SiteKiosk makes it possible for you to run any external application directly (i.e. without feedback) from within the browser. It is also possible to do this manually from any web page (
see code example below).
Note:
Click here to learn about the applications whose employment we consider reasonable and not so reasonable ..»
Options
Show "Programs" button
Once you have checked this box, the user will be able to launch the applications you specified in either of two ways:
- Via the START button in the task bar
- Via the Programs button in the tool bar
If you use the Payment Module in combination with SiteKiosk, your users will not be able to launch any applications until they can dispose of credit. Also, all applications launched from within SiteKiosk will be closed as soon as the credit balance amounts to ZERO.
Activate automatic ProgramPatcher
Some external programs require special access rights to function properly, in particular, if you use SiteKiosk as a restricted user. For other programs used on a public access terminal, you may want to ensure that certain directories/folders are deleted upon certain actions.
The ProgramPatcher makes sure that these settings are applied to the most common programs for the user who is executing SiteKiosk.
Press the button "Check for updates" to perform an online search for current ProgramPatcher settings. If new data is available, the existing data is overwritten with this new data.
You can also expand the ProgramPatcher by settings used for additional applications. To do so, edit the file ..\SiteKiosk\SystemSecurity\patcher.xml (e.g. using Notepad). At the beginning of the xml file you will find a description on how you can create your own entries.
You are welcome to send us your self-created additions by e-mail (support-europe@provisio.com) so that we can integrate them into our online updates.
External Programs
Notes for HTML programmers
Important Note!!
Make sure that the HTML page you programmed has scripting permission within SiteKiosk! In order to receive this permission include path and file name in ACCESS / URLs with Scripting Permission.
If you like to use this script within FRAMES then you have to change the line window.external.InitScriptInterface(); to window.external.InitScriptInterface(document);.
By means of the script interface and syntax SiteKiosk.ExternalApps.Run, it is possible to start as many applications as you wish from within any web page. You may want to include a button on your Start Page which you can use to start any application.
In order to achieve this, use the following syntax:
|
SiteKiosk.ExternalApps.Run(sPath, bCheckRunning)
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sPath = Path leading to program file
bCheckRunning (Boolean) = Checks if the application is already running
- True = The application will not be launched again if it is already running
- False = No check will be performed
Example:
The following example will show you how you can open Notepad directly from within a web site. Please note that, when you are using ScriptInterface, you will first have to release, in SiteKiosk's Configuration Wizard, the URL of all sites that are not stored locally but which are located on the Web.
<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
function Init_ScriptInterface()
{
window.external.InitScriptInterface();
}
function ExecuteProg()
{
SiteKiosk.ExternalApps.Run("c:\\windows\\notepad.exe", true);
}
//-->
</script>
<title>Example</title>
</head>
<body onload="Init_ScriptInterface();">
<a HREF="javascript:ExecuteProg()">run Notepad</a>
</body>
</html>
|
Please remember to put the DOUBLE SLASHES when you specify the path!
You can, of course, also have applications launched automatically whenever the page is called. In order to do so, simply change the body tag.
<body onload="Init_ScriptInterface(); ExecuteProg()">
|
Note that in order for SiteKiosk to be able to automatically close applications started through the SiteKiosk Object Model, they need to be in the list of external applications.
Restrictions in Connection with Certain Applications
DirektX games
To some extent, the keyboard driver under Windows2000/XP/Vista/7 ensures that DirectX games can be used safely under SiteKiosk as well. However, we would like to point out to that there could be problems of various kinds when using some applications or playing games under SiteKiosk. We cannot guarantee that all applications/games will work flawlessly under SiteKiosk! Our suggestion: Test every game/application individually before you use it under SiteKiosk.
The following problems might occur:
- The application may consume a lot of memory (set memory management to high). This can lead to an increased number of crashes when you use SiteKiosk simultaneously with the running program.
- Since some applications allow the user to adjust the settings for brightness, contrast etc., the terminal can be preconfigured by these adjustments.
Using the Payment Module to charge users for using applications
In general, the Payment Module only charges the user for the time spent on HTML pages and not for using applications. Should you desire to put up an additional charge for running applications, you will have to adjust the configuration accordingly under Payment Devices / Service Rates.
Running an application fails
Many applications are started with the help of a small RUNTIME which in turn launches the actual application. If this happens, in addition, by means of parameters, it might be that the desired application cannot be run directly from within SiteKiosk.
Opening and saving of files disabled by default
Applies to Win98/ME/NT as well as Win2K/XP unless SiteKiosk is run on a limited user account.
For security reasons, opening or saving files under Win98/ME/NT is prohibited to ensure that users will not be able to access the hard drive in any way. This, of course, makes the use of a majority of applications next to impossible. What you can do under Win2K/XP, though, is assign limited user rights to the registered user.
Problem: Other applications open webpages within the Internet Explorer
As of version 6.0, SiteKiosk will allow you to assign the display of
Web documents to the SiteKiosk browser. The main benefit of this is
that whenever other applications (e.g. Messenger) call up an HTML link,
this link will open directly in SiteKiosk rather than (as it used to
be) in Internet Explorer (which was then suppressed by SiteKiosk).
Provided you are using at least Wind2K SP3 or WinXP SP1, you will find
the corresponding settings under "Start/Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs/Set
Program Access and Defaults." There choose SiteKiosk as your default Webbrowser. You can change the default browser settings every time.
Problems in connection with the limited user account (Vista/WinXP/2000)
There are some applications and games that cause problems when launched under the limited user account. Some of them simply won't start and/or keep displaying error messages.
The reason for these problems, for the most part, is that some applications on their first start automatically set up user related settings. This, however, is not possible in most cases after the SiteKiosk Security Manager has finished writing the security settings.
There are two possible ways to solve this problem:
- Launch the applications once while logged on with the SiteKiosk user before limiting the user rights with the help of the Security Manager
- Should you already have limited the user rights, you ought to set them back by clicking on "Load unrestricted profile" located on the first page of the Security Manager's Configuration Wizard.
After that, launch your desired applications once while logged on with the SiteKiosk account. After you have done that, change to an administrator user and enable the limited SiteKiosk user rights again using the option "Reset to default configuration."
Note:
Unfortunately, there are a few applications or games that you will only be able to launch while logged on as an administrator. One application that falls into this category is Microsoft's "Age of Empires". Read more on starting applications under another user account here...>
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