application- timeout and loosing data

Binu THOMAS

Hi All,

I have a small application for all staff to enter their project information. I created it with ASP.NET forms application - Office 365 authentication, cloud single sign on.

Normally employees take minimum 1 hour to fill the form, by the time application is getting timeout and going for office 365 reauthentication and users are loosing data. users are irritated because of this behavior.

I have done below

In the IIS server Application pool idle timeout - 150
in web. config
executionTimeout="360000"

sessionState timeout="360000"

I have tried auto save on text changed, but this will work if the users are active only, if they keep the session open and come back after 30 minutes it will not work

Any help to resolve this issue.

6 Replies

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Srinivasan Ramamoorthi4y ago
I also dont see any option direclty available in configuration. I think we have to handle this in different ways.

Option 1: The form can have multiple sections or wizard design and should save data before moving to next section.
Option 2: Keep the session open by using Metarefresh and send a js notification to save the record for every 30 minutes, so that you can avoid server side load.
Binu THOMAS4y ago
Thanks Srinivasan

But this approach will keep the session open forever until they close the form. which will increase the server load.
Is there a way to increase the timeout.
I think login timeout is causing the problem not session timeout. How can we increase login timeout for web form application with Office 365 authentication, cloud single sign on.
authentication mode is none in my web.config
Srinivasan Ramamoorthi4y ago
In the link that I shared there is an option to retain server side session using Meta Refresh and Post back, please check that
Srinivasan Ramamoorthi4y ago
Check this link http://www.primaryobjects.com/2008/01/29/preventing-session-timeouts-in-c-asp-net-web-applications/
Binu THOMAS4y ago
Hi Sachin, Thank you.

I have done a similar approach, if text changed, it will save data. but there is one more case where user open the page and keeps it for 30 mins and return to fill the form. This time client side script will fire for text changed but calling server side function not firing as its already timed out.

though i set below in web.config its getting timed out in 30 mins
executionTimeout="360000"
sessionState timeout="360000"
Sachin Singh4y ago
step 1. add a data element to each input, so that if the user changes it means touch it or try to fill that particular field of form then you would know, let's call it data-dirty.
"text" data-dirty="false">
..... other unlimited fields....

step 2. add event on each field and set data-dirty to true, when change.
$(function(){
    var formElements = $('#myForm')
                           .find('input, select, textarea')
                           .not(':disabled')
                           .each(function(){
                                $(this).attr('data-dirty', false).change(function(){
                                    $(this).attr('data-dirty', true);
                                });
                           });
});
step 3. Save data which for those elements which are touched
window.setInterval(function(){
    var dirtyElements = $('#myForm').find('[data-dirty=true]');
    if(dirtyElements.length > 0){
        var data = dirtyElements.serialize();
        $.post('your url here', data, function(){

            dirtyElements.attr('data-dirty', false);
            alert('data saved successfully');
        });
    }
}, 1800000); // half hour
so after each half hour your data will be saved later you can retrieve data based on user's login.