I want to open a program by JavaScript on the clients computer? (WScript.shell)

Question

I tried to open a program using this code:

<head>
<title></title>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
    function run() {
        var shell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.shell");
        if (shell) {
            shell.run('"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\BitTorrent\\BitTorrent.exe"', 1);
        }
        else
        { alert("BitTorrent is not installed on your system."); }
    }
</script>
</head>
<body onload="run()">

</body>
</html>

But it doesn't work. Any help, please?

Internet would be a really scary place if that would be possible to do that easy. — bezmax
– bezmax, Commented Dec 14, 2010 at 14:32
I like how BitTorrent isn't installed in yoru system if ActiveX fails to instantiate WScript.shell — bevacqua
– bevacqua, Commented Dec 14, 2010 at 14:47
@Max: Starting local applications is pretty easy when done right. Ever used Skype, Spotify, iTunes, Telnet or any other tool using a custom protocol handler that is not handled by the browser itself? — Dirk Vollmar
– Dirk Vollmar, Commented Dec 14, 2010 at 15:49
@0xA3: Yes, the only difference is that all of that examples you gave require user to manually install something beforehand. — bezmax
– bezmax, Commented Dec 14, 2010 at 17:05

Alexander Beletsky · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-14 14:30:55Z

1

It is because browser block creation of ActiveX controls, for security reasons. Moreover, ActiveX is supported only in IE; IE has options to allow run ActiveX in browser, but I have doubts that many users have this feature enabled.

answered Dec 14, 2010 at 14:30

Alexander Beletsky

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bevacqua · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-14 14:55:02Z

1

Why would you want to open BitTorrent anyways? I believe you can achieve the desired effect using magnet links

PD: Check their developers page

Update: I'm not sure if this is "legal" here, or considered "spam", if it easy please remove it, but here's a link to a site that implements magnet links to achieve what I think you might want to be doing: eztv.it. Check their

edited Dec 14, 2010 at 14:55

answered Dec 14, 2010 at 14:38

bevacqua

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Thibault Witzig · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-14 14:31:46Z

0

Check your browsers' configuration, it may block ActiveX.

Do you get any error message ?

answered Dec 14, 2010 at 14:31

Thibault Witzig

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1 Comment

John Walts Over a year ago

No I don't get any errors, it is just a blank page. I am using Mozilla Firefox.

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