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ActiveX 101

What is ActiveX?
From the Microsoft Web Site

ActiveX® controls are among the many types of components that use COM technologies to provide interoperability with other types of COM components and services. ActiveX controls are the third version of OLE controls (OCX), providing a number of enhancements specifically designed to facilitate distribution of components over high-latency networks and to provide integration of controls into Web browsers. These enhancements include features such as incremental rendering and code signing, to allow users to identify the authors of controls before allowing them to execute

What is ActiveX?
From the cNet Web Site

This set of technologies from
Microsoft provides tools for
linking desktop applications
to the World Wide Web.
Using a variety of
programming tools--including
Java, Visual Basic, and
C++--developers can create
interactive Web content. For
instance, ActiveX technology
can allow users to view Word
and Excel documents directly
in a browser.

Do I need to learn ActiveX?

Maybe.

Most small web sites do not use ActiveX.

	It only works with MSIE, unless you have a plugin for Netscape.
	It presents serious security risks for the end use (web surfer).

The main advantage of ActiveX controls vs. java:

Each ActiveX control is downloaded once. They can then be reused by any number of web sites.

java on the other hand, must be completely downloaded each time a page is visited.

WizarDave's personal opinion:

You might be better off learning another scripting language.

ActiveX 101

	Articles
	Links
	Software
	Tutorials

Sometimes the best way to learn about something is to sit down with a good book about the subject!

ActiveX books