Hey all.

Im trying to set up a gaming site with a friend of mine and we'd like to have a link that will run an exe (already installed on the users machine) with command line additions...

Like they click a link to JOIN SERVER XYZ and it runs the game and connects to said server. Is that possible? If so how could it be done?

Thanks.

hmm, i'm not sure this is actually possible.

It might be worth checking out how ActiveX controls work, as i'm sure that might have something that can help.

If not ActiveX then maybe look in Java to be able to bridge the gap between computer and server.

Also, this has been posted in the wrong place!

I think the best way would be to actually write a protocol. Protocol's like http. ftp, irc, etc are identified in links using something like this:

http://www.myserver.com/mydirectory
ftp://ftp.myserver.com/mydirectory
irc://irc.myserver.com/mychannel

You cannot force apps to be run on a user's pc unless they are have a client and have allowed that client to run when a certain protocol is requested. I am assuming you have some kind of game or something that is going to be installed on the pc. It really comes down to a programming (windowsAPI and things) and not a web problem.

I know this is confusing but it might be better suited on a programming forum and not a web development forum.

-dk

its possible look at some of the game server indexing sites. they allow you to connect to said server. you best bet is probally to find one and ask nicely if they could explain how they did it!

Wouldnt that be a HUGE security flaw?
I doubt it's possible on FireFox.

You could always ask them for their path to the exe, and then when they click on it it will open the exe, as it would for a jpeg or text file.

why not just make your software run an extension like .ext like winamp does , then when the user downloads it your software will know what to do with it

I agree with HaRRo, just add something on to your game that will access the internet - that way you dont have to worry about it.

Like the Valve System, that's pretty clever really. This isn't really a PHP related post. You should be looking at coding

It won't be possible. With the security setting on Internet Explorer these days and Norton Antivirus. Even if it was possible. There would be many road blocks.

It is possible and I'll briefly explain how....

First, you must make sure that firewalls do not get in the way. Then in your client side app create a listening socket and make sure its a service (running all the time). Now all you have to do is make that link trigger some php to send a socket response to the client side app (IP needs to be known for this obviously). When the client side app responds succesfully you can send your packets of data to be interpretted by the client side app, i.e. launch the game.