RE: [IUG] Mouse activity and Millennium freeze-ups

["William Gray" <wgray at greenwichlibrary dot org>]

We have "freezes" and "hangs" when we're just using Millennium
"normally", as in, checking in/out, searching, etc (not just
minimizing/expanding window).

I believe much of this is hardware-related.  I was lucky enough to get a
newer computer here, 3GHz, 512MB/RAM, etc, and I haven't had any freezes
or hangs or lockups on it even with Release 2005.  Our desk computers,
which are older, and under 2 GHz, 256MB RAM, etc, do still have these
problems all the time, and take much longer to load (like at least a
full minute--my machine takes 31 seconds).

That said, I think part of the problem is still programming flaws,
because I don't have any other programs that take this long to load, nor
with the number or duration of hangups.  I could see if maybe the
database is under a lot of use once in a while, but one machine will
hang while the other--which is imaged identically, and with the same
hardware profile, will hang.

I don't care how fast III claims Java to be--it's still slow, Sun has
acknowledged in the past that it's slow (that's why they keep trying to
speed it up).  I really believe that if it was platform-specific to
Windows, that would improve speed a lot right there, but IIIers have to
vote to have that done, and I don't see it happening anytime soon...

--Will

-----Original Message-----
From: innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org
[mailto:innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org] On Behalf Of Bridge, Frank
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:51 AM
To: innopac at innopacusers dot org
Subject: [IUG] Mouse activity and Millennium freeze-ups

Hello Everyone--

I wonder about the definition of "client freeze."  Our staff have
complained about "slow response times" and "client freezes."  When
actually observing the phenomena, I saw that these were all the same
thing--a hesitation when minimizing a Millennium window or when changing
between windows by clicking on items in the task bar at the bottom of
the screen.  The print and graphics disappear, but the green background
remains on the screen for several seconds or more.  The machine is
completely locked up when this happens.  

The workaround is to use the <Alt> <Tab> command to toggle between
windows.  It works instantly and has solved the problem.  However, some
staff members do not consider this satisfactory because they insist on
using the mouse.  This momentary "hang" is a characteristic of some Java
applications.  

Because of your description of the symptoms, occurring randomly in all
modules and resolvable by using "hot keys," I suspect that some of your
difficulties may stem from this cause.  

Frank

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:09:55 -0500
From: "Mark Stoffan" <mstoffan at wncln dot lib dot unca dot edu>
Subject: [IUG] Mouse activity and Millennium freeze-ups
To: "'IUG INNOPAC List'" <innopac at innopacusers dot org>
Message-ID: <200511292010 dot jATKA6Oj076034 at innopacusers dot org>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1"

We're a consortium of three libraries sharing a single Millennium
system. For the past few months, we've been aggressively trying to
migrate our staffs away from the Telnet functions by encouraging use of
the Millennium modules as much as possible. Many staff members report
frequent client freezes, as many as 9-12 per day, which is generating a
negative mind-set toward use of the Millennium clients. In speaking with
help desk staff, they recommended the usual actions such as documenting
the specific activities of the staff members, identifying conflicting
software, etc. We've been doing this now for some weeks.

* The problem occurs in about 75% of the clients.

* It occurs at all three sites.

* It occurs in all modules.

* There is no particular workflow, procedure or function identifiable as
a common thread.

* Many of the machines experiencing the problem have no software
differences from the machines that don't experience the problem.

* Network issues don't seem to be a factor.

* The computers across the three campuses are a mix of Dell and Gateway
PC's of various models. All are Pentiums having at least 512 megs of RAM
with many having a full gigabyte, and they meet or exceed the
requirements listed by III. 

* The Java engines have been updated to the current release on CSDirect.

* We're running Release 2005 LE (scheduled to install 2005 and 2006 LE
in early January)

The only thing we've noted is that users who rely on hot keys rather
than the mouse to move around the screen experience a marked reduction
in freeze-ups. Several staff members have pointedly avoided using the
mouse and the their incidences of lockups dropped from several per day
to only 1-2 per week. 

Has anyone else experienced this type of behavior and can any additional
light be shed on it? Some staff estimate they lose 10% of their output
so it's not just a minor, occasional annoyance. I'd really like to
figure out what's causing this problem and solve it if possible.

Thanks,
Mark

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
Mark A. Stoffan 
Network Librarian, Western North Carolina Library Network 
1 University Heights, CPO 1500 
Asheville, NC  28804                        (828) 232-5095 (office) 
mstoffan at wncln dot lib dot unca dot edu        (828) 231-6285 (cell) 
wncln.lib.unca.edu                            (828) 232-5137 (fax) 


---
Frank R. Bridge
Technology Management Administrator
Chesterfield County Public Library
PO Box 297
9501 Lori Rd.
Chesterfield, VA  23832-0297
Voice:   804-748-1980
Fax:      804-751-4679



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