How to pass the events and values from ocx to html or JSP

Hi,
I developed activex control using MFC activex control wizard. i need to pass events and values from activex control (ocx) to html page or JSP. Any options available
in MFC activex control wizard to pass those events and values?
Could anyone point out what I have to do next?
Thanks in Advance
Regards
Jaiganesh

It doesn't matter what framework you use to implement ActiveX - the basics for AcitiveX-to-html interaction stay the same.

Passing values between ActiveX and html is always made by means of properties defined in ActiveX.

To firing events outside of ActiveX there should be source interface (events) defined in ActiveX, a connection point mechanism should be implemented incorporating these events - and html code should be aware of ActiveX events by means of <SCRIPT ID="SomeID" FOR="AxObjectInstanceName" EVENT="AxEventEntry()">...</SCRIPT> fragments as many as many events you whish to process.

Am I clear? Or do you still need a sample?

Ok, the sample.

Component is built as MFC control. Wizard adds source interface and connection points support by default. We have to add events to control class (right-click in class view and select Add Event... in context menu) and provide some way to fire them. Since our component absolutely dumb we'll make synchronous event firing - Test1 event will be fired on RunTest1 method (of default dispinterface) call, Test2 event will be fired on setting component's OutName property.

As I previously said HTML page (Test.htm) includes two <script> entries - for each event of the single object instance. RunTest1 method is called by correspondent button click, another button been clicked sets the OutName property value equal to editbox text.

Another sample. Now we have ActiveX control which have child dialog with edit box and button. Text input from edit is fired to HTML page by button click. This is another way to pass some value to container - to implement event with parameter. But previous mechanism (where event with no parameter serves for notification purpose only, but data are passed through properties) stays suitable too (but not implemented in this sample - see previous one).

I was asked for a kind of step-by-step tutorial for last sample.
Let's see how it could be implemented in VC++6.

1. Run MFC ActiveX ControlWizard for AxMfcTest2 project

• at first screen change nothing and press Next
• unselect Has an "About" box
• select Available in "Insert Object" dialog
• press Finish (since we're going to implement control with child dialog there will none of window classes subclassed)
• press OK

2. Add event to control class

• At ClassView tab select _DAxMfcTest2Events interface with right click and select Add Event... in context menu
• in Add Event dialog put string "SetText" to External Name field and in Parameter list add parameter szText of BSTR* type.
• press OK

Now we have:

• eventidSetText = 1 added to enum{}
• void FireSetText(BSTR FAR* szText) protected method added to class CAxMfcTest2Ctl
• EVENT_CUSTOM("SetText", FireSetText, VTS_PBSTR) entry added to event map of the class

3. Add child dialog resource to project:

• add dialog resource, rename it to IDD_MYCTRL
• delete all controls set by default and add static, edit box (IDC_TEXT) and button (IDC_SETTEXT)
• tune dialog resource settings:
  - style -> Child
  - border -> None
  - check Control
  - check Control parent

4. Generate dialog class for child dialog:

• in resource editor right-click dialog resource and select Class Wizard
• push OK on Create a new class proposal - New Class wizard dialog should appear with Base Class field set to CDialog and Dialog ID field set to IDD_MYCTRL
• put CMyCtrlDlg class name and press OK
• in class wizard dialog select IDC_SETTEXT object ID and doubleclick BN_CLICKED message to generate OnSettext() method
• close wizard dialog with OK
• add #include "AxMfcTest2Ctl.h" to MyCtrlDlg.cpp includes
• add handler code to Settext() (see sources)

Code:

---

// MyCtrlDlg.cpp
void CMyCtrlDlg::OnSettext()
{
        // TODO: Add your control notification handler code here
        CString szText;
        GetDlgItemText( IDC_TEXT, szText );
        CAxMfcTest2Ctrl* pctrl = (CAxMfcTest2Ctrl*)GetParent();
        pctrl->SetText(szText);
}

---

5. Tie together dialog and control classes:
Note: You can see call for non-existent method SetText(CString szText) in code of handler, so we have to add this method to control class to provide event firing with string passed to it

• add void SetText(CString szText) to control class (see sources)

Code:

---

    // AxMfcTest2Ctl.h
class AxMfcTest2Ctrl: public COleControl
{
. . .
public:
        void SetText(CString szText)
        {
                BSTR sText = szText.AllocSysString();
                FireSetText( &sText );
                ::SysFreeString( sText );
        }
};

---

Note: Now you can see that we have dialog class but there were no its instances created yet

• add #include "MyCtrlDlg.h" to AxMfcTest3Ctl.h includes
• add protected CMyCtrlDlg m_dlg member to control class

Code:

---

. . .
#include "MyCtrlDlg.h"
. . .
protected:
        CMyCtrlDlg m_dlg;

---

6. Add missing parts of control code with Class Wizard:

• run ClassWizard and select CAxMfcTest2Ctl class
• add handler for WM_CREATE message

it will be needed for creation of child dialog window

Code:

---

int CAxMfcTest2Ctrl::OnCreate(LPCREATESTRUCT lpCreateStruct)
{
        if (COleControl::OnCreate(lpCreateStruct) == -1)
                return -1;
       
        // TODO: Add your specialized creation code here
        ASSERT( ::IsWindow( GetSafeHwnd() ) );

        if( m_dlg.Create( IDD_MYCTRL, this ) )
                m_dlg.ShowWindow(SW_SHOW);
       
        return 0;
}

---

• add OnSetObjectRects() overriding method

it will resize control window to dialog size

Code:

---

BOOL CAxMfcTest2Ctrl::OnSetObjectRects(LPCRECT lpRectPos, LPCRECT lpRectClip)
{
        // TODO: Add your specialized code here and/or call the base class
        CRect r;
        m_dlg.GetWindowRect(r);
        r.OffsetRect( lpRectPos->left - r.left, lpRectPos->top - r.top );

        return COleControl::OnSetObjectRects(r, r);
}

---

7. Compose test HTML page according to sample

• go to AxMfcTest2.odl and copy AxMfcTest2 coclass uuid
• paste it into <object> tag after CLSID: (no braces!)

Code:

---

<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META NAME="GENERATOR" Content="Microsoft Developer Studio">
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1251">
<TITLE>Document Title</TITLE>
    <script id="OnSetText" for="AxMfc" event="SetText(sText)">
    Text1.value = sText;
    </script>
</HEAD>
<BODY>

    <object id="AxMfc" width="300" height="220" classid="CLSID:1130F708-876F-4AC8-858E-7CE744557F85">
    </object><br>
    Text got from ActiveX:<br>
    <input type="text" name="Text1"><br>

</BODY>
</HTML>

---

8. Build the project, run the page and test it.

Finally you will get the project same to attached one.

Now we will add to our MFC ActiveX ability to report its safety.

To make it seemed safe for browser we have to implement two category registration for our control. These categories are CATID_SafeForInitializing and CATID_SafeForScripting.

For this purpose we have to add to our AxMfcTest2 project the AxMfcTest2CtrlCatReg.cpp file (see attachment) and ensure its RegisterControlAsSafe and UnregisterControlAsSafe functions to be called on ActiveX registration and unregistration respectively.

BTW, you may be surprised with such code in AxMfcTest2CtrlCatReg.cpp:

Code:

---

        CLSID CLSID_AxMfcTest2;
        hr = CLSIDFromString( L"{1130F708-876F-4AC8-858E-7CE744557F85}", &CLSID_AxMfcTest2 );

---

The string "1130F708-876F-4AC8-858E-7CE744557F85" is got from AxMfcTest2.odl - it is just UUID of coclass AxMfcTest2.

Now let's get back to registration/unregistration.

The code of AxMfcTest2.cpp should look like this (changes are in bold)

Code:

---

. . .
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// DllRegisterServer - Adds entries to the system registry

// here we won't mess with header and declare them right here
HRESULT RegisterControlAsSafe();
HRESULT UnregisterControlAsSafe();

STDAPI DllRegisterServer(void)
{
        AFX_MANAGE_STATE(_afxModuleAddrThis);

        if (!AfxOleRegisterTypeLib(AfxGetInstanceHandle(), _tlid))
                return ResultFromScode(SELFREG_E_TYPELIB);

        if (!COleObjectFactoryEx::UpdateRegistryAll(TRUE))
                return ResultFromScode(SELFREG_E_CLASS);

        HRESULT hr = RegisterControlAsSafe();
        if(FAILED(hr))
                return hr;

        return NOERROR;
}


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// DllUnregisterServer - Removes entries from the system registry

STDAPI DllUnregisterServer(void)
{
        AFX_MANAGE_STATE(_afxModuleAddrThis);

        HRESULT hr = UnregisterControlAsSafe();
        if(FAILED(hr))
                return hr;

        if (!AfxOleUnregisterTypeLib(_tlid, _wVerMajor, _wVerMinor))
                return ResultFromScode(SELFREG_E_TYPELIB);

        if (!COleObjectFactoryEx::UpdateRegistryAll(FALSE))
                return ResultFromScode(SELFREG_E_CLASS);

        return NOERROR;
}

---

That's all. Build control and have fun! :)

Igor, why don't you right an article about what you explained above? It would be great!

Yes, I already thought about to write article. Thanks for your approval. :)

Hi Igor,

I am a java guy, looking for a quick solution for a small component i need. Your code (AxMfcTest2) helped me a lot.

Just for one quick change, i need exact same exept in opposite. I mean i want to set text when a button(i mean <input type="button"...) clicked on html. I want to pass text from html text box to activex text button when html button is clicked.

I appreciate if anyone tells me how to do it.

Thanks,
John

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zxmn50

Hi Igor,

I am a java guy, looking for a quick solution for a small component i need. Your code (AxMfcTest2) helped me a lot.

Just for one quick change, i need exact same exept in opposite. I mean i want to set text when a button(i mean <input type="button"...) clicked on html. I want to pass text from html text box to activex text button when html button is clicked.

I appreciate if anyone tells me how to do it.

Thanks,
John

---

If ActiveX button has Caption property just set it to value you need

or other way you can use some default interface method for this:

Code:

---

<object name="myAx" ...></object>
<input type="text" name="my_edt"><br>
<input type="button" name="my_but" onClick="myAx.SetCaptionString(my_edt.value);">

---

Igor,

Please don't mind. I didn't understand what you said because i don't know vc++. Could you explain little more details or sample code would help.

I have text box and button in html. I have text box in activesx control. When we click button on html, text should pass from html text box to activex control text box.

Thanks so much for your help, i have been searching and trying to read about mfc activex controls, it's just been taking long time.

Thanks,
John.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zxmn50

Please don't mind. I didn't understand what you said because i don't know vc++. Could you explain little more details or sample code would help.

---

My reply was in HTML, not C++. :)

Quote:

---

I have text box and button in html. I have text box in activesx control. When we click button on html, text should pass from html text box to activex control text box.

---

Now your description looks more clear.

You have to think in object categories. Your button and ActiveX dialog are objects of some HTML page. The button press will fire its onClick handler. There you can call the method of ActiveX dialog object passing him the string what you want. This method will set the dialog's edit text with the string you passed. If you implement the ActiveX acording to my sample, you have to know its dialog is just a Windows object having no interface to outer world, I mean it has no communication abilities to HTML's virtual machine except the abilities given to him by the ActiveX control which wraps the dialog. So, to make the string from HTML be able to reach the dialog you have to have the method in ActiveX which will receive the string, access the internal dialog object and instruct it to set the edit text.

You have to add the method to ActiveX (that addition detailed actions will depend on VisualStudio version), say SetEditText(BSTR text).

And finally in it you do:

Code:

---

  m_dlg.GetDlgItem(IDC_SETTEXT)->SetWindowText(text);

---

In HTML the button control should look like:

Code:

---

<input type="button" . . . onClick="myAx.SetEditText(someTextString);">

---

hi Igor,

Thanks for reply, i was in offline for past 3 days.
Sorry to bug you again. Yes, yyou understood my problem, but i was not sure where to add the additional method you mentioned.
I tried to do the way you said, but it didn't work. surely, i am missing something.

I attached sameple project from vc++ 2005, its basically same code from you, with little modifications.

The purpose of control i am doing is to show a baloon from html. The message has to come from html.
AcitveX control has a text box, and one button.
Html page has one text box and a button. When user clicks on html button, Text from Html text box needs to pass to Activex control text box and when user clicks on activex control button it has to show baloon in tray icon.

Right now activex control is working itself. the problem only i have is passing text from html textbox to activex textbox.


Please check page1.html file to test.

Thanks for your help, please suggest where to write that additional method to accept html text.

John

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zxmn50

I attached sameple project from vc++ 2005, its basically same code from you, with little modifications.

---

Well, John, I've recognized it. :)

Quote:

---

The purpose of control i am doing is to show a baloon...
...please suggest where to write that additional method to accept html text.

---

Ok, I got it.

As it must be a method of default interface, you declare it in IDL and dispatch map.

Code:

---

// AxMfcTest2.idl
        dispinterface _DAxMfcTest2
        {
                properties:
                methods:
                [id(1)] void SetMsg(BSTR szMsg);
        };

// AxMfcTest2Ctrl.cpp
BEGIN_DISPATCH_MAP(CAxMfcTest2Ctrl, COleControl)
        DISP_FUNCTION(CAxMfcTest2Ctrl, "SetMsg", SetMsg, VT_EMPTY, VTS_BSTR)
END_DISPATCH_MAP()

---

Now DISP_FUNCTION macro ties together interface method SetMsg and class member function SetMsg, so don't miss it:

Code:

---

// AxMfcTest2Ctrl.h
protected:
        void SetMsg(LPCTSTR szMsg);

// AxMfcTest2Ctrl.cpp
void CAxMfcTest2Ctrl::SetMsg(LPCTSTR szMsg)
{
        m_dlg.showBalloon(szMsg);
}

---

That's it. Now it works fine.

Wonderful, Thanks Igor. I made few changes to send more parameters, and more functionality. It’s all working fine now.

I spent lot of time trying to learn c++ mfc, discovered lot of things.

One last question, how do i convert this activex using from shared DLLs to use Static libraries. I don't want this activex to have dependency on client machine.


Thanks again,
John

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zxmn50

I spent lot of time trying to learn c++ mfc, discovered lot of things.

---

Sure you have a lot of them not discovered yet. ;)

Quote:

---

One last question, how do i convert this activex using from shared DLLs to use Static libraries. I don't want this activex to have dependency on client machine.

---

Well, right now I just went to ActiveX project properties and set 'Use of MFC' to 'Use MFC in a Static Library'. Rebuilding after that I've got the OCX free of MFC-dll dependency. It seems still working good, though now it weighs 300K.

And I'd like to say the MFC ActiveX seems to be bad choice for the control which is distributed via web. You ought to take a look at ATL-based controls - they look much more slim. But you must be aware of that: the ATL is absolutely different beast. Of course it would be better to tame them both - MFC and ATL. :D

Igor,
I meant not to run as using shared dlls from windows on client machine when shipped with browser. I am not using any other control in my ActiveX, it's a simple control for tray icon balloon.

I am Ok with size, but i am trying for less dependency on client machine.

Thanks,
John

Thaks Igor,

You posted last message before me. I got size of 2.55 MB for .ocx file.
how do you know the size before packaging? Is there any quick packaging tool for cab in Vc 2005, like for VB?

-John

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zxmn50

I got size of 2.55 MB for .ocx file.

---

Pretty much, huh? Against 300K of mine. It must be a lot of true color pictures in it to reach such a huge size. ;)

Quote:

---

how do you know the size before packaging?

---

Do you really think I do? No, no... I build first, then I know. :)

Quote:

---

Is there any quick packaging tool for cab in Vc 2005, like for VB?

---

I use old good CAB SDK and know nothing about whether VB can do OCX packaging or can not.

No, no. I don't have pictures or colors.
I also did static and rebuild your version test3.zip, still AxMfcTest2.ocx is 2616 KB. I am just wondering what file size you were telling for 300kb?

John

I believe you've built debug version, 'cause my debug build of OCX has 1.8M. But release (that one which must be shipped to customer) has 299,008 bytes. Since I've built this with VC7.1 but not VC8 the size of files of yours might be slightly bigger.

Another note:
In case your OCX is intended to be used not in web pages apparently there must be some installation application. This latter would register OCX in customer's system and install all modules the OCX is depending on. So you concerns about reduction of dependencies might be excessive a bit.

But finally it's all up to you.

PS. By the way your balloon would fail on W2k, I think so, because you didn't set version as required. I'm not give you 100% - but you'd have to check it for sure.

You are right. I used debug version of ocx file. I don't know how to get release verion to distribute.
We have complete java application, we needed this control to alert user, witouht disturbing him(he can continue working on other browsers or applications).
My intension is to load this ocx in client machine on our site login, and remove on logout.

I didn't test this on w2k? what would i need to run this on w2k? Do i need to pack dependents(?) even if i pack with static library links?

Thanks,
John

Hi Igor,
i got few more Q's, if you don't mind,

Is it possible to do ATL?
What is release ocx file than debug ocx, i took from debug folder, its too big!
How do i know what are dependents on ocx( i am using static Libs)?
How do i package including depndents into a cab file? (i made cab with cabarc using just debug ocx and inf file)
Is there any way i package(cab file) including dependents using installshield?


Thank you,
John

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zxmn50

Is it possible to do ATL?

---

Sure it is. This possibility is highly stipulated by your skills - C++ in general and ATL in particular. :)

Quote:

---

What is release ocx file than debug ocx, i took from debug folder, its too big!

---

The release version of some binary module is the module free of additional information needed for debugging purposes. You have to select Release configuration on the Build toolbar - it would result in creation of Release subfolder in your project folder. There you can find release version of your OCX on build get finished.

Quote:

---

How do i know what are dependents on ocx( i am using static Libs)?

---

You can use the MS utility called Depends. Search your VC installation folder or MS site for it.

Quote:

---

How do i package including depndents into a cab file? (i made cab with cabarc using just debug ocx and inf file)

---

Search MS site for INF description - I believe [Add.Code] section is the right place where you specify all modules to be installed in client system on CAB import.

Quote:

---

Is there any way i package(cab file) including dependents using installshield?

---

See above.

Hi Igor,

As you know, I have MFC ActiveX control with MFC static library, i am using .ocx file from release folder to cab.
It works in my machine, but it's not working on different machines, means its not auto registering. Am i doing anything wrong here? Please help...

My cab command is,
cabarc.exe N AxMfcTest2.cab AxMfcTest2.ocx AxMfcTest2.inf

My html has,
<OBJECT ID="AxMfcTest21" WIDTH=100 HEIGHT=51
CLASSID="CLSIDBA2A4AB-B5FC-46AE-8530-56A857C5DA2F"
CODEBASE="AxMfcTest2.cab#version=1,0,0,0">
<PARAM NAME="_Version" VALUE="65536">
<PARAM NAME="_ExtentX" VALUE="2646">
<PARAM NAME="_ExtentY" VALUE="1323">
<PARAM NAME="_StockProps" VALUE="0">
</OBJECT>


My .inf file looks like,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[version]
; version signature (same for both NT and Win95) do not remove
signature="$CHICAGO$"
AdvancedINF=2.0

[Add.Code]
AxMfcTest2.ocx=AxMfcTest2.ocx
; These are the necessary supporting DLLs for MFC 4.2 ActiveX Controls
mfc42.dll=mfc42.dll
msvcrt.dll=msvcrt.dll
olepro32.dll=olepro32.dll

[AxMfcTest2.ocx]
file-win32-x86=thiscab
clsid={DBA2A4AB-B5FC-46AE-8530-56A857C5DA2F}
FileVersion=1,0,0,0
RegisterServer=yes

; dependent DLLs
[msvcrt.dll]
FileVersion=4,20,0,6164
hook=mfc42installer

[mfc42.dll]
FileVersion=4,2,0,6256
hook=mfc42installer

[olepro32.dll]
FileVersion=4,2,0,6068
hook=mfc42installer

[mfc42installer]
file-win32-x86=VALUE=http://activex.microsoft.com/controls/vc/mfc42.cab
run=%EXTRACT_DIR%\mfc42.exe
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:

---

My html has,
<OBJECT ID="AxMfcTest21" WIDTH=100 HEIGHT=51
CLASSID="CLSIDBA2A4AB-B5FC-46AE-8530-56A857C5DA2F"
CODEBASE="AxMfcTest2.cab#version=1,0,0,0">
<PARAM NAME="_Version" VALUE="65536">
<PARAM NAME="_ExtentX" VALUE="2646">
<PARAM NAME="_ExtentY" VALUE="1323">
<PARAM NAME="_StockProps" VALUE="0">
</OBJECT>

---

What's this? Apparently it should look like:

Code:

---

CLASSID="CLSID:DBA2A4AB-B5FC-46AE-8530-56A857C5DA2F"

---

Please, use CODE tagging for code snippets.

Well, except this little misunderstanding your code looks almost perfect. Are you sure the CAB file is placed next to your web page file? Since you specify no folder, it must be in the same folder.

BTW, if the site lives on Linux (or any other *NIX system) make sure about file name case matching absolutely. :)

Does OCX is copied to client sytem?
I cannot see those additional dlls are packed into CAB. All modules mentioned in INF must be present in CAB, and their versions must match absolutely.

Hi Igor,

CLASSID is correct, some how this forum has formatted and took out colons. But my html has correct CLASSID. I have both html and cab files on the same folder. <b>If I register activex control manually using regsvr32, its working fine.</b>, Its supposed to auto-register on browser load.

The only thing i am missing from your reply is additional dlls(mfc42.dll, msvcrt.dll, olepro32.dll), i didn't add them to cab.

I am using VS2005 standard edition, are these dll's of correct version? Also when i searched for theses dlls in my machine, i found multiple copies with different sizes, from which folder should i pick?

Coming to my first target, control shouldn’t have any dependency in client machine. By adding these dlls, am I breaking my first rule? or do I need to add anything more to cab?

Thank you,
John

Sorry, i should have tested before posting last message.
Anyway, it worked if i package all 3 dlls in cab. I took them from system32 folder. Do i need all these 3 dlls?

Now cab size became 850kb. Is there any way i can reduce the size? by still sticking to first rule "no dependency on client machine" with MFC.


p.s. this is simple activex control, with only trayicon and balloon features.

Thanks

I believe those dlls you've mentioned are present on any Windows since original Windows 2000 (to be precise, Windows NT4 of some latest servicepack already got them), so I doubt if you really need to place them to cab. Anyway, you may place any module you chose - the only thing must be taken into account is the correct file version specification.

To make sure your cab acts correctly you may clean up your own system from OCX and open the web page with your <object> - the OCX must get installed in your system.

To clean up your system you may unregister OCX manually and make sure no your class registration is present in %SystemRoot%\Downloaded Program Files folder.

hai ,

We already discussed about How to pass values from ocx to JSP?.Right Now i have issue in deploying the activex control (ocx) in Internet.Any browser block the Ocx for security purpose.Browser ask certificate to verify the code.If i reduce my security level in browser.It will work fine otherwise.It won't download.How to sign the ocx or How to make ocx as safety one?whether any free tool is available to sign the ocx.

Regards
R.Jaiganesh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jaiganeshbe

We already discussed about How to pass values from ocx to JSP?.Right Now i have issue in deploying the activex control (ocx) in Internet.Any browser block the Ocx for security purpose.Browser ask certificate to verify the code.If i reduce my security level in browser.It will work fine otherwise.It won't download.How to sign the ocx or How to make ocx as safety one?whether any free tool is available to sign the ocx.

---

First of all your control must declare itself safe for loading and scripting (unwind this thread). Finally the CAB file must be signed. For this purpose you have to purchase (or obtain it any other way) the sertificate for code signing. The signing itself is done by free MS tool SignCode.