SELECT.SOCKET()

The SELECT.SOCKET() function monitors multiple sockets for events.

Format

SELECT.SOCKET(skt.array, timeout)

where

skt.array

is a dimensioned array of socket variables. Any element that is not a reference to an open socket is ignored.

timeout

is the time to wait in milliseconds before returning to the program if no events occur. A value of zero causes an immediate return. A negative value waits indefinitely.

The SELECT.SOCKET() enables a developer to write a program that can serve multiple socket connections, pausing execution until an event occurs on any socket.

Use the SKT$INFO.EVENTS key to the SET.SOCKET.MODE() function to set the events to be monitored (read, write, exception) on each socket in the array. Then use SELECT.SOCKET() to wait for an event to occur.

If an event is detected, the function returns a dynamic array with a field to correspond to each element in skt.array. The content of each field is a combination of uppercase letters R for a read event, W for a write event and E for an exception event. Only events that have been selected for monitoring will appear. Fields for which no event has occurred or where the corresponding element of skt.array is not a socket variable will be blank. Alternatively, the SOCKET.INFO() function can be used with key value SKT$INFO.EVENTS against each element of skt.array to check for the socket status.

If the function returns as a result of a timeout or an error, the returned value is a null string and the STATUS() function can be used to determine the cause. A timeout will return ER$TIMEOUT. All other values are errors.

The events that can be monitored are

SKT$READ.EVENT

Notify availability of a new connection on a server socket

Notify availability of data that can be read with READ.SOCKET()

Notify closure of connection

SKT$WRITE.EVENT

Notify when data can be sent with WRITE.SOCKET()

SKT$EXCEPTION.EVENT

Notify exceptions

Example

The example below shows the general principles of using socket event notification, monitoring multiple incoming connections on port 9000. A real program would need to include additional error handling.

$include keys.h

dim skt(10)

skt(1) = create.server.socket('', 9000, 0)

if status() then stop 'Cannot initialise server socket'

if not(set.socket.mode(skt(1), SKT$INFO.EVENTS, SKT$READ.EVENT)) then

stop 'Error from set.socket.mode()'

end

loop

events = select.socket(skt, 5000)

for i = 1 to 10

if events<i> then ;* Must be a read event

if i = 1 then ;* New connection

* Find an unused table entry

for j = 2 to 10

if not(socket.info(skt(j), SKT$INFO.OPEN)) then

skt(j) = accept.socket.connection(skt(1), 0)

if not(set.socket.mode(skt(j), SKT$INFO.EVENTS, SKT$READ.EVENT)) then

stop 'Error from set.socket.mode()'

end

exit

end

next j

end else

str = read.socket(skt(i), 1000, 0, 0)

if status() then ;* Socket closed

skt(i) = 0

end else

...process input...

end

next i

repeat