How to attach an .exe file to a hyperlink?! [Archive]

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help99

11-20-2002, 02:18 PM

Hi!
Does anybody know how to attach an .exe file to a hyperlink so that it executes automatically? The way I have attached it at present, it doesn't execute automatically!
Thanks

krycek

11-20-2002, 02:21 PM

You can't :)

The browser will always give the user the option to save the file, or run (open if it is a document).

The best you can do is to instruct the user to select the run option rather than the save option... but of course the user may not obey you!

::] krycek [::

help99

11-20-2002, 02:27 PM

Hi again!
I am developing an installation guide, so I need the setup.exe to run when the user presses the hyperlink for it. Anyway around using maybe Javascript?!
Thanks

Dalziel

11-20-2002, 02:38 PM

I am developing an installation guide, so I need the setup.exe to run when the user presses the hyperlink for it. Anyway around using maybe Javascript?!
Thanks

No :(

While you are using this legitimately if you could run a program automatically on clicking a link you could run one automatically on page load, and to me that would be an unacceptable security risk. Anyway you can't do it, simple as that, sorry :mad:

help99

11-20-2002, 02:45 PM

Well I'm developing this installation guide for a CD not a website at present. The guide basically has 3 options, Install, Explore CD and Exit setup. Only MS Frontpage is made available to produce the guide, so thats where I am.
Any more suggestions?!
Thanks

krycek

11-20-2002, 02:57 PM

...look, I don't think you understand.

It doesn't matter if it for CD, internet, intranet, etc. etc.

If you use an HTML-based system, whether it uses JavaScript or not, what you are asking is NOT possible, and never will be.

The reason, as Dalziel said, is security. If it were possible to do what you are asking, then the potential for malicious use would be unthinkable. That is why the user ALWAYS has to give permission, and ALWAYS has to choose an action, run/open or save.

The only way you could do this automatically is to use something like Visual Basic to create your own program, and shell the setup.exe from there. However, that option is not as good, because you could not guarantee compatibility with system X. HTML, on the other hand, is not platform dependant, so you do not have to worry about that.

Besides, it is always polite to ask the user what they want to do, rather than deciding for them.

So, there you go.

::] krycek [::

Dalziel

11-20-2002, 07:05 PM

i saw a sort of way round it once but it looked shoddy and it wasnt really a way round it, it was stupid, do it if you want though.

Two frames, one with instructions in one actually displaying the icons from the CD folder (IE can do that, reference just a folder for frame src) but as I said, lame and not advisable, doesn't work online :D