Microsoft to impact Active X in next IE.

Regarding the Eolas/Internet Explorer ruling and MS changes to IE.

[HughMungus]

Microsoft Corp. late Monday announced a series of changes to Internet Explorer to address a recent jury verdict against it in a Web browser patent infringement lawsuit.

New retail and OEM versions of Windows XP will have a modified version of Internet Explorer 6 in early 2004 but Microsoft has not yet determined whether it also will alter IE service packs or downloads, said Michael Wallent, general manager of the Windows Client Platform at Microsoft.

In the modified IE, Microsoft is changing the way the browser handles Web pages that use Microsoft's ActiveX Controls, its version of an applet, including Macromedia Flash, Apple QuickTime, Real Networks RealOne, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Sun Java Virtual Machine and Windows Media Player.

The change will mean that Web developers must update methods used in Web pages with ActiveX Controls or users will face a dialog box asking them to click "OK" for the Web browser to load the control, Microsoft officials said.

[bcolflesh]

The Macromedia folks opened up 3 new groups on their news server to discuss strategies in regards to the change - what I notice when I read MS workaround page is that it appears I can set a parameter and stop the Alert box, regardless of the other parameters used to call it - which negates the entire ruling in effect...

[bcolflesh]

For those who haven't read it:

msdn.microsoft.com/ieupdate/activexchanges.asp#userexperience

[Slade]

Our CF developer kind of shrugged it off, but I think it will put some hiccups in our web app.

bcolflesh,
The tag, NOEXTERNALDATA, is only to be used if you don't pull in more data/content via the object that isn't supplied explicitly as a param.

I'm not sure what would happen if you told it NOEXTERNALDATA but referenced some external content anyway...

[bcolflesh]

I'm not sure what would happen if you told it NOEXTERNALDATA but referenced some external content anyway...

Exactly.

[txbakers]

users will face a dialog box asking them to click "OK" for the Web browser to load the control

Doesn't this happen anyway? Everytime I've accessed a site that required an Active X control I've been prompted to accept it.

[bcolflesh]

Doesn't this happen anyway?

Depends on your Security Zone settings - it might do that by default.

[edited by: bcolflesh at 2:26 am (utc) on Oct. 8, 2003]

[jamesa]

Apple has posted a tutorial on how to prepare your sites for the upcoming change:

• Preparing Websites with Active Content for Upcoming Changes to Internet Explorer for Windows
  [developer.apple.com]This document describes changes that can be made to the way web pages are coded, so that webmasters, website owners, businesses, and individuals can ensure their websites will continue to provide a similar experience for all visitors no matter what browser they are using... The HTML changes proposed here are backwards compatible with current browsers, but necessary for users of the changed Internet Explorer for Windows.
  

See also:

• Authoring Websites for Compatibility with Internet Explorer for Windows FAQ [developer.apple.com]

• Creating the Best User Experience for Active Web Content [developer.apple.com]
  

[txbakers]

nice links - thanks!