Different computer documentation

• Client technology ActiveX (Active Desktop)

• Server technology ActiveX (Active Server)

ActiveX - the technology of Microsoft intended for a spelling of network applications. It gives to programmers dial-ups of the standard libraries considerably facilitating process of coding. If earlier at writing of programs mechanisms OLE (OLE Automation, OLE Documents, OLE Controls were used...), based on a component object model (COM - Component Object Model) now libraries OLE are rewritten so that to provide functionality, sufficient for writing of network applications. Thus, now at writing of programs it is used DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) - the distributed component object model, and implement its libraries ActiveX which on volume appeared much less, than libraries OLE, and on speed - faster. Compatibility was saved also - any program component OLE will work with libraries ActiveX.

As the most dynamically developing direction in the computer industry is Internet, here most naturally can find the place the programs written with usage of technology ActiveX. Not casually recently concepts ActiveX and Internet often meet nearby. At the same time technology ActiveX has much more general-purpose area of usage.

Standard ActiveX allows program components to interact with each other on a network irrespective of a programming language on which they are written. By means of ActiveX it is possible to "recover" pages Web effects of multimedia, interactive objects or difficult applications. ActiveX provides certain "fastening solution" with which help separate program components on different computers "stick together" in uniform distributed system.

ActiveX includes client and server parts, and also libraries for the developer:

• Programming elements ActiveX - the components working on the computer-client, but loaded for the first time with сервреа Web. With their help it is possible to show the heterogeneous information which is including video and a sound without start of additional programs. Moreover, these program components can be used in the applications written in any popular programming languages, including Java (a Visual J ++), Visual Basic, a Visual C ++.

• Active Scripting supports any popular macro language, including Visual Basic Script and JScript (implementation by the company of Microsoft of scripting language JavaScript). Macro languages can be used for join on one page of several programming elements ActiveX or Java, providing their interaction among themselves.

• Documents ActiveX allow to open and process in a window of Microsoft Internet Explorer the document of any format (for example, a file of Microsoft Excel or Word).

• The virtual machine Java allows any Internet browser supporting technology ActiveX (for example, Internet Explorer 3.0) to fulfill program components Java and to provide their interaction with program components ActiveX.

• ActiveX Server Framework provides server functions ActiveX, including support of safe connections, access to databases and others.

• Development means allow to use familiar programming systems of Microsoft and other firms for creation of components ActivX. Visual Cs concern their number ++, Macromedia Shockwave, Adobe Photoshop, Borland Delphi, programming aids Sybase and others Visual Basic.

Primary benefits of usage of technology ActiveX:

• Fast writing of the program code. Programming of network interactions becomes very similar to programming for the separate computer.

• Openness and mobility. Technology specifications have been transferred recently in Open Group as a basis of the open standard. Besides, the Microsoft together with companies Metrowerks and Bristol finishes implementation of technologies ActiveX for platforms Macintosh and UNIX.

• Possibility of an applications writing with usage of familiar means of development. Programming elements ActiveX can be created by means of Visual Basic, a Visual C ++, Borland Delphi, a Borland C ++, any means of development on Java.

• A considerable quantity of already existing programming elements ActiveX which free of charge can be applied on servers Web and in applications of independent developers. Besides almost any program component OLE is compatible to technologies ActiveX and can be applied without modifications in network applications.

• Стандартность. Technology ActiveX is based on widely used standards Internet (TCP/IP, HTML, Java) on the one hand and the standards entered in due time Microsoft and necessary for saving of compatibility (COM, OLE).

Client technology ActiveX (Active Desktop)

ActiveX it is implemented by the machine-client by means of the libraries delivered together with Internet Explorer 3.0. Further these libraries will be added and correspond, in particular, the most significant updates of these libraries on the client it is necessary to expect after output NetShow, the product intended for optimal transmission on a network of given multimedia.

Program components ActiveX can be installed automatically on the computer of the user on a network from a remote server, and the code approaching for a specific platform of the client, whether it be Macintosh, Windows or Unix will be loaded. The developer of web pages can or to program itself elements ActiveX, using popular programming languages of a Visual C ++, Visual Basic or Java, or to use the existing. Examples of ready programming elements can be found to the address http://www.microsoft.com/activeplatform/default.asp.

Using scripting languages ActiveX, programmers can provide interaction of various elements ActiveX, Java, other programs on the client computer and various parts most Internet Explorer. For example, the synchronization programming element can update page Web through certain time intervals. It is possible to launch periodically also a programming element, drawing attention of the user. There are implementations Visual Basic Scripting Edition, being a subset Visual Basic, and JScript. Besides, the developer can write the interpreter of own scripting language and add it in system.

With ActiveX Documents a sign everyone who worked with compound documents. By means of Internet Explorer it is possible to work, for example, with tables of Microsoft Excel and files of other office applications. It does the browser by a universal remedy capable not only to display files in format HTML and to carry out passages under links, but also supporting operations with documents of any applications and even start of programs.

Server technology ActiveX (Active Server)

The server part of technology ActiveX is implemented by means of Microsoft Internet Information Server 3.0. By means of ActiveX it is possible to write programs on scripting languages (now it VBScript), executable on the server. If earlier developers had to use such means, as Microsoft Visual C ++ for writing of the dynamic link libraries using special calls Internet Server API the applications writing on a scripting language now is possible. It essentially simplifies development, reduces time of a spelling of the program and minimizes expenses. The programs based on technologies Active Server on the order are more productive the programs based on Common Gateway Interface (CGI). It is reached by optimization of processes ActiveX on the server, considering architecture Windows NT.

By means of scripting languages on the server it is possible to provide access to the management systems databases supporting standard ODBC, and to use the mechanism of transactions.

As the approach to usage of technologies ActiveX on the server is standardized, programmers can not only develop the applications, capable to be fulfilled on servers, but also to implement the circuits of correlation of server applications and services, to create own interpreters of server scripting languages. Preliminary acquisition of the license at Open Group for this purpose is required.