topic Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Questions

WAB blocking processes and not starting

RichardHughes — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 20:55:58 GMT

I've installed the latest version of WAB onto windows 7 and have node version 4.2.2LTS installed on the system. I am able to run MongoDB, grunt, and dojo build all on Node without issues. When I install WAB it initially boots up quickly. Eventually when I startup the server.js file either using command line or with the startup.bat, the WAB startup seems to block all processes on my pc and the browser freezes. The NT Kernal is getting jammed. The program does not load. When I close the Command Prompt and kill the WAB server, the pc immediately jumps back into action.

Has anyone else experienced this behavior with node.js or the WAB? Is this an issue with running on Windows?

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 21:08:34 GMT

Richard,

No it is not an issue with running on windows as I and many other are doing that successfully. Does your computer freeze before it opens a browser window to display the WAB app in?

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RichardHughes — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 21:32:44 GMT

Yes, the default Chrome browser is not opened by the WAB startup. In the command prompt things stop right after the "...Repository Items Refreshed...". I just attempted the startup.bat and I was unable to type in this text box until the command prompt was closed.

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 21:41:04 GMT

Richard,

Try deleting the whole WAB directory folder and downloading it again. It sounds like you got a corrupted download.

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RichardHughes — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 21:54:21 GMT

Right out of the gate with a fresh download and the WAB opens up the default Chrome browser as expected.

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 22:09:39 GMT

Richard,

Glad it is working now.

Don't forget to mark this thread as answered. To do this you have to open the thread (you can not see the correct answer link from inside your inbox) and then you will see the green star with correct answer link. Just click that link on the thread that answered your question.

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 23:19:05 GMT

If after a reboot it does the same thing, I'll add my process to the discussion.

After a clean reboot, the first time I use the startup.bat, it opens the node window but the WAB window never opens the browser window (Firefox by default for me). I just close the node window, then double-click the startup.bay again and all starts as it should. I can open/close as much as needed with the startup. After a reboot, it will take the open-close-open again.

So, if you have issues again, try this before a re download/install.

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RichardHughes — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 12:54:43 GMT

This morning I booted up my pc and opened the startup bat only to have WAB freeze just after the ',,,Repository Items Refreshed,,,'. Closing the WAB command prompt and reopening did allow a new web page to open but the loading screen is taking forever.... Going to reboot the machine.

Have you been able to configure good logging for WAB and the node server? I am a python and javascripter but my knowledge of Node does not include how to troubleshoot Node.

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:48:25 GMT

Richard,

WAB has logging enabled by default the logs are stored in the [install dir]\server\logs\appbuilder.log

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 14:16:50 GMT

Richard, just FYI, when I open WAB the second time it is fast with the load, but I do not have many apps built yet. Edit: but it does need to load any/all custom widgets first.

can you try making a current version of FireFox the default temporarily to see if you have the same sluggish start up?

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RichardHughes — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 13:48:20 GMT

These are the log entries for this morning after I used the startup.bat file three times. The browser window opens but the WAB freezes. Could a code exception cause this without throwing an error?

[2015-11-11 08:52:37.245] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\widgets

[2015-11-11 08:52:39.556] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\themes

[2015-11-11 08:53:37.717] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\widgets

[2015-11-11 08:53:38.887] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\themes

[2015-11-11 08:55:07.855] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\widgets

[2015-11-11 08:55:09.036] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\themes

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RichardHughes — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 14:04:43 GMT

I set Firefox as the default browser and my log file is below. The loading page loads for WAB but each javascript file is taking several seconds to load. It would take minutes for all of them to load.

[2015-11-11 08:59:37.461] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\widgets

[2015-11-11 08:59:38.833] [INFO] repo - Read repository items: C:\CODE\arcgis-web-appbuilder-1.2\client\stemapp\themes

[2015-11-11 09:00:03.382] [INFO] server - No portal URL is set, redirect /webappbuilder to /webappbuilder?action=setportalurl

[2015-11-11 09:00:33.346] [INFO] server - Set isXT = true;

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 14:54:45 GMT

Richard,

Based on your log you have a couple of custom widgets in your widget folder. Try try removing all custom widgets and try again with a 100% vanilla WAB install. Once you get your portal url set and WAB running then you can add custom widgets.

Re: WAB blocking processes and not starting

AhjungKim4 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:49:44 GMT

I had the same issue; none of the WAB 1.x versions would open internet browser, and it also slowed down all other processes. I fixed the issue by adding the node.js file shipped with the WAB as allowed program through Windows Firewall.

Windows Firewall
Allow a program through Windows Firewall
Allow another program
Browse to your extracted WAB folder > server > node_for your system.js.