Install button on web-site

[AndyWCT]

Hi;

Not sure if this is the proper Forum for this question. Not even sure I worded the Title of the question correctly.

Have Access 2010. Understand how to run Package & Deploy.

What I haven't learned yet; nor after a lot of searches have found; how or what to use to accomplish the following:

Need an Install button on our web-site.

The Installation must do four things:

1. Determine the version of Windows on the User's PC.  (XP, Vista, 7)

2. Determine if the User has MSWord installed AND which version., (2003, XP, 2007, 2010)

3. Download and install the proper Access Package that matches the User's PC.

4  If the User has XP, register a DLL & OCX Service.

    If Vista or 7, register just a DLL Service.

    Note: Neither needs a reboot. Both will be in the Package / Deploy cab file.

Would someone be so kind and point me in the proper direction?

Thank You for taking the time to read this post.

Andy

[Ben M]

I don't see a way for you to do this without an IE-only application.  Plus, due to security in IE8/9 and above, most users will block any commands to scan their system for what version of Word or system applicaitons they have.  You should be able to get the OS from the server variables those.  If I were you I would head over to the MS Tech Net and post in their forums.  You will get better results, most people here are php/mySQL and won't have the understanding you need.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/categories/

[AndyWCT]

SnakEyez02;

Thank You for Your reply.

Want to add a little more information to this post before moving on.

Have already searched:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/categories/

Have searched for and found the code that should:

Determine the version of Windows & MsWord on the User's PC

Download and install the proper Access Package that matches the User's PC.

Register a DLL & OCX Service

Just don't know where to find "The Button" to start the process.

What I'm looking for is information on a "Try Me / Buy Me" button on our web-site.

To me this seems it should be soooo easy.  Millions of web-sites sell software directly from the internet.  Millions of sites have a simple button to download drivers for printers and scanners.

For instance; H/P.  A user goes to the site, selects the product and OS, clicks a button and the download / install begins.

Is there an "Insert Button" option within DreamWeaver that would accomplish that task.

Don't want to re-invent the wheel just want to know where the wheel is "hiding".

Thank You for taking the time to read this reply.

[Ben M]

There is an Insert button, it's just a simple form button.  What you need is code behind the button.  In the case of HP or graphics drivers, these companies install software on your computer to bypass security settings.  Windows and Mac OS have ways to allow developers of applications to allow their products to access the internet.  These are controlled by the OS, and they usually do testing with the Anti-Virus/Firewall companies as well so that the actions do not trigger virus or firewall warnings as well.

Wish there was something more I had to offer, but the level of programming is beyond my knowledge, and although I know what is required I do not know the code to make that execution happen, but if you post this same question in that technet forum, the users there are very knowledgeable and should be able to help you out.

[bregent]

Just to reiterate what SnakeEyez has already told you:

>1. Determine the version of Windows on the User's PC.  (XP, Vista, 7)

This can be done by reading the user agent string using your choice of server side scripting languages. These are typically retrieved as server variables.

http://www.useragentstring.com/

>2. Determine if the User has MSWord installed AND which version., (2003, XP, 2007, 2010)

This can not be done without having the user first install a client side plugin. The user agent does not expose this level of detail of the users system to the web. It's doubtful a user will install this first so they will likely have to make this choice manually.

>3. Download and install the proper Access Package that matches the User's PC.

You would write a server side script that create a link to the correct package based on #1 and #2.

>4  If the User has XP, register a DLL & OCX Service.

A webserver can't execute code on the client. The package you deliver would need to perform this step.

[AndyWCT]

Bregent;

Thank You for Your reply.  Both You and SnakeEyez have been very helpful.

The code at http://www.useragentstring.com/ will do the job of determining the windows version.

Have learned from Access Forums that "Late Binding" will do the job of determing if the User has MSWord installed AND which version., (2003, XP, 2007, 2010) and that the Package & Deploy feature in Access will register a DLL & OCX Service.

What I haven't learned yet; nor have been able to find is:

How to place a "Command Button" on the web-site that will start the entire process.

Know how to place a "Submit" button for an on-line form and know that the script for "Submit" can be changed, BUT a "Submit" button is very limited.

So the only question remaining is:

How do You place a "Command Button" on a web-site that will start the entire process?

IE: Determine the version of Windows then start the download of the "Package & Deploy" application.

Give You an example.  When You find the driver at HP.Com there is a "Download" button that when clicked starts the download.

That's what we need...

a "Download" button.

Where is the option to "Insert" a Command Button in Dreamweaver?  Is there one?  If not where do I start my search for an item that will accomplish the same thing?

Thank You for taking the time to read this post.

[bregent]

>Where is the option to "Insert" a Command Button in Dreamweaver?

On web pages, buttons are form elements. So in DW you simply need to insert the form and submit button. Of course, forms do nothing by themselves - you will need to write the script that is called by the form that will execute the file download. If you tell us which server side scripting language you are using we can point you in the right direction for a download script.

[AndyWCT]

Bregent;

Thank You for Your help! 

So new to this I didn't know what "Server side scripting language" I was able to use.  Didn't even know what that really meant.

Just talked w/a tech from Go Daddy, (Hosting Site).  Learned we can use either HTM, HTML or PHP; and that PHP would probably be the best way to go since it has more advanced options.

The account is Linux w/PHP 5.2.

The reason the account is Linux and not Windows is because our web-site is currently being published using FrontPage and only LInux has the "FrontPage Extensions" at this time.

Only recently started using Dreamweaver.  Still need to learn how to import the entire site into it then will be able to switch to a Windows based server if that offers more advanced options.

BUT

On a dead line to get the "Try Me" / "Buy Me" button working correctly.

That is priority.

So; in answer to Your question we are using "PHP 5.2" Server side scripting language.

Once again, Thank You!

[Ben M]

To go back to your first post, if you are using Access as a database, Access is not very compatible with PHP.  You can do it, but it's a mess ( http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_db_odbc.asp ) .  Plus the programming I was assuming you are using can be done with .NET because of the Windows controls that are available, but those same controls do not exist in Linux nor PHP.  Godady does offer Windows server at the same price points, and you would keep access to PHP, although on Windows some PHP functions either do not work, or work differently.  One function that comes to mind is mail.  Typically in a Windows environment it is configured using SMTP for all mail connections.

From a PHP standpoint, the closest thing I could think of is what Crucial ( http://www.crucial.com/index.aspx ) does for a memory scanner for non-IE clients.  What they do is have a user run a .exe file that executes the code you have stated you found to scan for the version and register the dll on the users computer and then launches a web browser with a variable string at the end of the URL ( ie: domain.com/page.php?somevar=somethingelse ) and they proceed to get the proper File download from the results of that executable. 

[bregent · Accepted solution]

>On a dead line to get the "Try Me" / "Buy Me" button working correctly.

You could just create a link to the package you want to download.

But a better way is to use a download script. You can search the web for 'php file download script' but here's one to get you started:

http://www.finalwebsites.com/forums/topic/php-file-download

[AndyWCT]

SnakEyez02 / Bregent

THANK YOU!  BOTH!!!

Marking this post as "Correct and Helpful".