Need ajax to make user wait until server has performed task.

Thanks for the added info, ValC!

Okay, this is but a suggestion/thought on how one could approach such a task.

Note: I use jQuery for my Ajax library but other libraries (MooTools, Prototype, Dojo, etc.) should have similar solutions and work equally well. I simply prefer jQuery.

Since we're dealing with multiple CFM pages, I might take the following approach:

1. Hold off creating the files to the success page (if this process is not there already)
2. Use an Ajax call to the appropriate CFM/CFC, from the success page, to start the file generation process
3. Add an event listener to this Ajax call
4. While the call is in progress, show your wait image
5. When the call reports back, display the link to the download page

Here's a very basic way jQuery might be used with such an approach.

Success page's JavaScript:

<script src='load_jquery_lib.js'></script>
<script>
  // jQuery fires this function when the DOM is loaded and ready to use/manipulate
  $(document).ready(
     function(){
        // set the path to your 'action' page or CFC
        _url = 'path/to/mycfc.cfc?method=doFileGeneration&returnformat=json';
     // .getJson gets data from the specified URL (above), passing the params (data)
        // via an HTTP GET action, and sets a function (callback) to run when it receives
        // a message back from the server
        $.getJSON(
          _url,
          { var1: #some_var#,
                  var2: #some_other_value# },
          doReturnAction
     );
        // the following will set an image to display in the div with matching id attribute
        $('#my_div_with_wait_image').html( 'show wait image: <img src="" />' );
      }
  );
  function doReturnAction( data, status ){
     if( data.FILE_CREATED == true ){
          // we're good. code below clears image set above and adds a download link, etc.
          $('#my_div_with_wait_image').html( 'now show download link: <a href=""></a>' );
     }
     else{
          // danger! something went wrong. show error message.
          $('#my_div_with_wait_image').html( 'some error message' );
     }
  }
</script>

The cfc method called from the JS above:

<cffunction name="doFileGeneration" output="true" access="remote" returntype="void">
     <cfargument name="var1" required="true" />
        <cfargument name="var2" required="true" />
     <cfscript>
          results = StructNew();
                // we'll assume that the generation method returns a boolean
          results.file_created = method_to_generate_files( arguments.var1, arguments.var2 );          
          theJSON = SerializeJSON( results );               
     </cfscript>
     <cfoutput>#theJSON#</cfoutput>          
</cffunction>

This is all just a basic skeleton of one way you could go about handling your tasks. I hope it helps get you started.

Best,

Craig

Hi,

Welcome to the exciting and often painful world of asynchronous code ! It is worth the pain, though!

In the OP, you noted that:

Once the purchase clears, the application begins the creation and placement of the purchased files. The user is given the success page with a link to the download area.

When the purchase clears, the user being sent to another CFM page (success page), true? Is the download area a part of the success page or a link to another CFM page, from which they download?

Sorry for the questions, I only ask b/c the Ajax(y) approach I would take would differ based on the application flow from the point of order completion/purchase clearing. We can definitely get you some good steps and ideas but, for me, knowing the flow helps in giving better suggestions and advice.