com port

[Bob Stearns]

I have a _dumb_ serial data collection device which attaches to a com
port (or USB emulation thereof). My client wants to interface the device
to a large db2/web-enabled app I have written for them. Is there any way
to use javascript or extension thereto to access the com ports on the
client side PC? A reference to more appropriate news group would also be
appreciated.

[Martin Honnen]

Bob Stearns wrote:

I have a _dumb_ serial data collection device which attaches to a com
port (or USB emulation thereof). My client wants to interface the device
to a large db2/web-enabled app I have written for them. Is there any way
to use javascript or extension thereto to access the com ports on the
client side PC?

For Windows there are COM components like this
<http://www.activxperts.com/activcomport/>
which then expose an API to be used from various languages, including
script (e.g. VBScript or J(ava)Script:
<ftp://ftp.activexperts-labs.com/samples/acomport/HTML/index.html>)
<http://www.activexperts.com/support/activcomport/#asp>

Of course that is then Windows and IE specific and requiring the browser
user to download and trust components.

There might be solutions for other browsers/platforms too but all very
specific and requiring additional components.

--

Martin Honnen
http://JavaScript.FAQTs.com/

[Matt - EditMe.com]

Bob,

If every client user of the app will be using the serial port
interface, Javascript on a web site will not be able to do this for you
- it would pose a big security problem if you could write Javascript
that accesses the client PC's I/O. You'll have to be running some
software on the client machine that has been given security privileges
to access the serial port. You might do this with a signed ActiveX
control or Java Applet - or a traditional application the users
download from the site and install, which then handles communication
between the local serial port and your server.

Cheers,
Matt
--
EditMe - Edit your web.
http://www.editme.com

[Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn]

Matt - EditMe.com wrote:

If every client user of the app will be using the serial port
interface, Javascript on a web site will not be able to do this for you
- it would pose a big security problem if you could write Javascript
that accesses the client PC's I/O. You'll have to be running some
software on the client machine that has been given security privileges
to access the serial port. [...]

Since signed privileged scripts exist, that is not entirely true.
PointedEars

[Matt - EditMe.com]

PointedEars,

I was unaware of that fact. Where can I find info on signing and
getting privilege for Javascript running in a web browser? It would
seem to me that such a thing would make Javascript just as much a
security threat to uninformed users as ActiveX is.

Thanks,
Matt

[Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn]

Matt - EditMe.com wrote:

I was unaware of that fact.
Of which fact? <URL:http://jibbering.com/faq/faq_notes/pots1.html>
Where can I find info on signing and getting privilege for Javascript
running in a web browser?
Try Google next time.

<URL:http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Bypassing_Security_Restrictions_and_Signing_Code>
It would seem to me that such a thing would make Javascript just
as much a security threat to uninformed users as ActiveX is.

I disagree.
PointedEars