A most inelegant hack.

pyShelf.py

@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ async def echo(websocket, path):
         elif message == "ping":
             print("<<[{}]".format(message))
             tx = pong(message)
+        elif message == "importBooks":
+            print("<<[{} cmd rcvd]\n Starting import".format(message))
+            tx = "Starting Import . . ."
         await websocket.send(tx)
 
 

src/interface/static/js/pyshelf_ux.js

@@ -171,9 +171,8 @@ $(document).ready(function(){
         $('#pop_over_0').dialog("open");
     });
     $(document).on('click', '.logout-btn', function(){window.location.href = '/logout'});
-    $(document).on('click', '.import-btn', function(){
-        let connection = PyshelfServer(server);
-        //ping(socket);
+    $(document).on('click', '.import-btn', async function(){
+        let connection = await ImportBooks(server);
     });
     $('#coll_button').on('click', function(){
         var isopen = $('#pop_over_0').dialog("isOpen");
@@ -281,14 +280,31 @@ function OpenSocket(address) {
         resolve(connection);
     });
 }
+
+function ImportBooks(address) {
+    return new Promise(resolve => {
+        const connection = new WebSocket(address);
+        connection.onopen = function(e){
+            sock_tx(connection,'importBooks')
+        };
+        connection.onmessage = function(rcvd){
+            sock_rx(rcvd)
+        };
+        resolve(connection);
+    });
+}
+
 async function PyshelfServer(address){
     console.log("--[ Starting Connection ]")
     return await OpenSocket(address)
 }
 function sock_rx(rcvd) {
-    if (rcvd.data == 'pong') { pong(rcvd.data) }
+    if (rcvd.data == 'pong') { pong(rcvd) }
     else { console.log("<<[rx] :"+rcvd.data) }
 }
+function sock_tx(connection, msg) {
+   connection.send(msg);
+}
 function sock_status(connection) {
     let buffered = connection.bufferedAmmount;
     let ready = connection.readyState;