The User's Job

To use your application via the Web runtime, end users typically have just one task: they must visit your Web site. If the user's browser supports the Web runtime and you have implemented the CODEBASE in your HTML code, users install the Web runtime automatically the first time they visit your Web site, and the Web runtime automatically launches your application.

If your customers do not already have the ACUCOBOL-GT Web Runtime installed on their machine when they try to launch your application, they are informed that a control for the file type was not found, and they are asked if they want to install and run your program. If they respond "Yes", the runtime installs with no further user interaction and automatically launches your program. The installation script automatically makes a file type association for ACUCOBOL-GT object files (".acu" extension) with the Web runtime.

Users must configure the browser to enable "ActiveX controls ". To do this in Internet Explorer, they should check the appropriate box in the Security tab of the Internet Explorer Options dialog.

For most users installing the Web runtime, they will be prompted to accept the digital signature of the control. The system also displays the terms and conditions for using the ACUCOBOL-GT Web Runtime. Users must agree to the terms of the agreement in order to use the Web runtime.

If your application requires access to local resources or local network resources, the user has one additional task: to edit an authorization file. If you write your application in such a way that the resources are accessed remotely (using AcuConnect and AcuServer), this step is not required. See How the Authorization File Works for more information.