Description of ActiveX Technologies

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02a for Windows 3.1

SUMMARY

ActiveX is an open integration platform that provides developers, users, and Web producers a fast and easy way to create integrated applications and content for the Internet and Intranets. Using ActiveX, you can easily insert multimedia effects, interactive objects, and sophisticated applications into a Web page, creating a user experience comparable to that of high quality multimedia CD-ROM titles.

MORE INFORMATION

ActiveX is a standard that enables software components to interact with one another in a networked environment, regardless of the language(s) used to create them. Most World Wide Web (WWW) users will experience ActiveX technology in the form of ActiveX controls, ActiveX documents, and ActiveX scripts.

ActiveX Controls

ActiveX controls, formerly known as OLE controls or OCX controls, are components (or objects) that you can insert into a Web page or other application so that you can reuse packaged functionality that someone else programmed. For example, the ActiveX controls that are included with Microsoft Internet Explorer allow you to enhance your Web pages with sophisticated formatting features and animation.

A key advantage of ActiveX controls over Java applets and Netscape plug-ins is that ActiveX controls can also be used in applications written in many programming languages, including all of the Microsoft programming and database languages.

ActiveX Documents

When browsing with an ActiveX-aware Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, ActiveX documents enable you to open an application with its own toolbars and menus available. This means you can open non-HTML files, such as Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word files, using an ActiveX-aware Web browser.

ActiveX Scripting

ActiveX scripting supports most popular scripting languages, including Visual Basic Script and JavaScript. ActiveX scripting can be used to integrate the behavior of several ActiveX controls and/or Java applica- tions from the Web browser or server, extending their functionality.