Starting client applications from webpage

[ruudbax]

L.s.

On our intranet (IIS, Internet Explorer) we would like to be able to start client-applications (WORD, EXCEL etc.) from our webpages.
How can we accomplish this ?

- putting i.e. an empty doc-file on the webserver will open up Word on the client but that's not the way I want it to work.
- putting a link on a webpage to a local executable will start the application but only after the user agrees; I want it to be transparent.

I know it can be done (I've seen it once) but I haven't got a clue how. Can anyone give me a hand ?

Regards,
Ruud

[Booooze]

i beleive you would have to use activex for this. your using IIS and ie(ouch and ouch:P)..but with an activex control , they would have to download it once only. then it could run on the page eachtime they visit it and i beleive you could easily add some shell functions to it and it would prolly work. this would have to be made in a programming language, and prolly easiest in vb. if you dont know vb, dont have a studio, or need help, go here http://www.a1vbcode.com/vbforums/default.aspx
we can help ya out. if you just want it done,email me, im not all free tho:p

[Fang]

ActiveX requires user authorization.
var obj_ws=new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");
obj_ws.Run("excel"); // or obj_ws.Run("c:\\MySheet.xls");