I've used this code a long time ago but I cannot remember what it is.
It's something like <a href="run:// but I cannot remember the exact syntax. Any help is appreciated.

http://htmlhelp.com/faq/html/design.html#run-program

Not quite what I'm looking for....

I'm am writing a page for all of our call center employees, and what I am trying to do, is put a link on the page that will launch a program that they have on their machine (ticketentry.exe).. I want them to be able to click the link and launch their local app instead of using the server app.

What's to stop someone else from creating a link that runs "format c:" or something equally malicious?

Presumably this is being used in an intranet and the Webmaster isn't going to allow that.

Having said all that, all you need to do is provide a simple Anchor pointing to the executable. It's easier than you are making it out to be. For example:


Change out the link to notepad with whatever you want. Now there are caveots to this working properly:

1. It will have to be installed in the exact same directory on all of your machines. In a call center environment I would think that would be the case.
2. Your agents will need to click on little dialogs that the browser window pops up for their protection to allow the executable to run. These are different in each browser.

Good luck,

John

Sure, but if the browser functionality was there it could be used anywhere.


If the browser is IE or maybe Opera. Even if it is, I have a fealing the download dialog won't satisfy the OP.

And from a corporate security point of view, you really don't want to train employees to click OK when they get that dialog.

This is an intranet site, and not accessable to the outside. What we're esentially trying to do, is lock users desktops to a certain page, and only have the programs they can use linked on that page.

I understand the security issues though..

It seems as though FireFox, and IE7 both do not like that command. I'm yet to try it on IE6 but am about to go do that right now. (All users have IE6 as we haven't rolled out Vista yet)

with that... IE6 doesn't run it either.. That code isn't working.
(I even tried your code, and it failed)

Try using the file protocol.
<a href="file:///c:/windows/notepad.exe">

FF won't offer to run the app whatever you do, but it should offer to download it.

That didn't work either. I've tried almost every variation that I can think of for this.

Why not use the desktop, with shortcuts instead of links? In addition, Windows lets you use a web page as a desktop background.

I see what you're saying..
BUT, the users have a website now that they go to... and it has a link for "ticket entry", which points to a file on the server (te.exe) that they all use...

They also have the file on their local machine. We want for them to click that link and launch their local application instead of having 100 people using the server app.

Came to think about something. What browsers do you guys use at work? Is it all IE? I'm not sure, but I think applications be run from a HTA. At least you can use Windows scripting. Maybe someone else knows, I've just played with simple, non scripted HTA.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default....htaoverview.asp

Yes, everyone is using IE6

Everything I have tried, has failed.. I KNOW this can be done though because I've done it a long long time ago. I just don't remember how. I know for instance, you can open irc://irc.server or aim:// so there has to be a way to open a local program.

<a href="file://C:/WINDOWS/notepad.exe

worked with the .hta extension... THANK YOU !!!!!

Really? I get the usual dowmload dialog. Maybe that's what you meant?

Otherwise I think I found how to make your dream come true.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcen...05/hey1031.mspx

Works like a dream. This was fun!

Don't know what happens when you put it on a server, but I guess you have low security for your intranet. Please let us know.