refreshing plugin variable on screen

[damage]

hi, another question. my plugin pulls data from an external db and i am able to display the data by putting this in a text box plugin>mydb>blah - however when my db updates, i want the xl screen to show the newest data. does this mean my plugin has to force a screen refresh every second or is there a better way to do this? thanks

[lar282]

When your data changes u issue the command
SendCommand("invalidate");

that refreshes the XL screen

//Lasse

[damage]

thank you that's what i needed

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

Even better, if only possible get the buttons of your plugin and invalidate only areas they occupie, cause otherwise u might cause some unnessary overhead even if other plugin writers have cached their results incase theres lot of plugin calls within buttons of screen. This strategy requires that skinners give buttons agreed upon ID though.