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Help / WLanguage / WLanguage functions / Mobile specific functions / Background task functions
  • Overview
  • Implementation
  • In the editor
  • Programmatically
  • Operating mode
  • Specific features
  • Android specific features
  • Specific features for iOS
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Stored procedures
Overview
Continuing to run a process when the application is in background is very useful on mobile:
  • appointment reminder (display a notification),
  • turnover calculation in real time,
  • data retrieval, ...
The process must be found in a procedure. All you have to do is specify the frequency at which this procedure will be run.
Between the calls, the procedure consumes no battery and no CPU.
Implementation

In the editor

To automate a procedure:
  1. Display the code of the procedure.
  2. Open the description window of the procedure automations:
    • Click Icon in the procedure bar.
    • Select "Configure the automated processes of the procedure" in the context menu of the procedure ("Project explorer" pane).
    • Select "Properties" in the context menu of the procedure in the "Code" pane.
  3. In the window that appears, select the automation type: "Periodic execution when the application is in background".
  4. Specify the time interval (in minutes). This interval is the minimum time interval between two task executions. Used to guarantee that the task will not be run during this time interval. However, the system can increase the time interval according to several factors (important workload, low battery, etc.). Therefore, the real time interval can change and it can be quite long (several hours).
  5. Validate.

Programmatically

To add a background task, use BackgroundTaskAdd.
Remark: You can also handle background tasks using the following functions:
BackgroundTaskDeleteDeletes a background task (that was added by BackgroundTaskAdd).
BackgroundTaskListReturns the list of background tasks for the application.

Operating mode

Once added, the background task is automatically run by the system at regular time interval.
The task is persistent, it will continue to be run periodically when the application is stopped, even when the device is restarted.
If the task is triggered while the application is not started, the application will be run in background (without opening the first project window), the initialization process of project and the declaration process of classes and sets of procedures will be run before calling the procedure associated with the task.
The task will be run when the application is not started or when the application is in background. If the application is displayed in the foreground, its execution will be postponed.
As the task can be run in a secondary thread of the application, the code of the WLanguage procedure must not contain an access to the application's UI or open dialog boxes (via Info, Error, etc.). If the task must interact with the users, you can use notifications (Notifxxx functions).
Specific features
Android

Android specific features

  • If the task is to run while the device is in standby mode, it is recommended to ask the user to disable battery optimization for this application with SysBatteryOptimBackground.
  • Debugging:
    For debugging purposes, you can force the execution of a background task via ADB by using the following command line:
    adb shell cmd jobscheduler run -f <application> <id>

    where:
    • <application> corresponds to the package name of application as defined in the generation wizard (ex: com.mycompany.myapplication).
    • <id> is the identifier of task to run (returned by BackgroundTaskAdd).
  • Required version:
    Background tasks can only be added on devices running Android 5.0 or later (API level 21).
    A fatal error occurs if the function is used with an earlier system version.
    To determine the version of Android the application is running on, use SysAndroidVersion.
  • Required permissions:
    The call to this function modifies the permissions required by the application.
    Required permissions:
    RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED: allows an application to receive the ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED that is diffused after the system finishes booting.
  • Once run, the task in background continues to operate as long as the application is installed.
  • The tasks in background are not called in the simulator.
iPhone/iPad

Specific features for iOS

  • Runtime duration:
    The background tasks have a total of 30 seconds to be run. If this timeout is exceeded, the application is directly stopped (this timeout can be reduced according to the system availability). Therefore, the task execution must be as fast as possible.
    Practically, the system is using the execution time of task to define the real frequency at which it must be called.
  • Debugging:
    You have the ability to debug the background tasks via Xcode, by triggering them manually via "Debug .. Simulate Background Fetch".
  • In order for the system to consider that the application can run background tasks, the application must perform network requests (calls to Webservices, HTTP requests, access to an HFSQL database, GPS, Email, ...). Indeed, iOS checks whether the application exploits data coming from the network.
  • The application must be able to run background tasks. On the device, in the "Device parameters .. Application name", the option "Refresh in background" must be checked.
  • When the application is specifically closed by a double press on the Home button and a swipe, the background procedure has less chances to be run.
  • The procedure will not be called anymore if the devices switches to "energy saving" mode.
  • The timeout between two procedure executions will be reduced if the device is plugged and connected to a WiFi network.
  • The frequency at which the application is enabled by the user will impact the call frequency of procedure.
  • The faster the request execution is, the shorter the time between two executions. In most cases, a long execution time of procedure means that the calls will be spaced out in time. The system gives priority to the procedures that consume less CPU.
Minimum version required
  • Version 23
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Last update: 01/26/2023

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