Downloadable Applet?

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sgharp
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Downloadable Applet?

Post by sgharp »

Hi all,

I'm a newbee to web application development and I've got to develop and application that allows the user to take several tests. I'd prefer to make this a web app. However, one of the tests must be run on the local computer as a Windows (Winform) application. This test is very time sensitive and goes to great lengths to take over the computer (restricting keystrokes, etc.). Therefore, with the inherent time latency of the web, test results would be invalid if a traditional web application were used. In the past, this has always been done with a standard Windows forms application. I'd prefer a web application so that I can ensure that users are always using the latest version of the product.

Can this be done?

TIA...
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jackpf
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Re: Downloadable Applet?

Post by jackpf »

Wait, so....you want an online test that can restrict keystrokes?

I'm not sure what you mean about invalid results due to time latency of the web either....
sgharp
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Re: Downloadable Applet?

Post by sgharp »

jackpf wrote:Wait, so....you want an online test that can restrict keystrokes?

I'm not sure what you mean about invalid results due to time latency of the web either....
There are several tests. The on-line aspects of the tests would not restrict anything. These would only be questionnaires conducted as a normal web application. The timed test is what would have to run as a WinForm application and this particular test times user responses down to the milisecond. Therefore, if I try to do this timed test from a web app, the lack of predictability in the round-trip time to the server between responses and the time needed for the browser to load the next page would invalidate the test. My question is: Can a web application download and run a WinForms application as one element of a suite of tests?
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jackpf
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Re: Downloadable Applet?

Post by jackpf »

Ahh I think I see.

Well, a browser would never let a website download and run a program on a person's computer.

You could however write an active-x control that downloaded and ran the program...but this would obviously only work on IE. And I have no experience whatsoever writing active-x controls, so I wouldn't be able to help you there.
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Maugrim_The_Reaper
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Re: Downloadable Applet?

Post by Maugrim_The_Reaper »

Javascript might be a possible solution - it can track keystrokes on a form element, maintain a time record, and much more. It's main disadvantage is that a user could edit the javascript used by the test (since it's executed client side). If that is worth examining in your case, look at a user friendly library like jQuery or Dojo to get a feel for what they are capable of without requiring you to write a mass of javascript upfront.
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jackpf
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Re: Downloadable Applet?

Post by jackpf »

Yeah...people could easily modify the results though.

If you trust your testees then it'd be ok though :P
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