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Creating a desktop application that has an embedded existing web application.

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Jan 21.2015

Hi there, I work for a IT company and they have asked me if I can create on application that our clients can launch on their desktop that will have an embedded version of [URL=”https://www.screenconnect.com/?gclid=CISb5PP0pcMCFRBo7Aodq0gAOg”]Screen Connect[/URL]. I was thinking that perhaps, since Screen connect is a web app, I could embed that page into the desktop application. So essentially what they want this to be is a local application that we can have our clients click and bring them directly to Screen connect without the browser needing to act as the middle man. (you would be surprised how many people have trouble over the phone just typing a link into the address bar)

I have scoured the web for help with this but unfortunately I have come up short. So I have come here in hopes of some answers. If anyone can help me out with some ideas or if someone could let me know if such a thing is even possible that would be amazing.

Thanks!

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@Steve_R_JonesmoderatorJan 22.2015 — [COLOR=#333333](you would be surprised how many people have trouble over the phone just typing a link into the address bar)[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

I wouldn't be surprised at all since I too do this all day long:eek:

We added the URL to our web based connection software in our email signatures since we do a ton of support via email. If and when needed, most clients can bring up a previous mail and click away.....

Attaching a shortcut to an email works well too.

We also have the link within our web site....

Developing an app might be overkill.
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@brynfldauthorJan 22.2015 — Hey thanks for the response. Although I would agree that it may be overkill and your suggestion would definitely be better than what we are doing now, the application is what they want for this. It's also something that I wouldn't mind knowing how to do for my own knowledge bank. They just want to be able to tell them over the phone "Click our application on your desktop". It's a convenience thing, for us and the client.
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@brynfldauthorJan 29.2015 — I was finally able to accomplish this. In case anyone else comes across this looking for something similar I was able to get it done by using Node-Webkit. This allows you to program native desktop applications using web programming languages. I created an index.html file of just an i-frame with Screen connect embedded and then used Nodebob to generate the exe and application files. I then used winRAR to package the generated exe and application files into one executable embedding the icon in the process. After that I had a simple little app that opens our support page in a native window on the desktop. Pretty neat.

Good tutorial for the first two steps here. good luck!
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@ArsenalFeb 06.2015 — Can Desktop application be completely replace with Web application?

Any major factor to consider?

talking generally.
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@brynfldauthorFeb 12.2015 — The only major thing I have come across that might cause a hitch is how windows native browser handles downloads. The default place for the native browser to save downloaded files is in a very obscure AppData folder within the User directory. The person downloading the file does have chance to save the file wherever they choose but the average user would probably go with the default, which is bad in this case.

To circumvent this I have actually created a version of the application that opens in the background and then opens the web application in their default browser. This provides the user with the same shortcut to the web application but will allow them to download the file using their browser like they normally would.
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