Auto Launch Java Applet?

Hello,

I am not a java programmer but want to ask something so if I could have someone on a job web site do this for me. I want to have a link on my web site that when clicked will launch a program onto your computer and run it. I would imagine it would be a signed java control kind of like an activex.

The first time you use it the software would be installed on your computer. If you already had the software installed, it would check the version and update if needed. Either way it would run the program when done.

Can this be done with a java applet? I know I oculd do this with an activex control. Is there any advantage of using a java applet over an activex?

Thanks!

Im not sure that an applet could be used for what you would like to do. An applet is usually restricted by the security manager which limits its use. A network connection could be made back to the server from the applet on the client but since access to the local file system by the applet is not permitted i couldnt see how you the program could be placed in system. Using an applet you would also not be allowed to run any programs on the client.

Why not just have the user download a program right from the site and when run would make the necessary socket connections to the server?

Since Java 1.2 the security model is different than before. Applets no longer simply run in their sandbox, instead there is a security manager that grants and denies single permissions to code. A signed, trusted Java applet can therefore have permission to do many things, including accessing the local hard drive.

But I have no idea how to sign applets.