Running activex on web page

[WarrenW]

When you put an activex on a web page with activex control pad or any other way and the user selects to run the activex, it runs on the user's computer and not the server right?

I'm wanting to write an activex to load a program on their computer and launch it automatically. Instead of putting the whole program in a cab file that they have to download everytime, this activex will check the version and update if needed.

I saw on GeoTrust.com that you can sign an activex file for $179 per year. Not bad to me.

Thanks

[RobDog888]

It usually runs client side and your activex control can have code in it to check for the version and update if necessary. Either way, upon the first run, the user will have to download the file.

[WarrenW]

Thanks Rob! The activex will be very small and the install is not big either. I'll put a progress bar to show the download progress for the exe and other files.

One other question. I was going to write the activex in VB6 and this is only for Windows XP and up also. Although most XP and up computers have the vb runtime files loaded, what happens when someone tries to run it and the runtime files are not there? Will the activex fail to run?

[RobDog888]

Yup, it will get a "Can not create object error" or just crash altogether. It would be a good idea to place error handling in your code for issues like this.

[WarrenW]

What do most people do for an activex then? Write it in C or something else that does not require runtime files?

I need the activex to check if the exe is installed already and the needed files. If not, download and place on their computer. If it is there then check the version and update if needed. Then launch it.

Would I be better with C or even java? Or do you suggest a different way for this? I think a cab file will look and see if the runtime files are there and download if needed automatically - won't it?

Thanks!

[RobDog888]

Its in the packaging that you would include any support files. VB is ok for writting this but you should be checking the file version before the download so if its not different then there is no need to redownload again or reprompt the user since they already have it.

[WarrenW]

I'm sorry for being confused but... the activex itself does the version checking. So if the activex cannot run at all cause runtime files are missing, then I cannot check the version.

And yes, i want to check the exe version before downloading again. So where I am at is how to run the activex to check the version if the runtime files are not there so it won't fail.

[RobDog888]

Are you making an activeX dll or exe?

[WarrenW]

I was going to make an ocx file actually. I was looking at the Package & Deployment Wizard for creating a cab file and I thought I remembered it has an option to check for automatically downloading runtime files. So i could write an OCX file and place it in the cab file I think? And see if it launches the ocx automatically or something... heack, it can also be an exe I guess in the cab file? Either way just something that runs on the user's computer to check the version and download/run the application.

Warren

[WarrenW]

I went through creating a test activex and then put it in a cab file with the deployment package app which created a cab file and htm file. When I tested it, only a small square showed on my browser. i have my security set to prompt for everything but no prompt. I must be doing womething wrong.

[RobDog888]

All the security settings are set to prompt for activex and the advanced properties are set to allow?