Welcome to www-Sharp.ClrHost

www-Sharp.ClrHost is an extension for Internet Explorer HTML applications. It contains some enhancments:

Host .Net objects with OBJECT tag;
Place .Net control on HTML page with OBJECT tag;
Bind ADO.Net DataSet to HTML controls with dataSrc and dataFld attributes;
CompileáHTML application into single file.

Why Use HTAs

Historically, programming languages like C++ and Microsoft Visual Basic« have provided the object models and access to system resources thatádevelopers demand. With HTA it is now time to add Dynamic HTML (DHTML) with script to that list. HTAs not only support everything a Web page doesùnamely HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), scripting languages, and behaviorsùbut also HTA-specific functionality. This added functionality provides control over user interface design andáaccess to the client system. Moreover, run as trusted applications, HTAs are not subject to the same security constraints as Web pages. As with any executable file, the user is asked once, before the HTA is downloaded, whether to save or run the application; if savedáto the client machine, it simply runs on demand thereafter. The end result is that HTAs runs like any executable (.exe) written in C++ or Visual Basic.

HTAs are suited to many uses, whether you are prototyping, making wizards, or building full-scale applications. Whatever DHTML and script deliver nowùforms, multimedia, Web applications, HTML editors, and browsersùso can HTAs...and then some. Best of all, HTAs make some tasks easier. The simplicity of generating prototypes using HTAs makes it possible for program managers and designers to script dialog boxes and alerts while the C++ or Visual Basic developers program the underlying functionality.

Why Use www-Sharp.ClrHost

HTML applications have some advantages over standard Win32 and .Net Windows Forms applications:

They are easer to write. If you are able to create home page and write some functions with JScript or VBScript you are ready to write your first HTML application. If not ùáHTML application is the easest way toálearn programming.
HTML applications have reacher and more customizeable user interfaceáthanáWin32 and .Net Windows Formsáapplications. With HTML you design user interface and with Win32 and .Net ù you program it. Using cascading style sheetsálet you apply skins to an application with almost no efforts. Page-oriented applications, navigation directly from one page to another, page history, and moreábecome available to your application. Windows applications also don't support text very well, especially when you try to mix text and graphics on the same page. Creating a Windows application that automatically flows text around graphics and that responds to user-initiated changes in the window size and user preferences for fonts and readability is a huge amount of work and with HTML application this is done natively without efforts.
HTML application can have multiple entry points ù i.e. when installing application you may create some items in Programs menu that will start program with differentástartup pages.
Dividing development to designing user interface and programming application logicáwill produce more qualitative application.
Using .Net objects and controls in HTML applicationámakes full power of .Net framework available to your application. HTML application becomes as powerfull as .Net Windows Forms application and combines advantages of both worldsáù HTML and Win32.

How to use www-Sharp.ClrHost

Use of www-Sharp.ClrHost is very easy. All you need is toáadd OBJECT element in your HTML page, set parameters with PARAM tags and use properties and methods from JScript, VBScript or other ActiveX script language. All www-Sharp.ClrHost elements except ClrControl should be added in HEAD section ù they are not visual. ClrControl should be added in BODY section as anyáother ActiveX control.

Compiled HTML applications are produced with HTA compiler ù htac.exe. Startup file is index.hta in the root application directory.

www-Sharp.ClrHost SDK contains some examples that shows basic use of its objects.

Installation

Compiled HTML application requiresáadding some registry entries. These entries could be added by executing install.reg file that could be found in Install directory of www-Sharp.ClrHost SDK.

If HTA uses .Net framework, www-Sharp.ClrHost should be installed too. It can be installed by addingáCODEBASE attribute to OBJECT tag for the first www-Sharp.ClrHost object in startup page or it can be installed by installation project. HtaClrHost.cab is located in redist directory in www-Sharp.ClrHost SDK and is avaiable at http://www-sharp.com/downloads/HtaClrHost.cab .

To install with application installator you should place HtaClrHost.dll into %SYSTEM%\www Sharp_ ClrHost\ directory and register it for COM (registration for COM will automatically register Compiled HTML application, so no other registry keys are required) . Sample installation project for popular InnoSetup installer is located in Install directory of www-Shrap.ClrHost SDK.

Additional files

www-Sharp.ClrHost includes 2 manifest files: mshta.exe.manifest and hh.exe.manifest. If you will place them into %System% directory (usually C:\Windows\System or C:\WinNt\System32) all HTML applications and HTML help files willáuse XP styleácommon controls (open/save dialog boxes, trees, tab controls etc.)áon Windows XP. Those files will not affect prior Windows versions.

To see XP-style HTML pages you may include

into HEAD section of HTML page.

Learn more about HTAáon MSDN.