PRB: JScript Runtime Error for MSDN Samples

• Microsoft Visual Studio 97
• Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, version 5.0
• Microsoft Visual J++, version 1.1
• Microsoft Visual InterDev, version 1.0

SYMPTOMS

When you click a link to access a sample (or click other similar links), the following error message appears:

   Microsoft JScript runtime error
   [Line: xxx] 'yyy' is not an object

CAUSE

Online information in the Developer Studio IDE (MSDEV) and the stand-alone MSDN uses the Internet Explorer control to display and navigate through the books online. If you disable some ActiveX technology, you will be unable to navigate much of the information and samples.

RESOLUTION

In Internet Explorer, go to the View menu and click Options. Under Security, select "Enable ActiveX controls and plug-ins".

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The InfoViewer technology used in the Developer Studio IDE is based on the Internet Explorer browser, and the security settings in Internet Explorer affect what can be displayed in an InfoViewer window.

The recommended way to protect yourself from unsafe internet applets and scripts is to prevent them from downloading accidentally. ActiveX components that you have already installed on your own computer should be safe. Either you have deliberately downloaded the component and had an opportunity to evaluate it, or you have installed the component from a CD- ROM or floppies and would only do this if you know and trust the source. Therefore, you shouldn't need to prevent local components from running to be secure.

Since ActiveX controls downloaded via the Web can be a threat to security, you can protect yourself by disabling "Allow downloading of active content". This setting is found in Internet Explorer by choosing Options on the View menu and then clicking the Security tab.

To allow all InfoViewer and MSDN books links to work, you must select "Enable ActiveX controls and plug-ins" and select "Run ActiveX scripts" from the Internet Explorer Security tab.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. On the View menu in Internet Explorer, click Options. Under Security, deselect "Enable ActiveX controls and plug-ins".

2. From Developer Studio, in the table of contents go to:

         Microsoft Developer Network Visual Studio Edition
           Technical Articles
             Applications
               Application Articles
                 Access
                  Creating Custom Text Import Wizards
   
   

3. Click to open the TEXTWIZ project files.

4. InfoViewer generates the following error:

         Microsoft JScript runtime error
         [Line: 511] 'iv' is not an object
   

5. In the Internet Explorer Security page, check "Enable ActiveX controls and plug-ins."

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q167416
   TITLE     : BUG: InfoViewer Book and Sample Links May Not Work