I've noticed that there are 2 ways we can create ActiveX object in JavaScript, one is by embedding:

<object id="TestControl" classid="clsid:xxx-xx-xx-xx"></object>

and then later on obtain object using DOM:

var myControl = document.getElementById('TestControl');

Another way is to create instance of ActiveXObject:

var myControl2 = new ActiveXObject('Test.TestControl');

What exactly is different from ActiveX object perspective? Is one approach better then the other? Are there any differences in performance?

Thanks.

I've noticed that there are 2 ways we can create ActiveX object in JavaScript, one is by embedding:

<object id="TestControl" classid="clsid:xxx-xx-xx-xx"></object>

and then later on obtain object using DOM:

var myControl = document.getElementById('TestControl');

Another way is to create instance of ActiveXObject:

var myControl2 = new ActiveXObject('Test.TestControl');

What exactly is different from ActiveX object perspective? Is one approach better then the other? Are there any differences in performance?

Thanks.

• javascript
• internet-explorer
• activex
• activexobject

1 Answer 1

The two are pretty much equivalent.

The <object> notation is official HTML; var myControl2 = new ActiveXObject('Test.TestControl'); can only be used in a scripting language like JScript or ASP; it isn't available for HTML directly.

Also: the "object" notation takes a class ID: all you need is the ActiveX object installed on your system (or installable over the Internet). The Javascript example you gave has a PROGID ... which requires 1) the ActiveX object already be installed, and 2) the ActiveX object must have a PROGID (which is optional, not required, by ActiveX).