So to summarize. DeskBro is short for Desk Browser. I have been looking to use a web browser to launch programs for quite a while now and it seemed that using ActiveX was the only way to do it. This brought with it a few problems to do with browsers and it was never really completely satisfactory. Now I have found a simple bit of HTML that will do it (typical isn't it?). Just add shortcuts (.lnk files) to the subdirectory and away you go. It is intended to fulfil the following possible functions:-

• Launch programs on the local drive from within a browser
• Display Help pages, Readme files, Windows help files, related Internet sites for local programs.
• Both Browse the Web and the local drive.
• Pages can be devoted to local programs (a page for each module of M$ Office for example).
• A company bulletin board. Store DeskBro on your network server to be called up by all users when they use their browser (set this as the default web page to load or specify the page on the command line).
• Replace the Windows Desktop with something more personal.

DeskBro can also be personalised or themed (using a suitable editor such as FrontPage Express) and different pages can be made available for different members of the family (one for the kids, one for teenagers etc...). It enables the Desktop and the Internet to be available on one screen and in the friendly environment of the browser. Pages can be bookmarked in Favourites just like other web pages and back and forward buttons work in exactly the same way as usual. Internet Explorer can be launched from the Startup menu when the computer first boots to make this you primary user interface. For further information, please refer to the DeskBro article menu here.

Warning:- You will need to set your browser security to medium for it to work which may give rise to security issues. You use DeskBro at your own risk and no responsibility can be accepted by the author arising from the use or misuse of this product. It is intended for use on a local drive and putting it on an Internet Web Server is NOT recommended. DeskBro is EmailWare - if you like it and wish to continue using it then send me an email to the address below. Thank you for your interest.

P.S. Have you written pages for DeskBro? Please send them to me so that I can make them available to others on my web site (or send me the URL where they are stored). Thanks.

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