python cgi problem

[Joonas Paalasmaa]

etienne wrote:
> 
> hi there !
> 
> I'm programming such a cgi:
> step 1- user submits some data
> step 2- cgi validates data
> step 3- outputs a html file telling the user to wich url point to find
> output
> step 4- do the hard work.
> 
> the reason for step 3 is that step 4 needs to dig in a very large
> database, and may take lot of time
> 
> everything woks fine but output of step3 comes when step 4 is over and
> user needs to wait up to some minutes for his response.
> 
> cgi schema is as follow:
> 
> def main():
>    # 2
>    params = validate_params()
>    # 3
>    htm_out  = generate_output()
>    print htm_out
>    # 4
>    os.system(" python my_module.py params &")
> 
> I can see results of   print htm_out when os.system(" python
> my_module.py params &") is over
> 
> can i force htm_out output somehow ???

It is explained at
http://starship.python.net/crew/davem/cgifaq/faqw.cgi?req=show&file=faq02.005.htp
how to run commands in the background from CGI scripts. Also
sys.stdout.flush() might work for your purpose.