File() too slow

[RG]

I am trying to process a CSV file but am having trouble with my hosts
maximum execution time of 30 seconds.
This is how the script works at the moment.
User uploads their CSV file
The script goes through the file() and writes smaller chunk files.
The script then goes through processing the smaller files, populating the
database, deleting the processed file and refreshing itself, thus starting
again.

This system works for files up to 15000 rows, but I need to be able to
process larger files.
The bottleneck is with the initial splitting, since I use the file()
function to read the entire uploaded file.

Does anyone know a quicker way to split a file into smaller chunks.

TIA
RG

[Timo Henke]

> This system works for files up to 15000 rows, but I need to be able to

> process larger files.
> The bottleneck is with the initial splitting, since I use the file()
> function to read the entire uploaded file.

file() is by far NOT a bottleneck at your present Problem as it is not
any slower than reading the using fread() and splitting it up afterwards.

The Bottleneck is (seems like) your Database compare / writing stuff.

It sounds like you read in eg. 15000 lines, break them down into chunks
and then proceed all the chunks line by line, checking the database,
comparing
the database data with your cvs and then deciding on what to do (delete,
insert
update ...)

At 15000 Entries THIS will make your Script timeout, not the file()
command.

If you do not believe it, try to manually read and explode it ...

regards

timo

[RG]

"Timo Henke" <webmaster@fli7e.de> wrote in message
news:bl0qhl$r0u$06$1@news.t-online.com...

> > This system works for files up to 15000 rows, but I need to be able to
> > process larger files.
> > The bottleneck is with the initial splitting, since I use the file()
> > function to read the entire uploaded file.

>
> file() is by far NOT a bottleneck at your present Problem as it is not
> any slower than reading the using fread() and splitting it up afterwards.
>
> The Bottleneck is (seems like) your Database compare / writing stuff.
>
> It sounds like you read in eg. 15000 lines, break them down into chunks
> and then proceed all the chunks line by line, checking the database,
> comparing
> the database data with your cvs and then deciding on what to do (delete,
> insert
> update ...)
>
> At 15000 Entries THIS will make your Script timeout, not the file()
> command.
>
> If you do not believe it, try to manually read and explode it ...
>
> regards
>
> timo
>

The initial splitting of the file is the bottleneck, I do not compare
anything in this procedure.
There is not a problem with the database comparing etc, it seems to take
about 2 seconds to do around 3000 mysql queries. This is fine.

I just need a quick way to initially split the large file into smaller
files.
TIA
RG

[Timo Henke]

> The initial splitting of the file is the bottleneck, I do not compare

> anything in this procedure.
> There is not a problem with the database comparing etc, it seems to take
> about 2 seconds to do around 3000 mysql queries. This is fine.

lets talk about filesizes. I JUST tried it. Reading (and splitting) a 19MB
File
with 322000 Lines took 0.39843 seconds on My Machine:


<?php

list($usec, $sec) = explode(" ",microtime());
$start =((float)$usec + (float)$sec);

$indata = file("cvs");

list($usec, $sec) = explode(" ",microtime());
$end =((float)$usec + (float)$sec);

printf("%.5f",$end-$start);

?>

This IS NOT a bottleneck i believe?

Timo

[RG]

"Timo Henke" <webmaster@fli7e.de> wrote in message
news:bl0rja$ul9$05$1@news.t-online.com...

> > The initial splitting of the file is the bottleneck, I do not compare
> > anything in this procedure.
> > There is not a problem with the database comparing etc, it seems to take
> > about 2 seconds to do around 3000 mysql queries. This is fine.

>
> lets talk about filesizes. I JUST tried it. Reading (and splitting) a 19MB
> File
> with 322000 Lines took 0.39843 seconds on My Machine:
>
>
> <?php
>
> list($usec, $sec) = explode(" ",microtime());
> $start =((float)$usec + (float)$sec);
>
> $indata = file("cvs");
>
> list($usec, $sec) = explode(" ",microtime());
> $end =((float)$usec + (float)$sec);
>
> printf("%.5f",$end-$start);
>
> ?>
>
> This IS NOT a bottleneck i believe?
>
> Timo
>

Lightning fast.
I think I've found the problem: upload_max_filesize is 2M
It is dieing, very poorly.
You must have changed your php.ini?
Thanks for the pointers
RG

[Timo Henke]

> Lightning fast.

yeehaa :-)

> I think I've found the problem: upload_max_filesize is 2M
> It is dieing, very poorly.
> You must have changed your php.ini?

jupp .. changed to 32M, because i often need to transfer bigger
data in our intranet.

> Thanks for the pointers

hope it would work out well for you

regards

timo

[RG]

"Timo Henke" <webmaster@fli7e.de> wrote in message
news:bl0so7$vl4$05$1@news.t-online.com...

> > Lightning fast.

>
> yeehaa :-)
>

> > I think I've found the problem: upload_max_filesize is 2M
> > It is dieing, very poorly.
> > You must have changed your php.ini?

>
> jupp .. changed to 32M, because i often need to transfer bigger
> data in our intranet.
>

> > Thanks for the pointers

>
> hope it would work out well for you
>
> regards
>
> timo
>

I don't suppose there's a workaround for this?
RG

[RG]

"Timo Henke" <webmaster@fli7e.de> wrote in message
news:bl0so7$vl4$05$1@news.t-online.com...

> > Lightning fast.

>
> yeehaa :-)
>

> > I think I've found the problem: upload_max_filesize is 2M
> > It is dieing, very poorly.
> > You must have changed your php.ini?

>
> jupp .. changed to 32M, because i often need to transfer bigger
> data in our intranet.
>

> > Thanks for the pointers

>
> hope it would work out well for you
>
> regards
>
> timo
>

I don't suppose there's a workaround for this?
RG

[Eto Demerzel]

In article <3f73f748$0$65579$65c69314@mercury.nildram.net>, RG's output
was...

> > > I think I've found the problem: upload_max_filesize is 2M
> > > It is dieing, very poorly.
> > > You must have changed your php.ini?

> >
> > jupp .. changed to 32M, because i often need to transfer bigger
> > data in our intranet.

>
> I don't suppose there's a workaround for this?
> RG
>

IIRC - you can do something along the lines of:

ini_set("upload_max_filesize", "64M");


- I understand this will only change the max size for operations in that
particular script - not for the whole server/virtual server.

[RG]

"Eto Demerzel" <eto.demerzel@fijivillage.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.19de0adf1903d3b498971b@news-text.blueyonder.co.uk...

> In article <3f73f748$0$65579$65c69314@mercury.nildram.net>, RG's output
> was...

> > > > I think I've found the problem: upload_max_filesize is 2M
> > > > It is dieing, very poorly.
> > > > You must have changed your php.ini?
> > >
> > > jupp .. changed to 32M, because i often need to transfer bigger
> > > data in our intranet.

> >
> > I don't suppose there's a workaround for this?
> > RG
> >

> IIRC - you can do something along the lines of:
>
> ini_set("upload_max_filesize", "64M");
>
>
> - I understand this will only change the max size for operations in that
> particular script - not for the whole server/virtual server.

Tried that out but it seems that the file is uploaded before the script is
executed which means, the file is dumped before the function is called.
I'm sure my host wont want to change these settings, Rackshack (cheap).
Looks like I'm gonna have to get some more expensive hosting.
Any suggestions: PHP with GD, Multiple MySQL databases, password protect
directories, 20gb month
Thanks
RG

[RG]

"Ian.H" <ian@WINDOZEdigiserv.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2003.09.26.09.30.10.190519@hybris.digiser v.net...

> On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 10:22:39 +0100, RG wrote:
>

> >> jupp .. changed to 32M, because i often need to transfer bigger data in
> >> our intranet.
> >>

>
>
> [ snip ]
>
>

> > I don't suppose there's a workaround for this? RG

>
>
> RG,
>
> You can put a hidden field in a form:
>
>
> <input type="hidden" name="MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE" value="33554432" />
>
>
> This should "do the biz" before the form is whizzed off to the server for
> processing =)
>
>
> HTH.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Ian

Tried that and it didn't work.
Thanks anyway.
Anyone else?
RG

>

[RG]

"Ian.H" <ian@WINDOZEdigiserv.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2003.09.26.09.32.36.386900@hybris.digiser v.net...

> On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 10:29:15 +0000, Ian.H wrote:
>

> > <input type="hidden" name="MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE" value="33554432" />

>
>
> Oops.. that should be:
>
>
> <input type="hidden" name="MAX_FILE_SIZE" value="33554432" />
>
>
>
> Regards,
>

Tried the later too.
Still didn't work
Thanks though, I'm stuck here.
RG

>

[Timo Henke]

> Tried that and it didn't work.

> Thanks anyway.
> Anyone else?
> RG

Just another suggestion : try to upload the file in GZ Format (if
possible).

This would cut down transfer and filesize to a minimum and could easily
with NO TIME unpacked by PHPs internal gz functions.

My previously mentioned 19MB testfile got shrinked down to 351.164 bytes.

You get the point?

timo

[RG]

"Timo Henke" <webmaster@fli7e.de> wrote in message
news:bl13ds$iv1$01$1@news.t-online.com...

> > Tried that and it didn't work.
> > Thanks anyway.
> > Anyone else?
> > RG

>
> Just another suggestion : try to upload the file in GZ Format (if
> possible).
>
> This would cut down transfer and filesize to a minimum and could easily
> with NO TIME unpacked by PHPs internal gz functions.
>
> My previously mentioned 19MB testfile got shrinked down to 351.164 bytes.
>
> You get the point?
>
> timo
>

Think I'm stuck, I can't trust clients with no knowledge to do this
Thanks though
RG

[Shawn Wilson]

RG wrote:

>
> "Timo Henke" <webmaster@fli7e.de> wrote in message
> news:bl13ds$iv1$01$1@news.t-online.com...

> > > Tried that and it didn't work.
> > > Thanks anyway.
> > > Anyone else?
> > > RG

> >
> > Just another suggestion : try to upload the file in GZ Format (if
> > possible).
> >
> > This would cut down transfer and filesize to a minimum and could easily
> > with NO TIME unpacked by PHPs internal gz functions.
> >
> > My previously mentioned 19MB testfile got shrinked down to 351.164 bytes.
> >
> > You get the point?
> >
> > timo
> >

>
> Think I'm stuck, I can't trust clients with no knowledge to do this
> Thanks though
> RG

You could probably write a tiny program in VB or something else that would split
a CSV file (file.csv) into 2MB chunks (file1.csv, file2.csv, file3.csv ...). It
would almost definitely be simple enough for your clients to use.

Shawn
--
Shawn Wilson
[email]shawn@glassgiant.com[/email]
[url]http://www.glassgiant.com[/url]

[RG]

"Shawn Wilson" <shawn@glassgiant.com> wrote in message
news:3F743043.F40BDB6@glassgiant.com...

> RG wrote:

> >
> > "Timo Henke" <webmaster@fli7e.de> wrote in message
> > news:bl13ds$iv1$01$1@news.t-online.com...

> > > > Tried that and it didn't work.
> > > > Thanks anyway.
> > > > Anyone else?
> > > > RG
> > >
> > > Just another suggestion : try to upload the file in GZ Format (if
> > > possible).
> > >
> > > This would cut down transfer and filesize to a minimum and could

easily

> > > with NO TIME unpacked by PHPs internal gz functions.
> > >
> > > My previously mentioned 19MB testfile got shrinked down to 351.164

bytes.

> > >
> > > You get the point?
> > >
> > > timo
> > >

> >
> > Think I'm stuck, I can't trust clients with no knowledge to do this
> > Thanks though
> > RG

>
> You could probably write a tiny program in VB or something else that would

split

> a CSV file (file.csv) into 2MB chunks (file1.csv, file2.csv, file3.csv

....). It

> would almost definitely be simple enough for your clients to use.
>
> Shawn

Thats not a bad idea. Would this be possible with Javascript? or maybe VB
Script?
Would ideally want the program to somehow interface with the import scripts,
so ideally, browser based.
Any ideas?
RG

[Shawn Wilson]

RG wrote:

> > > > Just another suggestion : try to upload the file in GZ Format (if
> > > > possible).
> > > >
> > > > This would cut down transfer and filesize to a minimum and could

> easily

> > > > with NO TIME unpacked by PHPs internal gz functions.
> > > >
> > > > My previously mentioned 19MB testfile got shrinked down to 351.164

> bytes.

> > > >
> > > > You get the point?
> > > >
> > > > timo
> > > >
> > >
> > > Think I'm stuck, I can't trust clients with no knowledge to do this
> > > Thanks though
> > > RG

> >
> > You could probably write a tiny program in VB or something else that would

> split

> > a CSV file (file.csv) into 2MB chunks (file1.csv, file2.csv, file3.csv

> ...). It

> > would almost definitely be simple enough for your clients to use.
> >
> > Shawn

>
> Thats not a bad idea. Would this be possible with Javascript? or maybe VB
> Script?
> Would ideally want the program to somehow interface with the import scripts,
> so ideally, browser based.
> Any ideas?

JS, no for sure. VBScript - I doubt it, but I don't know VBScript. I doubt
you'll be able to do it from the browser. I think you'd almost have to write a
standalone executable and then use a browser to complete the upload normally.
It's kind of a clunky solve, but feasible. Alternately, you could tell them to
FTP it to a directory, then go to your program in a browser and select the file
to use from the FTP directory. Again, clunky... :(

Regards,
Shawn
--
Shawn Wilson
[email]shawn@glassgiant.com[/email]
[url]http://www.glassgiant.com[/url]

[Eto Demerzel]

In article <3F747A12.D6D57D9A@glassgiant.com>, Shawn Wilson's output
was...

> > Thats not a bad idea. Would this be possible with Javascript? or maybe VB
> > Script?
> > Would ideally want the program to somehow interface with the import scripts,
> > so ideally, browser based.
> > Any ideas?

>
> JS, no for sure. VBScript - I doubt it, but I don't know VBScript. I doubt
> you'll be able to do it from the browser. I think you'd almost have to write a
> standalone executable and then use a browser to complete the upload normally.
> It's kind of a clunky solve, but feasible. Alternately, you could tell them to
> FTP it to a directory, then go to your program in a browser and select the file
> to use from the FTP directory. Again, clunky... :(
>

This sounds like just the sort of thing java applets are useful for.

Perhaps have an applet in the web-page which selects the file, breaks it
into smaller chunks (and/or compresses), then calls a server-side script
to re-assemble the parts and then do whatever the script was supposed to
do with the file in the first place.
You might find some useful info at [url]http://javaboutique.internet.com/[/url] or
in comp.lang.java

[Brent Rieck]

It sounds like you're using MySQL and if loading the data is still a
bottleneck, have you tried using the "LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE ..." stuff?
I saw an order of magnitude improvement in import speed when I went
from manually splitting my CSVs to using LOAD DATA.

If you're also having problems uploading large files you'll also need to
set php's post_max_size and memory_limit (if it's enabled) to something
larger than the size of the largest file you expect.

RG wrote:

> Any suggestions: PHP with GD, Multiple MySQL databases, password protect
> directories, 20gb month

I've had good luck with pair.com.

--Brent

[Virgil Green]

"RG" <Me@NotTellingYa.com> wrote in message
news:3f73fdc5$0$65581$65c69314@mercury.nildram.net ...

>
> "Eto Demerzel" <eto.demerzel@fijivillage.com> wrote in message
> news:MPG.19de0adf1903d3b498971b@news-text.blueyonder.co.uk...

> > In article <3f73f748$0$65579$65c69314@mercury.nildram.net>, RG's output
> > was...

> > > > > I think I've found the problem: upload_max_filesize is 2M
> > > > > It is dieing, very poorly.
> > > > > You must have changed your php.ini?
> > > >
> > > > jupp .. changed to 32M, because i often need to transfer bigger
> > > > data in our intranet.
> > >
> > > I don't suppose there's a workaround for this?
> > > RG
> > >

> > IIRC - you can do something along the lines of:
> >
> > ini_set("upload_max_filesize", "64M");
> >
> >
> > - I understand this will only change the max size for operations in that
> > particular script - not for the whole server/virtual server.

>
>
> Tried that out but it seems that the file is uploaded before the script is
> executed which means, the file is dumped before the function is called.
> I'm sure my host wont want to change these settings, Rackshack (cheap).
> Looks like I'm gonna have to get some more expensive hosting.
> Any suggestions: PHP with GD, Multiple MySQL databases, password protect
> directories, 20gb month
> Thanks
> RG

I believe the 'ini_set("upload_max_filesize", "64M");' needs to be set in
the script in which the FORM element is placed, not in the script where the
file is being processed.

- Virgil