how do I launch my c# application from a web page?

[dongarbage]

Hi there,

I'm very new to activex controls and c# programming.


I'm writing a c# application and I want it to be invoked when my users
click a button on a web page. Its an application with a GUI so the app
would come up and be running independent of the web browser (i.e. not
embeded in it). Also note, that this application is one that is already
installed
on my users' machines. How do I do this? Is there a reference on the
web with some good examples of this? I've looked through the msdn docs
and got a bit lost.


Thanks so much for the help,
Don

 

[David Browne]

Hi there,

I'm very new to activex controls and c# programming.


I'm writing a c# application and I want it to be invoked when my users
click a button on a web page. Its an application with a GUI so the app
would come up and be running independent of the web browser (i.e. not
embeded in it). Also note, that this application is one that is already
installed
on my users' machines. How do I do this? Is there a reference on the
web with some good examples of this? I've looked through the msdn docs
and got a bit lost.

Easy. Just publish it as a ClickOnce app to your web server.


ClickOnce
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa497348.aspx

David

 

[dongarbage]

I believe ClickOnce is for application installation/deployment.

I'm not looking for an application "installation" solution, rather, I'm
looking for an application "invocation" solution.

I want users to be able to run the application, which is already
installed on their machine, from a web page. For example, when a button
on a web page is clicked, the application is invoked, running outside
of a browser window.

Don

 

[William Stacey [C# MVP]]

| I'm not looking for an application "installation" solution, rather, I'm
| looking for an application "invocation" solution.

first time yes. After that, it will just start local. You also get the
benefit of seemless deploy of new versions.

 

[dongarbage]

William,

Hey, cool, I think ClickOnce IS what I need. I'll report back with my
progress.

Thanks,
Don

 

[dongarbage]

Ok, so ClickOnce gives you the "publish.htm" file that users access to
install your application. But, how do you launch the application after
it has already been installed and the user re-visits the site?

Thanks,
Don

 

[David Browne]

You launch it with a hyperlink to the .application url.

Something like

http://servername/WindowsApp1.application

Look in the publish.htm, and you should see such a link.

David

 

[dongarbage]

ClickOnce almost does what I want. However, there are a couple of
additional things I want to do with my application which I believe are
a challenge with a ClickOnce application.

1. The application is one which is to be purchased by my website's
users. So, before the application is installed, the user must purchase
the application.

2. The user must accept a user license before installing the
application.

3. The "lauch" button which would be located on the web page should
either launch the application for a valid licensed user, or, direct the
user to the software purchase page.

Thanks,
Don