AutoRefresh Tool

AutoRefresh was created to help web developers refresh their web pages every time one of their project files gets updated, making editing faster and easier.

AutoRefresh is an http server written in python that hosts a dynamic js file, as well as a comet-style persistent connection meant for an iframe. The server also monitors a directory and when changes to files occur, AutoRefresh tells the browser to reload.

ChangeLog

• 0.53 - Added a wait option to let http servers restart before refreshing page
• 0.52 - First public release

Installation

You can download the latest version here: Download Link

To Install type: # easy_install AutoRefresh-0.53.tar.gz

Basic Usage

To setup AutoRefresh, you need to:

1. Add a script tag to the html file you are editing. By default, AutoRefresh uses localhost and port 9000, but this is can be changed as a parameter to the startup script. Here's an example of the script tag you should put in your html file:
   <script src="http://localhost:9000/load_comet.js"></script>

2. Start AutoRefresh in the terminal.
   $ start_autorefresh.py /proj/folders
   You can change the following parameters with command line options:

   • -port=<port number> --- The port to use
   • -host=<hostname> --- The IP Address or host to use
   • -wait=<time in seconds> --- Time to wait before sending a page refresh

3. Open up your browser(s) to the page you are editing. If all goes well, change a file within your project and save it. You should see the page refresh in your browser.

Advanced Usage: Recorder

Once you have things setup, you can also record some primitive actions to be executed when the page is refreshed (e.g. click a button, type in a value into a text field). This can be accomplished by holding the <shift>-A-R keys simultaneously in your web browser. It should popup a new window which lets you set:

• The wait time before the actions will be executed (i.e. to let the page settle after any ajax requests).
• Click on the "Start Recording" button, then click and/or edit the page. When you are done, click the button again.
• Now refresh the page which should play back those events.

Recorder Limitations

• If you modify the page to change were elements are located, the recording may stop operating correctly. You can always record a new sequence.
• The recording only lasts as long as the AutoRefresh server is running.

Current AutoRefresh limitations

• The current version only works on Mac or Linux. I might write a Windows version if enough users request it.