Unblockable popups

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Buffy

Reread my post: in order to control the user's interactions and reduce "confusion" (our target users are only moderately tech savvy), we run our application in a window with the browser's menus toolbars, etc. *removed*: all you see is the window frame and our application is inside it, and we provide all the navigation within it.

Gotcha.

We're almost at the point of actually writing plug-ins or installable applications on the desktop where we have the power to look at what's there and defeat it directly (kinda like trojan ad-ware does!), but we've been trying to avoid this like the plague because big F500 IT shops *hate* having to manage (or in some cases even *allow*) installation of software on user's desktops. If we can make this work with pure Javascript we are *much* better off.

Good luck with that.
Wouldn't you run into spyware problems by looking at what is installed on the desktop? In other words, trying to circumvent the pop-up blocker might trigger a spy/adware monitoring program.

Forgive him REASON, he's *way* to young to have actually seen this in anything but "I Love The 70's" on VH1....

Ahem, actually I did see that commercial during its original airing and I don't watch VH1. Nonetheless, I'll take that as a compliment.

I learned it by watching you.

[alexander]

If we can make this work with pure Javascript we are *much* better off.

do i hear, Firefox plug-in?

oh on that whole thing with browser bars removed... I actually did that when i was writing a kiosk, only i also removed the functionality behind those, that way an escape sequence will not allow you to add a bookmark (even if you dont see them), etc.

You can somewhat monitor what is going on, but only browser-wise, you needn't look farther then youos to get ideas on how to set up the environment...

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by freeztar

Good luck with that.
Wouldn't you run into spyware problems by looking at what is installed on the desktop? In other words, trying to circumvent the pop-up blocker might trigger a spy/adware monitoring program.

No. Once you're officially installed as an application, its pretty easy to scan the registry or Applications folders for the plug ins. Virus detection/spyware mostly rely on "signatures" of reported malware if they're installed. Otherwise they're looking at *external* points of entry, like probing ports or anything inside an installable browser plug-in. What I was describing above was not a browser plug-in, but rather an explicitly downloadable native app which has much more freedom of movement. Of course having to support such a beast on multiple platforms is also a no-fun exercise, but the objections from the big IT shops is actually worse.

Originally Posted by alexander

oh on that whole thing with browser bars removed... I actually did that when i was writing a kiosk, only i also removed the functionality behind those, that way an escape sequence will not allow you to add a bookmark (even if you dont see them), etc.

Yah, we do that too: disabling the right-click menus, etc.

A little dab'll do ya,
Buffy

[InfiniteNow]

Too bad there's not a way for the launch link to your app to "programmatically" hold down the Ctrl key. We struggle with the popup issue and confused end-users in our training system all of the time since we open web-based courses into new windows like you without the toolbars and menus and bars and such. If only we could make the launch link "programmatically" press and continue to hold down the Ctrl key as it's launched, instead of having to explain how to do this manually to every user...

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Too bad there's not a way for the launch link to your app to "programmatically" hold down the Ctrl key....

I know. Yet another thing you can do if you have an app locally installed, but no way to get the browser to do it...

I know alex likes to rage about it, but it really is the reason that ActiveX works the way it does. That's an evil desktop-deployed element though and doesn't pass the IT firewall...

And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear,
Buffy

[InfiniteNow]

Perhaps the IT group could push an update to all users which programs your url into the list of trusted sites. That way, no popup circumvention needed, it "knows" that yours is one to be trusted and allow popups.

So, the IT group pushes an update to add your link to the list of trusted sites:

"Allow Content from [BuffySite.com]."


Just a thought. Good luck with it all.

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Perhaps the IT group could push an update to all users which programs your url into the list of trusted sites. That way, no popup circumvention needed, it "knows" that yours is one to be trusted and allow popups.

Yah, that's what I'm talking about: the IT folks loathe to do this. We've got one customer (F50), who have a built-in six-month security review of *anything* to be pushed to the desktop. We've had a nasty bug related to IE that was fixed in an IE patch that was issued almost a year ago, but their IT group *still* has not certified the IE patch and won't distribute it for another couple of months, so we had to put a workaround in our system to fix Microsoft's problem....

Not pretty!

No, I insist, after you!
Buffy

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Buffy

Yah, that's what I'm talking about: the IT folks loathe to do this. We've got one customer (F50), who have a built-in six-month security review of *anything* to be pushed to the desktop. We've had a nasty bug related to IE that was fixed in an IE patch that was issued almost a year ago, but their IT group *still* has not certified the IE patch and won't distribute it for another couple of months, so we had to put a workaround in our system to fix Microsoft's problem....

That's ridiculous!

[InfiniteNow]

Technology Review Boards like that can be a PITA, but are necessary. It's easy to make it happen in a week if you talk to the right people and you're on the right project.

Speaking from experience.

[Buffy]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Technology Review Boards like that can be a PITA, but are necessary.

Amen. I've sat on both sides of the table....

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

It's easy to make it happen in a week if you talk to the right people and you're on the right project.

You can say that again: unfortunately, we're in a non-revenue-producing department who are lucky they got our little app budgeted at all. Heck we cost them less than a half-million dollars! We're small potatoes! And we have all the wrong friends!

The Army Way,
Buffy