Detect disabled ActiveX settings in IE

[eer3]

Is there a way to detect if a users IE ActiveX Settings are enabled? I'd like to be able to redirect them to another page if they are disabled.

[csammis]

This is going to sound really stupid, but can you look for errors in starting an ActiveX control? It wouldn't be a sure thing, but for a simple ActiveX control an error would *probably* signify that it couldn't start due to policies in place

[monte96]

Take a look at the Browser Capabilities component that is included with IIS.

[JoshT]

I believe if you put an ActiveX Control on a web page, you could use a <noobject> tag or whatever to put code to display if they don't have activex. You might not be able to directly redirect, but you could put a link there.

[eer3]

Thanks JoshT, monte96, and csammis...

I checked into the Browser Capabilities component, seems like the closest you can get is whether Java is enabled. Go figure??? Maybe I missed the ActiveX enabled method though, so if I did, could you point it out for me please? Thanks.

The answer I came up with (and I don't much care for it) is a cross between csammis and JoshT's answer. I supplied alternate text for the object - which will only appear if ActiveX is disabled in IE, then test the innerText of the body for the existence of my "ActiveX not enabled flag" (alternate text). From there I can issue a window.open command.

Again, I think this is a really messy solution, so if anyone has more info, I'm all ears.

Thanks again.

[monte96]

My suggestion is that unless you are developing an Intranet application where you have some control over the browsers that hit the app, avoid using ActiveX objects on the page. There are usually alternatives that are much more lightweight than an ActiveX control.

[eer3]

Actually this is for an intranet project, and all users are using IE 5 or better. So the browser type is really not an issue. What I was attempting to do is redirect new users to a page that explains how to enable ActiveX controls in the IE browser, as IE comes preconfigured with tighter security. (Our intranet has no link to the outside world)

I do appreciate your response though, thanks again.

[Jethro]

Originally posted by eer3
Actually this is for an intranet project, and all users are using IE 5 or better. So the browser type is really not an issue. What I was attempting to do is redirect new users to a page that explains how to enable ActiveX controls in the IE browser, as IE comes preconfigured with tighter security. (Our intranet has no link to the outside world)

I do appreciate your response though, thanks again.

Damn fine definition. Champagne posting there eer3 Has to be one of the best postings yet seen on this site.....or any site on the www for that matter. Am standing and applauding this one. Good one big guy, superb, fantastic.

And l don't care what stevess claims about it either

[eer3]

Katie... I think they may be on to me!

[Jethro]

Originally posted by eer3
Katie... I think they may be on to me!

Sorry eer3, it only took a couple of days Will try to avoid this sort of post in the future...................unless you don't regularly post in chit chat of course

[barrk]

Originally posted by Jethro


Damn fine definition. Champagne posting there eer3 Has to be one of the best postings yet seen on this site.....or any site on the www for that matter. Am standing and applauding this one. Good one big guy, superb, fantastic.

And l don't care what stevess claims about it either

Ed, you've been rumbled...

Jethro:
Never have I seen a more blatant attempt to "illegally" boost the post count by posting nonsense in a post counting forum.....

[Jethro]

Originally posted by barrk


Ed, you've been rumbled...

Jethro:
Never have I seen a more blatant attempt to "illegally" boost the post count by posting nonsense in a post counting forum.....

OMG...............katie has escaped from her natural habitat. PS, Chris rumble him so thought the game was up.

Hey, l got 1500 posts doing this sort of thing, and the only thirty or so through abusing people