Launching a client side application

[Jamief]

Hi All,

I'm trying to launch a client side application from a coldfusion page. Is it possible?

I'll expand. I would like to be able to call methods from a client side dll or run a client side executable. The dll or exe automatically opens word, uses a macro that calls a third party product to conduct a mailmerge using a template and then closes word.

This has to occur on the client because we don't want word opening and shutting on the server (it's not installed on there anyway)

Hope someone out there can help. My search has not turned anything up so far. In fact everything I've seen implies it is server side only.

Thanks in advance
Jamief

[Mitch]

I don't believe that CF has a native way of doing this as cfexecute is only server side.

If you have an idea of what the path to the client side file is you could do try using a frame to redirect the client to a path like C:\windows\system32\notepad.exe. You will likley run into some major security issues, but if users know what is going on and are willing to agree to the security warnings it may work.

You might look into ActiveX controls. Microsoft and others use them to push updates so I'd think that the sort of thing you are talking about is possible.

[petarddd]

Your only option is an ActiveX control or a signed Java Applet. In both cases, your side will issue a warning in some way, depending on the browser (IE will show the yellow bar on the top of the window) - the user will have to agree to install the activeX/applet and after that it will be able to access the client machine.

Other than this, there is no way a web site can access any application on the client machine (think of the security issues here :)).

[Jamief]

Thanks guys, thought as much.

I realise the security implications, it is running on an intranet.