Mikeys monthly remedial question....... What is............
 

Active X?

In layman terms please

:thumb:

Here you go, Active X and what it's all about.

ActiveX is software components from Microsoft. They enable sound, Java applets and animations to be integrated in a Web page.

It makes interactive web pages that look and behave like computer programs, rather than static pages. ActiveX controls may be used with Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser to interact with web pages. ActiveX controls provide functions similar to Java Applets.

So why would an I.T manager be asking me if he can control a printer through Active x :confused:

Thanks for the input sofar dudes :D

Presumably so he can control the printout of a web page from within the page itself (rather than going through the print options of the browser - would be easier to configure for multiple users from an it point of view). I'm sure it could be done, but I'm not not entirely sure it woyuld be worth the effort, especially as it forces the users to only use internet explorer...

p.s. ActiveX are not software components from Microsoft, they are components that work in Microsoft browsers. Anyone can write them ;)

Picky :) ActiveX was developed by Microsoft.

Often used for inserting nasties too .......

Summat new every day ;)

ActiveX was developed by microsoft but anyone can write the scripts.

They are VERY VERY powerful and one example of this is windows update uses to install patches etc.

Is there an echo in here ;)

Seriously though, they are best avoided where possible. It ties you to internet explorer, and because there are many malicious activex components out there on the web, most companies do not allow them to be installed on work machines just in case. They offer very low level access to the computer hardware, and so they can do no end of damage in the wrong hands...

Not VERY VERY, just as powerful as anything else like VB or Java (etc).

Thank you Mr Young :)