
import java.util.*;

public class database
{

   private Connection con;
   private Statement stmt;
   private ResultSet rs;
   public int Status = 0;
   private ResultSetMetaData rsmd;
   private int numberOfColumns;

   public database(String URL, String Username, String Password)
   {

      //now open the database connection to SQL Server
      String url = URL;

      try {
                  Class.forName("com.microsoft.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerDriver");

            } catch(java.lang.ClassNotFoundException e) {
                  Status = -1;
                  System.err.print("ClassNotFoundException: ");
                  System.err.println(e.getMessage());
            }

      try {
      con = DriverManager.getConnection(url, Username, Password);

      }
      catch(SQLException ex)
      {
            Status = -1;
            System.err.print("SQLException - SQLServer - openConn(): ");
            System.err.println(ex.getMessage());
      }
      //we are now ready to query the database

   }

   int executeQuery(String query)
   {

      int rowCount = 0;

      try
      {
         stmt = con.createStatement(ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, ResultSet.CONCUR_READ_ONLY);
         rs = stmt.executeQuery(query);
         rsmd = rs.getMetaData();
         numberOfColumns = rsmd.getColumnCount();
         rs.last();
         rowCount = rs.getRow();
         rs.first();
      }
      catch(SQLException ex)
      {
            Status = -1;
            System.err.print("SQLException - SQLServer - executeQuery(): ");
            System.err.println(ex.getMessage());
            return -1;
      }

      return rowCount;
   }

   int executeUpdate(String query)
   {
         try
         {
               stmt= con.createStatement();
               stmt.executeUpdate(query);
         }
         catch(SQLException ex)
         {
               Status = -1;
               System.err.print("SQLException - SQLServer - executeQuery(): ");
               System.err.println(ex.getMessage());
               return -1;
         }

         return 1;
   }

   int closeDBConnection1()
   {
   //close the database connection
   try{
      stmt.close();
      }

      catch(SQLException ex)
      {
            Status = -1;
            System.err.print("SQLException - SQLServer - closeDBConnection1(): ");
            System.err.println(ex.getMessage());
            return 0;
      }

      return 1;
   }

int closeDBConnection2()
   {
   //close the database connection
   try{
      con.close();
      }

      catch(SQLException ex)
      {
            Status = -1;
            System.err.print("SQLException - SQLServer - closeDBConnection2(): ");
            System.err.println(ex.getMessage());
            return 0;
      }

      return 1;
   }

Hashtable getNextRow()
{
      Hashtable temp = new Hashtable(50);

      //parse the rs.next() and build the hashtable resultset
      //if there aren't anymore rows then set the status to -1

      //build the hashtable
      try
      {
            for (int i = 1; i <= numberOfColumns; i++)
            {
                  String column = rsmd.getColumnName(i);
                  String data = rs.getString(i);

                  if (data == null)
                    data = "";

                  temp.put(column,data);
            }

            rs.next();
            if (rs.isAfterLast())
            {
                  closeDBConnection1();
                  closeDBConnection2();
                  Status = -1;
            }
      }
      catch(SQLException ex)
      {
            Status = -1;
            System.err.print("SQLException - SQL Server - getNextRow(): ");
            System.err.println(ex.getMessage());
      }
      return temp;
}

}

//DELIVERY THREAD

import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.lang.reflect.*;
import java.util.*;

public class delivery extends Thread{

      config mCfg;
      emailHolder eHolder;
      connections cInt;
      campaign D;
      boolean working = true;

      public delivery(config sCfg, emailHolder eh, connections dInt, campaign C)
      {
            mCfg = sCfg;
            eHolder = eh;
            cInt = dInt;
            D = C;
      }

      public void run()
      {
            int msgCount = 1;
            int failed = 0;
            while (working)
            {
                  //get the next message if -1 and eh.status = -1 then end
                  int mid = eHolder.nextMessage();
                  //System.out.print("Failed: " + failed);
                  if ((mid > -1))
                  {
                        //ok we have a message to work with so
                        //first check the status of sockConn[mid]
                        int sockStatus = cInt.getSocketStatus(mid);
                        //System.out.print("#" + sockStatus + "#");
                        if (sockStatus == -3)
                        {
                              cInt.sConnections[mid].connect(mCfg.mailservers[0],mCfg.ports[0]);
                        }
                        else if (sockStatus == -2)
                        {
                              //try to connect
                              try
                              {
                                    cInt.sConnections[mid].sc.finishConnect();
                              }
                              catch(IOException ie)
                              {
                              }
                        }
                        else if (sockStatus == 0)
                        {
                              int step = cInt.sConnections[mid].where;
                              if (step == 1)
                              {
                                          email temp = eHolder.getMessage(mid);
                                          if (temp != null)
                                          {
                                                //System.out.println(temp.from2);
                                                cInt.writeSocket(mid,"MAIL FROM: " + temp.from2);
                                                cInt.sConnections[mid].where = 2;
                                          }
                              }
                        }
                        else if (sockStatus == 1)
                        {
                              //System.out.println(mid + " Sock Status - Delivery: Connected. Data Present");
                              String inStr = cInt.readSocket(mid);
                              //System.out.print(inStr);
                              //get the message
                              //System.out.println(inStr);
                              int step = cInt.sConnections[mid].where;
                              //System.out.println("STEP: " + step);
                              if (step == 0)
                              {
                                    //The connection is new so lets detect if it is PMTA or not
                                    int mType = inStr.indexOf("PowerMTA");

                                    if (mType > 0)
                                          cInt.sConnections[mid].protocolType = 1;

                                    //based on protocol type respond

                                    cInt.writeSocket(mid,"HELO mpfeeder.mailpro");
                                    cInt.sConnections[mid].where = 1;
                              }
                              else if (step == 1)
                              {
                                    //the machine obviously responded so lets send it a mail from:
                                    if (inStr.indexOf("250")> -1)
                                    {
                                          //Look for the OK status... it was found so lets send the mail from line:
                                          email temp = eHolder.getMessage(mid);
                                          if (temp != null)
                                          {
                                                cInt.writeSocket(mid,"MAIL FROM: " + temp.from2);
                                                cInt.sConnections[mid].where = 2;
                                          }
                                    }
                                    else
                                    {
                                          if (inStr.charAt(1) == '5')
                                          {
                                                //5XX series Error
                                                eHolder.eHolder[mid] = null;
                                                failed++;cInt.writeSocket(mid,"RSET");
                                                cInt.sConnections[mid].where=1;
                                          }
                                          else if (inStr.charAt(0) == '4')
                                          {
                                                //4XX series Error
                                          }
                                    }
                              }
                              else if (step == 2)
                              {
                                    //the machine responded so lets check for OK and sned it a RCPT TO:
                                    if (inStr.indexOf("250")> -1)
                                    {
                                          //look for the OK status.... it was found so send the rcpt to:
                                          email temp = eHolder.getMessage(mid);
                                          cInt.writeSocket(mid,"RCPT TO: <" + temp.to + ">");
                                          cInt.sConnections[mid].where = 3;
                                    }
                                    else
                                    {
                                          if (inStr.charAt(1) == '5')
                                          {
                                                //5XX series Error
                                                eHolder.eHolder[mid] = null;
                                                failed++;
                                                cInt.writeSocket(mid,"RSET");
                                                cInt.sConnections[mid].where=1;
                                          }
                                          else if (inStr.charAt(0) == '4')
                                          {
                                                //4XX series Error
                                          }
                                    }
                              }
                              else if (step == 3)
                              {
                                    //send the data command
                                    if (inStr.indexOf("250")>-1)
                                    {
                                          //look for the OK status.... send the Data command
                                          cInt.writeSocket(mid,"DATA");
                                          cInt.sConnections[mid].where = 4;
                                    }
                                    else
                                    {
                                          if (inStr.charAt(1) == '5')
                                          {
                                                //5XX series Error
                                                eHolder.eHolder[mid] = null;
                                                failed++;
                                                cInt.writeSocket(mid,"RSET");
                                                cInt.sConnections[mid].where=1;
                                          }
                                          else if (inStr.charAt(0) == '4')
                                          {
                                                //4XX series Error
                                          }
                                    }
                              }
                              else if (step == 4)
                              {
                                    //send the email body
                                    if (inStr.indexOf("354") > -1)
                                    {
                                          email temp = eHolder.getMessage(mid);


                                          String emailBody = "X-MPX: " + temp.messageid + "\n";

                                          if(D.getValue("emailtype") == "1")
                                          {
                                                emailBody = emailBody + "MIME-Version: 1.0\nContent-Type: text/html;\n Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\n";
                                          }
                                          else if (D.getValue("emailtype") == "0")
                                          {
                                                //Insert text & html MIME header
                                                emailBody = emailBody + "MIME-Version: 1.0\nContent-Type: multipart/alternative;\n Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\n";
                                          }
                                          emailBody = emailBody + "To: " + temp.to + "\n";
                                          emailBody = emailBody + "From: " + temp.from + "\n";
                                          emailBody = emailBody + "Subject: " + temp.subject + "\n\n";

                                          if(D.getValue("emailtype") == "2")
                                          {
                                          //insert the text body
                                             emailBody = emailBody + temp.textBody + "\n";
                                          }
                                          else if (D.getValue("emailtype") == "1")
                                          {
                                                //insert the html body
                                                String tt = temp.htmlBody.replaceAll("\n","\n\t");
                                             emailBody = emailBody + tt + "\n";
                                          }
                                          else if (D.getValue("emailtype") == "0")
                                          {
                                                //render text and html bodies
                                          }

                                          //System.out.println(emailBody);
                                          cInt.writeSocket(mid,emailBody);
                                          cInt.writeSocket(mid,".");
                                          cInt.sConnections[mid].where = 5;
                                    }
                                    else
                                                                        {
                                                                              if (inStr.charAt(1) == '5')
                                                                              {
                                                                                    //5XX series Error
                                                                                    eHolder.eHolder[mid] = null;
                                                                                    failed++;
                                                                                    cInt.writeSocket(mid,"RSET");
                                                                                    cInt.sConnections[mid].where=1;
                                                                              }
                                                                              else if (inStr.charAt(0) == '4')
                                                                              {
                                                                                    //4XX series Error
                                                                              }
                                    }
                              }
                              else if (step == 5)
                              {
                                    if (inStr.indexOf("250") > -1)
                                    {
                                          //System.out.println(msgCount + " Message(s) Sent!");
                                          eHolder.numSent++;
                                          //delete the message from eHolder
                                          //set where = 1 to recycle the connection
                                          eHolder.eHolder[mid] = null;

                                          cInt.sConnections[mid].where = 1;
                                    }
                                    else
                                                                        {
                                                                              if (inStr.charAt(1) == '5')
                                                                              {
                                                                                    //5XX series Error
                                                                                    eHolder.eHolder[mid] = null;
                                                                                    failed++;
                                                                                    cInt.writeSocket(mid,"RSET");
                                                                                    cInt.sConnections[mid].where=1;
                                                                              }
                                                                              else if (inStr.charAt(0) == '4')
                                                                              {
                                                                                    //4XX series Error
                                                                              }
                                    }
                              }

                        }
                        //process
                         //code = -3 : Not Connected
                         //code = -2 : Not Connected but a connection is pending
                         //code = 0  : Connected but no data
                            //code = 1  : Connected with Data Present
                  }
                  else
                  {
                        //System.out.println("MID = -1");
                        if (eHolder.Status == -1)
                        {
                              working = false;
                              //System.out.println("Delivery Thread Complete.");
                              D.setCampaignStatus(1);
                        }
                  }
            }
      }
}

//EMAIL Class

public class email
{
   //campaign storage values
   public String from = "";
   public String from2 = "";
   public String to = "";
   public String subject = "";
   public String htmlBody = "";
   public String textBody = "";
   public String messageid = "";
   public int status = -1;
   public int where = 0;

   public email(String t,String frm, String frm2, String sbj, String hBody, String tBody, String mid)
   {
      try
      {
      from = frm;
      from2 = frm2;
      to = t;
      subject = sbj;
      htmlBody = hBody;
      textBody = tBody;
      messageid = mid;
      status = 0;
      }
      catch (Exception e)
      {
            System.out.println("EXCEPTION SETTING EMAIL HOLDER!");
      }
   }

}

//EMAIL HOLDER

import java.util.Hashtable;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import java.util.Enumeration;

public class emailHolder
{
   //campaign storage values
   email[] eHolder;

   int Status = 0;
   int maxMessages = 0;
   int messageCount = 0;
   int numSent = 0;

   public emailHolder(config sCfg)
   {

      //calculate mail queue
      int temp = 0;

      for (int i=0; i < sCfg.maxconnections.length; i++)
      {
            temp = temp + sCfg.maxconnections[i];
    }

    maxMessages = temp;

    eHolder = new email[maxMessages];

   }

   email getMessage(int mNum)
   {
         //return the value for the given key
         return eHolder[mNum];
   }

   int findEmptySlot()
   {
         //searches the email queue to find an empty slot
         //and returns the index if found or -1 if not found
         int temp = -1;

         for (int i = 0; i < eHolder.length; i++)
         {
               if(eHolder[i] == null)
               {
                     temp = i;
               }
            }

            return temp;
   }


   int putMessage(int id,String to, String from,String from2, String Subject, String HTMLBody, String TextBody, String mid)
   {
         //puts a message
         eHolder[id] = new email(to,from,from2, Subject,HTMLBody, TextBody,mid);
         return 0;
   }

   int nextMessage()
   {
         // Get and return the next message id. This occurs in a round robin succession.
         //If the email holder is null, return the next value... if all email holders
         //are null return -1.
         int temp = -1;
         if (checkStatus() == 0)
         {
               temp = messageCount;


               ++messageCount;

               if (messageCount == eHolder.length)
               {
                     messageCount = 0;
               }
         }
         return temp;
      }

      int checkStatus()
      {
            //Check to see if the render thread is done....
            //if it is then check to see if all the messages in the holder are null
            int done = 1;
            if (Status == -1)
            {
                  for (int i = 0; i < eHolder.length; i++)
                  {
                        if (eHolder[i] != null)
                             done = 0;
                  }
            }
            else
            {
                  done = 0;
            }
            return done;
      }
}

//RECIPIENTS Class
import java.util.Hashtable;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import java.util.Enumeration;

public class recipients
{
   //campaign storage values
   config dCfg;
   public int Status = 0;
   database listdata;

   public recipients(config sCfg, campaign cmp)
   {
      dCfg = sCfg;

      //execute database queries

      //get the datatable name
      database application = new database(sCfg.dbURL(1),sCfg.dbUser(1),sCfg.dbPassword(1));

      String datatablename = "";

      if (application.executeQuery("select datatablename from lists where id = " + cmp.getValue("listid"))>0)
      {
            Hashtable temp = application.getNextRow();
            datatablename = (String) temp.get("datatablename");
      }
      else
      {
            System.out.println("Initialization Error. Campaign Data Not Found!");
      }
      //store recipient list in result set
      application.closeDBConnection1();
      application.closeDBConnection2();

      //now connect to the recipient data
      listdata = new database(sCfg.dbURL(2),sCfg.dbUser(2),sCfg.dbPassword(2));

      int t = listdata.executeQuery("select top " + cmp.getValue("numsend") + " * from " + datatablename + " where id > " + cmp.getValue("startid"));

      if (t==0)
      {
            Status = -1;
            System.out.println("Initialization Error. Query Returned No Records!");
      }

   }

   Hashtable nextRecipient()
   {
         //return the value for the given key
         if (listdata.Status == 0)
               return listdata.getNextRow();
         else
         {
            setStatus(-1);
            return null;
      }
   }


   int setStatus(int status)
   {
         //set the recipient status
         Status = status;
         return 0;
   }


}

//REMINDER Class

import java.util.Timer;
import java.util.TimerTask;

/**
 * Simple demo that uses java.util.Timer to schedule a task to execute
 * once 5 seconds have passed.
 */

public class reminder {
    Timer timer;

    public reminder(int seconds) {
        timer = new Timer();
        timer.schedule(new RemindTask(),0, seconds*1000);
    }

    class RemindTask extends TimerTask {
        public void run() {
            System.out.println("Time's up!");
            //timer.cancel(); //Terminate the timer thread
        }
    }

    public static void main(String args[]) {
        System.out.println("About to schedule task.");
        new reminder(5);
        System.out.println("Task scheduled.");
    }
}

//render thread
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.lang.reflect.*;
import java.util.*;

public class render extends Thread{

      config mCfg;
      campaign cmpData;
      emailHolder eHolder;
      recipients rcpt;
      boolean working = true;

      public render(config sCfg, campaign cData, emailHolder eh, recipients rcp)
      {
            mCfg = sCfg;
            cmpData = cData;
            eHolder = eh;
            rcpt = rcp;
      }

      public void run()
      {
            //render the emails
            boolean personalized = (new Integer(cmpData.getValue("personalized")).intValue() == 1);
            int emailtype = new Integer(cmpData.getValue("emailtype")).intValue();
            int counter = 0;

            while (working)
            {
                  int freeslot = eHolder.findEmptySlot();
                  if ((rcpt.Status == 0) && (freeslot > -1))
                  {
                              //there is a free slot so render an email
                              counter++;
                              //System.out.println(counter + " - New Render");
                              Hashtable row = rcpt.nextRecipient();

                              if (row != null)
                              {
                                    try
                                    {
                                    //next get / set the subjectline
                                    String subject = cmpData.getNextSubject();

                                    //generate the messageid
                                    String messageid = cmpData.getValue("id") + "-" + (String) row.get("id") + "-1-"+ cmpData.getValue("listid")+"-223mpx";

                                    String curDomain = mCfg.getNextDomain();
                                    //System.out.println(curDomain);

                                    //next get / set the fromline
                                    String from = '"' + cmpData.getNextFrom() + '"' + " <" + messageid + "@" + curDomain+">";

                                    String from2 = "<" + messageid + "@" + curDomain + ">";

                                    String to = (String) row.get("email");
                                    String htmlBody = cmpData.getValue("htmlbody");

                                    String textBody = cmpData.getValue("textBody");

                                    String htmlFooter = cmpData.htmlFooter;

                                    String textFooter = cmpData.textFooter;

                                    //render the htmlbody if so required
                                          if ((emailtype == 1) || (emailtype == 3))
                                          {
                                                //render the HTML body
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@open@","http://" + curDomain + "/o.cfm?"+messageid);
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@href@","http://" + curDomain + "/c.cfm?"+messageid);
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@unsubscribe@","http://" + curDomain + "/u.cfm?" + messageid);
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@firstname@",(String) row.get("first"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@lastname@",(String) row.get("last"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@address@",(String) row.get("address"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@city@",(String) row.get("city"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@state@",(String) row.get("state"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@zip@",(String) row.get("zip"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@email@",(String) row.get("email"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@datestamp@",(String) row.get("datestamp"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@ip@",(String) row.get("ip"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@site@",(String) row.get("site"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@id@",(String) row.get("id"));
                                                htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("@messageid@",messageid);

                                           }

                                           if ((emailtype == 2) || (emailtype ==3))
                                           {
                                                //render the TEXT body
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@href@","http://" + curDomain + ".c.cfm?"+messageid);
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@unsubscribe@","http://"+curDomain+"/u.cfm?"+messageid);
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@firstname@",(String) row.get("first"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@lastname@",(String) row.get("last"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@address@",(String) row.get("address"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@city@",(String) row.get("city"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@state@",(String) row.get("state"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@zip@",(String) row.get("zip"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@email@",(String) row.get("email"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@datestamp@",(String) row.get("datestamp"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@ip@",(String) row.get("ip"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@site@",(String) row.get("site"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@id@",(String) row.get("id"));
                                                textBody = textBody.replaceAll("@messageid@",messageid);
                                          }

                                    //now render the footers
                                    if ((emailtype == 1) || (emailtype == 3))
                                    {
                                          //render the HTML body
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@unsubscribe@","http://" + curDomain + "/u.cfm?" + messageid);
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@firstname@",(String) row.get("first"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@lastname@",(String) row.get("last"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@address@",(String) row.get("address"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@city@",(String) row.get("city"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@state@",(String) row.get("state"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@zip@",(String) row.get("zip"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@email@",(String) row.get("email"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@datestamp@",(String) row.get("datestamp"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@ip@",(String) row.get("ip"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@site@",(String) row.get("site"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@id@",(String) row.get("id"));
                                          htmlFooter = htmlFooter.replaceAll("@messageid@",messageid);
                                    }

                                    if ((emailtype == 2) || (emailtype ==3))
                                    {
                                          //render the TEXT body
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@unsubscribe@","http://"+curDomain+"/u.cfm?"+messageid);
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@firstname@",(String) row.get("first"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@lastname@",(String) row.get("last"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@address@",(String) row.get("address"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@city@",(String) row.get("city"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@state@",(String) row.get("state"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@zip@",(String) row.get("zip"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@email@",(String) row.get("email"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@datestamp@",(String) row.get("datestamp"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@ip@",(String) row.get("ip"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@site@",(String) row.get("site"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@id@",(String) row.get("id"));
                                          textFooter = textFooter.replaceAll("@messageid@",messageid);
                                    }

                                    //Render the subject line
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@firstname@",(String) row.get("first"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@lastname@",(String) row.get("last"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@address@",(String) row.get("address"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@city@",(String) row.get("city"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@state@",(String) row.get("state"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@zip@",(String) row.get("zip"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@email@",(String) row.get("email"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@datestamp@",(String) row.get("datestamp"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@ip@",(String) row.get("ip"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@site@",(String) row.get("site"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@id@",(String) row.get("id"));
                                          subject = subject.replaceAll("@messageid@",messageid);

                                    //now render CAN-SPAM Compliance
                                    htmlBody = htmlBody.replaceAll("</body>",htmlFooter + "</body>");

                                    textBody = textBody + "\n\n" + textFooter;


                                    eHolder.putMessage(freeslot,to,from,from2,subject,htmlBody,textBody,messageid);

                                    //System.out.println("Rendered: " + counter);
                                    }
                                    catch (Exception e)
                                    {
                                    }
                              }
                              else
                              {
                                    working = false;
                                    //System.out.println("Render Thread is Done!");
                                    eHolder.Status = -1;
                                    cmpData.setCampaignStatus(1);
                              }
                  }
            }
      }
}


//Sock Conn Class
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.nio.*;
import java.nio.channels.*;

public class sockConn {

      //In this version I am incorporating non-blocking connection requests, as well as I/O functions.
      //The previous version was limited while the delivery thread was waiting to establish a connection on a slow or non-existant domain.

      //NIO Related Variables
      SocketChannel sc;
      ByteBuffer in = null;
      ByteBuffer out = null;
      int where = 0;
      int protocolType = 0; //0 = SMTP 1= PMM
      public sockConn(campaign cmp)
      {
            //oSock constructor
            //Socket Channel NIO Setup
            //Calculate Output Buffer Size
            String temp = cmp.getValue("htmlbody");
            int outbuff = temp.length();
            temp = cmp.getValue("textbody");
            outbuff = outbuff + temp.length();
            int adjBuff = outbuff/5;

            in = ByteBuffer.allocate(1024);
            out = ByteBuffer.allocate((outbuff + adjBuff)*2);
            try
            {
                  sc = SocketChannel.open();
                  sc.configureBlocking(false); //Set the channel to non-blocking mode
            }
            catch(IOException ie)
            {
                  System.out.println("CONNECTION ERROR: Unable to open socket channel.");
            }
      }

      boolean isConnected()
      {
            //determines if the socket channel is connected
            return sc.isConnected();
      }

      int getStatus()
      {
            //gets the current status of the socketchannel
            int retVal = -3; // By default the socket is NOT connected
                        //first see if we are connected
            if (sc.isConnected())
            {
                  // ok we are connected lets see if this message is the one currently on top of this sockets queue
                        //connection is there so is there data to read?
                        if (dataIn())
                        {
                              //we have checked to see if there is data
                        //and there is so return data present
                              retVal = 1;
                        }
                        else
                        {
                              //there isnt data present we are just connected
                              retVal = 0;
                        }
            }
            else
            {
                  //no connection present but is there emails in the queue?
                  if (sc.isConnectionPending()) // or is a connection pending?
                  {
                        retVal = -2;
                  }
            }

            //code = -3 : Not Connected
            //code = -2 : Not Connected but a connection is pending
            //code = -1 : Not Connected but Domains in the queue (reconnect)
            //code = 0  : Connected but no data
            //code = 1  : Connected with Data Present
            //code = 2  : Connected but this message isnt next in the queue
            return retVal;
      }

boolean dataIn()
      {
            //refreshes the input buffer and returns true if there is new data to be utilized
            //first refresh the buffer
            boolean retVal = false;
            try
            {
             if (sc.read(in) > 0)
             {
                   retVal = true;
                   in.flip();
                   }
            }
            catch (IOException ie)
            {
                  System.out.println("CONNECTION ERROR: Unable to read from socket.");
                  System.out.println(ie.getMessage());
            }
            //flip the buffer
            return retVal;
      }

      String readln()
      {
                  //function to read the next "line" of data from the connection
                  //should only be called after a call to the dataIn function

                  //get the size of the buffer
                  int length = in.remaining();
                  //set up a holding array for the data
                  byte[] workStr = new byte[1024];
                  //get the data from the buffer
                  in.get(workStr,0,length);
                  String retVal = new String(workStr,0,length);
                  in.clear();
                  return retVal;
      }

      void writeln(String outStr)
      {
            outStr = outStr + "\r\n";
            out.put(outStr.getBytes());
            out.flip();
            int offset = 0;
            try
            {
                  while (offset < outStr.length())
                  {
                        offset += sc.write(out);
                  }
            }
            catch (IOException ie)
            {
                  System.out.println("CONNECTION ERROR: Unable to write to socket");
            }
            out.clear();
      }

      boolean connect(String connTo, String port)
      {
            boolean retVal = false;
            try
            {
                  retVal = sc.connect(new InetSocketAddress(connTo,new Integer(port).intValue()));
            }
            catch(IOException ie)
            {
                  System.out.println("CONNECTION ERROR: Unable to connect to address.");
            }
            catch(UnresolvedAddressException uae)
            {
                  System.out.println("CONNECTION ERROR: Unable to resolve address.");
            }
            where = 0;
            return retVal;
      }

      boolean finishConnect()
      {
            boolean retVal = false;
            try
            {
                  retVal = sc.finishConnect();
            }
            catch(IOException ie)
            {
                  System.out.println("CONNECTION ERROR: Unable to complete connection.");
            }
            return retVal;
      }

      void close()
      {
            try
            {
                  sc.close();
            }
            catch(IOException ie)
            {
                  System.out.println("CONNECTION ERROR: Unable to close connection");
            }
      }


      void recycle()
      {
      }


}

//statusThread class
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.lang.reflect.*;
import java.util.*;

public class statusThread extends Thread{

      config mCfg;
      emailHolder eHolder;
      connections cInt;
      campaign D;
      boolean working = true;

      public statusThread(config sCfg, emailHolder eh, connections dInt, campaign C)
      {
            mCfg = sCfg;
            eHolder = eh;
            cInt = dInt;
            D = C;
      }

      public void run()
      {
            int minutes = 0;
            int lastMessages = 0;
            while (working)
            {
                  //wait 60 seconds
                  try
                  {
                        sleep(60000);
                  }
                  catch(InterruptedException ie)
                  {
                  }
                  //collect the data
                  minutes++;

                  int msgLastMinute = eHolder.numSent - lastMessages;

                  lastMessages = eHolder.numSent;

                  //calculate percent complete
                  float completed = (eHolder.numSent / new Integer((String) D.getValue("numsend")).intValue())*100;

                  //submit the data to the database
                  database application = new database(mCfg.dbURL(1),mCfg.dbUser(1),mCfg.dbPassword(1));

                     application.executeUpdate("update campaigns set minutes = " + minutes + ", lastminute = " + msgLastMinute + ", numsent = " + eHolder.numSent + " where id = " + D.getValue("id"));

                  application.closeDBConnection1();
                  application.closeDBConnection2();
                  //check to see if this should continue

                  System.out.println(minutes + "mins   Last Minute: " + msgLastMinute + "   Num Sent: " + eHolder.numSent + "  "  + completed + "%");
                  if (eHolder.Status == -1)
                  {
                        working = false;
                  }
            }
      }
}

> As you can see I am looping until the write is complete.

So effectively you are defeating the purpose of nio, and are blocking until write is complete.

for larger sized emails yes... smaller size emails have no problem whatsoever... thats why i am so adamant about the buffersize.

Cheers,
Rick

According to that logic anyone using nio would need increase their buffer size to a value greater than the maximum amount of data that could be sent to it.

objects,
I'm not trying to defeat nio, i am simply trying to work around an inherent flaw in the program design. I'm aware of this problem, I just do not want to commit to a major rewrite of the sending side of the software.... I'm paid as a freelancer, and have already run over time alottment on this process as I initially started with coldfusion as the solution. Now I have merged the two, so that coldfusion populates the tables that this app uses.

Cheers,
Rick

The output buffer size may be a factor related to the problem you're experiencing without being the reason for it. Personally i would perform an experiment: write a *single-threaded* test harness that writes a 'bad-sized' amount of data to the output stream, reproducing the current code as closely as possible and let us know what happens.

btw, are you able to post links to code?

CEHJ,
Ill do that and see what happens. Yes I can post links to code. I will do that from now on, as opposed to pasting code directly into the forum.

Cheers,
Rick

>>I will do that from now on, as opposed to pasting code directly into the forum.

Good idea. If you can post a link to the above, i'll get it deleted from this thread

Link for the code: http://www.s-infotech.com/bcode/mpfeeder.zip.

Cheers,
Rick

Ah - preferably as a normal link to make it easier

CEHJ,
Please define as a normal link for me... the link above looks pretty normal to me. ;-)



Cheers,
Rick

One that's readable when you click it ;-)