forum.vdsworld.com

[Serge]

well, i have come across a major snag now

i developed a keyword researching program that relies very heavily on the browser element

in an attempt to avoid the problems found with running the browser element under a non-administrative mode under xp, i changed my code over to using vdssurfx.dll

after over 1 hour of doing so, i came across the problem that vdssurfx.dll does not have a command similar to @dlgtext(browser1)

this sadly means that my program is only of use to people running windows 98, me and xp under the administrative mode

if someone has a suggestion for what i can do, i would love to hear it

jules, i fully understand your reason to write software just for yourself and am probably headed that way too

serge

[Serge]

would it be possible for someone to put together an easy to follow help file on the whole issue of installing and running a program under xp taking into account the whole issue of multiple users?

to that end, the help file would include things like:

- how to install a program so that only the current user can run it and access his/her data?

- how to install a program so that all users can run it and access the data?

- how to make a program load with windows under the current user only?

- how to make a program load with windows for all users?

- where to save settings in the registry only for the current user?

- where to save settings in the registry for all users?

- where on the hard disk data can be saved so that only the current user can access it?

- where on the hard disk data can be saved so that all users can access it?

- explain the "guest" login available under xp to test user limitations without the need to create a dummy login

- and so on . . .

i would be prepared to make a donation of around US$15 for such a document if it was comprehensive and easy to follow, may be others like me who know very little about user access would likewise make a donation?

serge

[jules]

[marty]

[Serge]

hi marty,

i need to be able to pick up the text content of the browser element and not the html content

this is usually done using @dlgtext(browser1) with the vds browser element but i cannot use that command with a browser element created with vdssurfx

is that something you can do? i assume that vdssurfx.dll is yours?

i would be so grateful i you could do that

serge

[marty]

Ok here is an UNofficial update of VDSSURFX, which contains a new command:

[Hooligan]

Serge,

You might want to check out this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prnd_urs_xbqd.asp

Although it is written in M$'s usual unreadable fashion, the info is quite valuable. Be sure to check out all three links on that page, as they all have valuable info. I have found that by doing a google search of some of the keywords, a lot of good info is available on user privileges and permissions.

Hooligan

[PGWARE]

- how to install a program so that only the current user can run it and access his/her data?
Current User is Logged into computer; if not an admin account you should limit the ability to install software to follow Windows guidelines and system administrator policies. However if you do wish to install software, the limited account would need to install the software other than to the Program Files directory. Limited Accounts should install to My Documents directory. You also will NOT be able to place any files in the Windows dir or Windows System dir. Basically under a limited account you need to make certain the software is self contained into a single folder and installed somewhere in My Documents. I honestly do not recommend you allow limited users to install software; your installer should prompt them to have the system admin install the software. As a system admin account you basically have full access to entire computer; therefore software should be installed to Program Files dir.

- how to install a program so that all users can run it and access the data?
You would be logged in under a system admin account. You would install the software to the Program Files directory. If you have inifiles, or any data files you need to write to those files should be placed into the Program Files\Common Files directory. The Common Files directory allows ANY user to access that data in the directory.

- how to make a program load with windows under the current user only?
You would add a registry key to start up the program at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\

- how to make a program load with windows for all users?
You would add a registry key to startup the program for ALL users at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\

- where to save settings in the registry only for the current user?
You can save your software data in the registry ANYWHERE within the HKEY_CURRENT_USER data tree. Note that each user has his/her own unique HKEY_CURRENT_USER registry data tree and other users CANNOT access (view, write, read, delete) that data.

- where to save settings in the registry for all users?
You will write data anywhere within the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry data tree. All users (limited and admin) can READ data from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Only admin accounts can delete and write data from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, limited accounts cannot (again they can only read).

- where on the hard disk data can be saved so that only the current user can access it?
If you only want the current user to access data within a file on disk, you should place it within the My Documents directory for that user account.

- where on the hard disk data can be saved so that all users can access it?
You should use Program Files\Common Files directory so all users can access the data (read, write). This is good for inifile or other types of files that need to be written to disk and shared by all users.

- explain the "guest" login available under xp to test user limitations without the need to create a dummy login
The GUEST account is a limited account built into Windows. You should be able to use this account to test your software without any problems.


You can obtain an installer product such as InnoSetup - http://www.jrsoftware.org which handles and correctly installs software for ADMIN and LIMITED accounts. It will also warn if an admin account needs to install the software (optional). Also note as a limited user account, the user can RIGHT click on the file and click 'RUN AS' allowing the limited account to run the software under another users privileges (preferably an admin account; provided they know the other accounts password). This allows a user to install the software under admin privileges without having to log off and log in again.

[Serge]

wow...pgware, i just had a quick look at your post and it looks fantastic

i will print it and read it slowly over a latte as i can't read long and serious stuff on the screen

thanks again pg, it's just what i was after and needed

serge

[Serge]

pgware,

great stuff indeed, thanks a bunch for this

a few more questions if i may,

- how can you work out the username of the person logged in under xp?

- how do you find his/her My Document (to further make use of "My Documents directory for that user account" as given in your reply above? is it under his/her login name?

everyone,

i would like to say that i am happy to put together into a pdf document pgware's previous post along with any information or tips anyone would like to share on this issue for the benefit of folks like me who need educating in that whole area

so if anyone has information or tips to share, please post them or if you have questions on this topic that others would be happy to answer, i will add them to the pdf file

the pdf file will be free and available from vdsworld when finished, with due credit to all its contributors

thanks in advance

serge

ps i am not planning on editing the information, just copy and paste

[marty]

Serge... is the updated VDSSurfx useful? Will you use it?

Thanks.

[Serge]

hi marty,

i wasn't sure if the update was for my benefit or not as your post and my post both shared the same time

i could use it but it means having to save the file, open it in a list and then copy the contents of the list to a variable

i don't want to put you out on this but is it possible to have a new command to just assign the contents of the browser element to a variable?

thanks

serge

[Hooligan]

Serge,

[Skit3000]

[Serge]

thanks hooligan and skit - just what i was after

serge