Abort! Quick, abort!

3,2,1... missile launched, target... oops! wrong target! Abort! Quick, abort!

Another method, abortExecute(), has been added to PHPObject. However, it is not possible to actually cancel the remote task(s) sent. Unlike browser based applications where hitting the 'stop' button can disconnect the client from the server, in Flash, nothing short of closing/exiting the application can stop the task, once sent, from being processed and the results returned. Or at least, I don't know how.

The abortExecute() method simply frees up the object (no longer 'busy') and silently discards the incoming message meant for the cancelled task. Another task can then be sent. So, this method doesn't really abort a server task - the server still process the directives sent and returns the results; but the results will not be parsed and will not affect the local object. If a request was made to update a database, it would still be done. This is nevertheless useful in those cases where a query for data is taking too long to return (eg. requesting a busy web service) or the user wish to abort the task (eg. enter an alternative search). It is definitely not for aborting the missile launched... (unless you call another remote method to reverse the previous decision made)...