PPC 2003 web service proxy settings

[davebythesea]

Hi,

I have built an app in PPC 2003. It uses a web service to transfer data to
and forth. Sometimes the device is cradled via active sync and I can access
the web service via a proxy server. At other times I use the web service over
GPRS and no proxy settings are required to use the web service.

My question is - how can I determine when I should use the Proxy settings or
not?

Is there a way to determine if a device is using GPRS and to ignore the
Proxy settings?

Further, if a device is cradled at a different location which requires
different proxy settings how can these be past to the web service
automatically?

The first time I launch Internet Explorer from the PDA when it is cradled it
automatically asks for Proxy Settings. Are these cached locally on a device
somewhere ?

thanks for any tips

David

 

[Simon Hart [MVP]]

The easiest solution is to check if you are connected via ActiveSync, on PPC
2003 you can try to resolve ppp_peer. If this succeeds then you're connected,
otherwise assume GPRS, in this case use connection manager or try to ping a
known server.

There is no way of assuming whether a proxy server is required or not, this
is business level design - at least, that I know of.

Don't understand what you mean by this comment:

Further, if a device is cradled at a different location which requires
different proxy settings how can these be past to the web service
automatically?

The only way this can be done "automagically" is to add proxy settings to
the connection profile so when connection manager connects it uses these
proxy settings, so maybe a separate connection profile would be needed for
site X... you can set these proxy settings using the CSP (configuration
server providers).

 

[davebythesea]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I agree it is impossible to determine the Proxy
settings for other networks and use these magically within the app. Like you
say it is a business level design if other Proxy settings are to be used and
included. Right now I have included the ability to use one proxy and to turn
it on or off. The main reason is that where the app is being developed uses a
Proxy server and I've had to configure the app for this. But is likely that
the app will not use a Proxy server when in use, but not guaranteed I guess?
And if they use the app in locations that require different proxy's well...!!
One proxy, with the ability to turn on or off, I will stick with that for the
moment.

Cheers!
Dav