How to run this ActiveX based javascript in Firefox

Question

I am trying to run the below code which launches notepad. IE tab is nice solution, but loading is slow. I gave the try to ff-activex-host.I downloaded the binary exe. I copied the npffax.dll to firefox plugin folder(C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugins) . But, still the above code is not working. I am getting the message "ActiveXObject is not defined" in web console. Can anybody shed a light on this issue?. Please clear me of running this code. This is the code I am trying.

var commandtoRun ="C:\\WINDOWS\\notepad.exe";
var oShell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");
oShell.run(commandtoRun);

EDIT: Any suggestion to run the above code in firefox is welcomed.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2490713/how-to-run-a-local-exe-in-my-firefox-extension — c69, Apr 15 '12 at 12:29
`npffax.dll` is outdated and unsupported, you shouldn't use it. You should write a proper extension if you need advanced functionality. — Wladimir Palant, Apr 15 '12 at 13:57
@Wladimir Any link or sample code can make a great help to me. — prabhakaran, Apr 15 '12 at 16:02
@prabhakaran: You already have the sample code in the answer below. Other than that: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/24772/how-do-i-write-a-firefox-addon — Wladimir Palant, Apr 15 '12 at 16:05

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:25

1

Here is sample code from MDN:

var file = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/local;1"]  
                 .createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);  
file.initWithPath("c:\\myapp.exe");  
file.launch();

Keep in mind, this is not cross-browser and will not work on Linux. If this is critical for you, - use nsIProcess interface, https://developer.mozilla.org/en/XPCOM_Interface_Reference/nsIProcess

answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:25

c69

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Is it possible to pass command line arguments in this?. If it is so can you say how to do that?. – prabhakaran Apr 15 '12 at 12:41
1

yes, will need to use `nsIProcess`. See example, near the bottom of the linked page, it shows, how to pass args. – c69 Apr 15 '12 at 12:49
1

Doesn't work with the latest versions of firefox, the components object is getting deleted – Nathan van der Werf Jun 18 '13 at 19:28
intersting... @NathanvanderWerf do you have a proof link ? with rationale and workaround (if any) ? – c69 Jun 18 '13 at 22:03
1

Didn't find any workaround, but try this code in firefox and you'll get the error in firebug console from firefox :) – Nathan van der Werf Jun 19 '13 at 18:24

How to run this ActiveX based javascript in Firefox

1 Answers1