topic Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Questions

Refreshing Web Appbuilder

StanMcShinsky — Wed, 06 May 2015 22:43:09 GMT

What is the best way to update web app builder for the end user? When I put out a new version of WAB I don't want to have the end user clear their cache (most don't know how or will forget). Is there a snipit of code to place in the html file or something that will tell the browser to get the latest version?

-Stan

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

LarryStout — Thu, 07 May 2015 02:43:02 GMT

Stan,

I fought this battle with Flex and lost, The only way is to change the name of the file or change the path. I'm guessing there is a way to organize this into a reasonable workflow, but I haven't taken the trouble to set one up.

Larry

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

StanMcShinsky — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 06:23:21 GMT

I am not sure if this is the best solution but I did modify the last few lines of the index.html file to tell the browser to grab the updated files. I have not fully tested this yet. Here is what I did.

<script src="env.js?ver=1.1"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="simpleLoader.js?ver=1.1"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="init.js?ver=1.1"></script>

If anyone has a better idea let me know.

-Stan

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

StanMcShinsky — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:51:53 GMT

I have had limited success with the above changes. I am not sure if those changes are really working or not but it looks like it depends on what files I am changing. I will still look into this more as time permits.

-Stan

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

Anonymous User — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 19:29:01 GMT

Stan,

Can you have users set the "Delete History on Close" setting, which is in IE and Chrome and probably FF? Sometimes it seems not clear it and needs manual refreshing but usually it works, and so we have them use this.

Also I find this link highly valuable.. instead of having to walk users through cache clearing over the phone or something every time, just give them this link Refreshyourcache.com - The Guide to Clear your Browser Cache! We put it right on our front page with a note saying to try this if you experience site problems (as we are frequently updating the site code still) This site is just plain awesome!!! And I checked it on the waybackmachine, it's legit, it's been around for a decade or so. I know the domain name sounds like a One Weird Old Trick ad but it's a fantastic site.

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

StanMcShinsky — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 20:42:12 GMT

Kevin,

I do like that idea for users to click on that link to clear the cache, but I want to force it on them when I make a change or upgrade and not have to rely on them to clear a cache. Most of my users would not understand the concept of clearing a cache.

-Stan

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

Drew — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:46:56 GMT

I am having the same issues. My apps are getting cached for the users and in order for them to get a different version I create a redirect from the root folder to a new folder..

I have tried modifying the index page and it did not help as I expected. I also added the necessary meta tags in the index page with no result...

I think ESRI should have an option to use the dojo preventCache parameter in all the widget file requests.

If anyone knows of a way to force the app to do this I would be interested in seeing the implementation.

As of now I am digging around the the WidgetManager.js file to see if I can append my own unique ID onto the end of each URL request. Its a little dirty as I would prefer to not modify the core code of the WAB.

Drew

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

FlorianCADOZ — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:09:22 GMT

Hi Stan and all the others ! So for now there is no solution for this cache issue ?

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

Drew — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:44:38 GMT

I was able to fix this by modifying the jimu.js/WidgetManager.js file.

Basically it just appends a random number at the end of the widget file when downloaded. (see attached file and instructions below)

Attached is my "jimu.js/WidgetManager.js" file for version 1.2

How to implement

Ensure you are using WebAppBuilder version 1.2
BACK UP YOUR jimu.js/WidgetManager.js file
Overwrite your file with the attached WidgetManager.js
Open the file and change the variable "myHostName" to the site your app is published on (i.e. my-web-map.com).
Publish and test..

You will see if firebug that a parameter is appended to the "Widget.js" file when downloaded.

Sample:

Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions.

Drew

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

FlorianCADOZ — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:30:09 GMT

Hi Andrew and the others !

For Andrew, it is the jimu.js/WidgetManager.js file placed in the Web AppBuilder or the one who's in the generated application ?

For the others, does someelse tested this trick ? No strange behavrior once the modify is done ?

Thank you in advance for your answers !

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

Drew — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:34:11 GMT

Hello Florian,

If you wish to test it just add it on an application by application basis.

If you find it works as you expect you can add it to the "stemapp" and it should get copied over for every application you create.

Generally speaking, it just appends a date onto the HTTP Request URL to trick the browser into thinking it's a new file.

If you know how to use your browser debugger you can preview it live in our map.

Andrew

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

FlorianCADOZ — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 15:52:22 GMT

Yes, I tried it and it worked well (Speaking of that, thank you for this trick!), but I would like to understand two things :

- First, if you concate the filename with the date, does it mean that your file don't gonna be updated two time in the same day ?

- Second, do you know/imagine the limits/risks of this manipulation ? Why it doesn't work with the WAB 1.3 ?

Thank you

Florian

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

Drew — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:03:50 GMT

Florian,

To answer your questions...

If you concate the filename with the date, does it mean that your file don't gonna be updated two time in the same day ?
- The date is down to the second, so it should be a unique number every time you reload the page (on the server defined (myHostName), therefore a unique URL too. There is one exception; the date is down to the "day" only if the app is loaded your development box (this is why myHostName has to be defined)

Do you know/imagine the limits/risks of this manipulation ? Why it doesn't work with the WAB 1.3
- I don't see any limitations to this. I have not tested it on 1.3 yet and ESRI could have changed their WindgetManager.js file in that version.
- If i have time I will try and get 1.3 and modify the file to work the same - then post it here.

Hope that helps answer your questions.

Andrew

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

FlorianCADOZ — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:21:20 GMT

Andrew,

Yeah I understand the timestamp format that allow us to generate an unique ID but by my side it make something like this :

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

Drew — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:28:27 GMT

Yes that is correct when the site is loaded on a domain that is NOT the one defined in the myHostName variable.

I had to do this because I was not able to debug files in the browser if the file name was changing every time I reloaded the app.

If the site is running on the host name defined in myHostName it should look similar to the image I posted originally.

Hope that makes sense.

Andrew

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

FlorianCADOZ — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:51:18 GMT

Oh sorry ! I just understood my mistake ! I didn't take care that it was the domain and not the complete URL !

Thank you very much for your help !

Re: Refreshing Web Appbuilder

Drew — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:27:17 GMT

Ya, that part makes it a little confusing but its needed to be able to debug in chrome or else chrome thinks it's a new file each time and all your break points no longer load.

If I do another version make I can make it automatic where I look for port :3344 to detect if its dev or not. we will see

Glad it's working well for you.

Andrew