Posted on: September 30, 2009
ActiveX refers to a framework introduced by Microsoft in the year 1996 to define reusable software components, which perform specific functions that are independent of programming language used to implement them. The reusable software components are called active controls and these components are used in software applications to provide functionality. Some of the applications that use these components are Internet Explorer, Microsoft visual Studio, Windows Media player and Microsoft Office etc. An ActiveX plug-in is a third party programs that provides specific function by interacting with the host application. The advantages of using plug-ins are reusability and extensibility. These are also called addin, addon, add-in, add-on, snapin or snap-in etc. The main uses of plug-ins are - Third party developers improve the application by extending it with new capabilities.
- New features are added.
- The size of the application is reduced.
- Separates source code from incompatible software application licenses.
Most of the Microsoft applications like Microsoft Office, Internet explorer, Microsoft outlook etc utilize ActiveX components that allow custom commands and specialized features. There are subtle differences between plug-ins and extensions with respect to web browsers. Plug-ins are external binary components that are installed using plug-in API like ActiveX Plug-in API for internet explorer and Netscape Plug-in API for Netscape to manage new types of multimedia files. Extensions are nothing but instructions that work with the logic of the browser and may not be treated as external binary files. ActiveX controls are small specialized blocks of program that make distributed computing possible over the network. ActiveX plug-in takes the distributing computing one step further by making the application extensible. These components are comparable to java applets, but unlike Java applets, these work only with Internet Explorer and Microsoft Windows operating system only. ActiveX Controls are very powerful indeed, since granting access to these components allows higher level of control over windows. This is not possible with java applet. Malicious programs can be installed without computer user's knowledge and can be dangerous. The ActiveX controls can be written in MFC, ATL, C++, Borland Delphi, C# and VB. These controls are commonly used in command buttons, list boxes, dialog boxes, and the Internet Explorer browser
Post Link
|