[WEB4LIB] Launching apps from Netscape

[TMGB]

Subject:
        Re: Shortcuts to DOS programs
   Date:
        Thu, 25 Jun 1998 11:26:40 -0700
   From:
        TMGB <bennettt at am.appstate.edu>
     To:
        Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at library.berkeley.edu>

The solution I found last Fall which enabled us to go to a
single Web interface for our menu is NTScript (info below).  Set up NT Script
as a helper file in netscape and you can test the notepad link from:

http://www.library.appstate.edu/Admin/Tower_Test/index.html

and if you don't feel safe about whats really in the prg file you can download
it on netscape by holding shift when you click on it and open it up in notepad
to see what it says.  NT Script allows me to run anything that is locally
executable including connecting to our CD Tower and using QVT Term with
preconfigured login and passwords.  I found NT Script originally at

http://www.bhs.com

Beverly Hills Software = a good repository for demo, shareware, and freeware
NT and Win 95 software.

How I set up ntscript for Navigator as follows:
Description of type: NT Script File
File Extension:       prg
Mime Type:           application/x-ntscript
Application to use:  c:\path2ntscript\ntscript.exe

The application has much more powerful uses than what I have done with it
especially network uses.  I also had to setup the Mime type on the server as
well so I'm not sure how it will react to just run it locally.


Thomas

--- Program Info --------------------------------------------------

NTScript                                  Jason Simotas
                                          jsimotas at rethinkit.com
                                          Rethinkit Software
                                          www.rethinkit.com
                                          (c) 1996,97
--- Pricing -------------------------------------------------------

NTScript is not free but it's not crippled in any way.  If you use
this program, you must register it.
NTscript   ............................   $40
10 pack     ............................  $300
100 pack    ............................ $2500

Send payment to:
Rethinkit Software
POB 157
New York, NY  10113-0157
Make check to: Jason Simotas
Include e-mail address for registration
code and update notifications.

--- Description -----------------------------------------------------
ver 2.47
A 32 bit scripting language for Windows 95 and NT.

- Use notepad to create script files (.prg)
- Perform common administrative functions
- Useable in login scripts or as standalone scripting tool
- Read / Write registry settings or .ini file settings
- Copy and Synchronize files / direcotories
- Read / Write text files
- Call other programs based on date and time



James Klock wrote:

> Until recently (a few hours ago), we had a set of computers that were using
> networked CD-ROM products for public-access reference purposes.  I've just
> replaced these with Windows NT boxes that get the majority of these
> services on-line.  There are, however, a few hold-outs: products that we
> still run locally.
>
> I've heard it said that there are ways of setting things up so that
> following a link from Netscape will in fact open a local application, which
> is not a plug-in and does not use any Netscape functionality.  The most
> obvious way would be to set up the Netscape Preferences to recognize a file
> extension and open it in an appropriate application.  A FILE:// link to the
> datafile you want to open would then launch the external app to view that
> linked-to file.
>
> The problem I have with this is that the linked-to file has to be
> "downloaded" into memory by netscape-- a lengthy process when you're
> talking about multimegabyte databases.  Is there a better way out there?
>
> James



--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas McMillan Grant Bennett           Appalachian State University
Computer Consultant II                  University Library
bennettt at am.appstate.edu                http://www.library.appstate.edu/admin/
Voice:  704 262 2797   FAX:    704 262 3001

In librarianship--as elsewhere--the quality of service is not measured by
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