Web Deployment
The OpenROAD eClient lets you deploy an OpenROAD application in a web browser, permitting the application to access an OpenROAD Server without having to install OpenROAD on the client machine.
The OpenROAD eClient is distinct from the original OpenROAD client. The original client continues to be used for typical deployment of OpenROAD applications. The two environments can coexist on the same machine. The OpenROAD eClient can also coexist with OpenROAD 6.2, 6.0, 5.1, and 4.1 client runtimes.
Note: For requirements on deploying browser-based applications using the eClient, see the readme (readme_OpenROAD_6.2.html).
eClient Runtime Cabinet File
The OpenROAD eClient runtime is contained in a single cabinet (CAB) file that can be hosted on your web server and referenced by your HTML. Actian Corporation digitally signs this CAB file, which is automatically downloaded and installs the runtime if it has not already been installed. Users need only to click OK on the common digital signature trust dialog in Internet Explorer. No other installation or configuration is required.
eClient Application and Library Cabinet Files
Each OpenROAD eClient application must be packaged into a CAB file to enable it to automatically download and install to client machines. You can also package the shared 4GL libraries into CAB files for automatic installation. You can use the eClient packaging tools to create eClient CAB files.
For more information, see the Workbench User Guide.
How You Can Deploy Web Applications
You deploy applications to the Web using the MakeCab utility. To deploy an application to the Web, you would perform the following steps.
1. Use the MakeCab utility to create an HTML page that references the OpenROAD eClient runtime and your application, using the HTML OBJECT tags.
2. Install the HTML page, the eClient runtime CAB, and your application CAB on your web server.
3. The end user then references the HTML page from an Internet Explorer browser, and the application launches.
The web server administrator can provide new versions of the application, the application libraries, or the OpenROAD eClient runtime by simply placing updated CAB files on the web server, and then updating the version number referenced in the OBJECT tags on the HTML page. The updated components are automatically downloaded and installed on users' machines the next time the component is referenced.
Note: For more information about deploying web applications using the OpenROAD eClient, see the Workbench User Guide.