Anyway to easily make the browser launch local apps?

[flot]

Someone here might have some suggestions -

Let's say I wanted to make a "start page" (for instance, let's say a simple menu for my parents) and customize it to display the windows applications and web pages etc they need in the browser.

Is there any easy way to do that? The problem I have is that with all of IE's security warnings, it's just a mess.. I can embed a link to a local app, but I have to agree to run it at least once sometimes twice before it'll launch.. is there some easy way around this?

 

[Beattie]

Would you want to go to some webpage and have it launch random programs on your computer? There are reasons why this isnt so easy.

 

[Ameesh]

people amaze me, first they complain about it and when its fixed they complain more.

 

[Ameesh]

you should use firebird its the best, it does everything perfectly.

 

[Rapidskies]

Use shortcuts on the desktop?

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Couldn't you just set up shortcuts on their desktop and then make a page of links (set up as the IE home page) with the appropriate bookmarks?

 

[flot]

Sorry, just to clarify one thing, I DO understand browser security limitations etc - and I'm looking to make a custom workaround, just that I haven't come up with an elegant solution. Remember that this html is NOT coming across the network and in fact not even being served up by a webserver, but rather static content on the local computer...

Edit: Well, halfway to answering my own question.. using "active desktop" I AM able to launch apps without any popups.. interesting... but not positive if this is going to give me all the flexibility I want...

 

[agnitrate]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
people amaze me, first they complain about it and when its fixed they complain more.

lol This has to be one of the funniest things I've read on AT in a long time.

-silver

p.s. to the original poster: when you get that working, do me a favor and make your 'startup' app "format c: /u" and let me know how that goes.

 

[Miramonti]

MyIE has a Utility Manager where you can open any external apps, folders etc.

Based off the IE engine, but has more features/customizations than any other browser.

 

[flot]

Ok, let me re-explain this. There are actually two projects I'm working on, but let's tackle the first. I just figured I'd save myself trouble (oh how wrong I was) if I gave the simple example.

I want to create a foolproof CD Burning kiosk. Machine will house a collection of ISOs. I want the user to walk up to the machine, navigate through some simple tree structure, and click on the name of the ISO he wants to burn a CD of. At this point the machine should eject the drive tray, the user puts a CD in, and as soon as the CD is inserted, it starts burning.

Now, #1: I'm pretty sure could do this in linux without too much trouble, because the linux tools are all based around this sort of customization. I just don't feel like brining a linux box up for what started out seeming like a relatively simple task.

Now you might ask, why not just click on an ISO file and do a windows association to a burning program? Well, I can't find one that is as user friendly as I need. Which is to say - 100% automated. Even the most streamlined windows ISO burning apps are leaving big gaping holes where users could screw up and hit the wrong thing.

I can, however, get some command line burning tools to do everything I want. BUT I have to have some kind of front end to launch them, the goal here is no keyboard, easy user experience.

Now, here's the issue. For ease of maintenance and ease of use, I wanted to use an HTML front end. This is where things start getting tricky. Because of all the IE security, there's no simple way to launch a LOCAL APP from the LOCAL CONSOLE from a LOCAL HTM PAGE. Now, I do understand the security implications but I also don't see any reason why there shouldn't be some kind of clever workaround. I'd prefer not to write a 1500 line batch file "menu" but that's looking like more and more like the easiest solution... irony.

 

[flot]

Oh, and for all the smartass replies, this looks like it might be the best solution for me. You can apparently create a "my computer zone" for your IE settings.

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TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE PROGRAM LAUNCH WORK BETTER
Here are a few tweaks to make the above program launch work better and faster.

Please note that if you are running any antivirus program, such as Norton AntiVirus ("NAV"), you may encounter a "Malicious script detected" alert. The reason you will see this warning is because antivirus software, such as NAV, flags such files as a possible virus. You will receive this warning for each and every shortcut you setup. If you are running NAV, you can simply select "Authorize this script" from the drop down box and select "OK" and you will not be flagged again for this link.

This next tweak is a big one. You may notice an ActiveX warning. Well, let's get rid of that annoying warning. First we need to add the "My Computer" security zone to your Internet Options: Security tab.
- Run regedit
- Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0
- Set "FLAGS" dword value to 47
- Close regedit
- Launch Internet Explorer
- Select the "Tools" menu
- Select "Internet Options"
- Select the "Security" tab

You will notice that you have a "My Computer" security zone (if not, reboot and try relaunching Internet Explorer). Now configure your "My Computer" security zone.
- Highlight the "My Computer" zone icon
- Click "Custom Level"
- Under "ActiveX controls and plug-ins", change "Download signed ActiveX controls" to "Enable"
- Change "Download unsigned ActiveX controls" to "Enable"
- Change "Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to "Enable"
- Change "Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" to "Enable"
- Chnage "Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting" to "Enable"
- Click "OK"
- Click "Apply"
- Click "OK"

After doing so, you will not receive any ActiveX control warnings for local files. Please note that making the above changes will not affect files located on the web (such as files on the NTFS.org website). All websites on the Internet use the "Internet Security Zone", not the "My Computer Security Zone".

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you wanted to get fancier still you could use either VB6 or VC++, both can use an IE window as part of a form / dialog, and at least in VC++ it's very easy to intercept clicks on links and process them in any way you want.

Either VB or VC could also easily take a textfile instead of HTML as input (and generate their own HTML page) or build an explorer-type widow starting from specific folder(s).

Of course that's more work than changing IE security settings. You might check tucows.com to see if someone has written a good "application launcher" or "application menu."