ScriptX Test Versions

Introduction

ScriptX is continually under development, with not only fixes for faults but with new features taking advantage of the evolving web browsing platform from Microsoft.

This page provides access to the latest development versions of ScriptX. You are welcome to install and evaluate these versions, but you do so entirely at your own risk.

To obtain the latest version, we recommend viewing one or more of the samples - installation of the latest version will take place via the standard ActiveX Internet Component Download and Installation mechanism (cab file).

Alternatively, if you wish or need to deploy the latest fixes, please:

The ScriptX Client Resource Kit contains the ScriptX binaries together with detailed 'eval' documentation.

To deploy the new version of smsx.cab, install the ScriptX Client Resource kit, locate smsx.cab and copy it over *every* existing copy of smsx.cab on your servers.

Then update the Codebase versioning on ALL your ScriptX-enabled pages to read:

6,5,439,53

Also please make sure that the 'Codebase' attributes on ALL your documents are 'pointing' to the location of this new copy of smsx.cab.

codebase="http://xxxxxxxxxx/smsx.cab#Version=6,5,439,53"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Note: The logged-on-local-admin-*only*-to-run installation executable for 6,5,439,53 is also included with the resource kit should your admins want to individually pre-install the binaries on each client machine:

History

Known issues:

Crash when attempt a cab based install with Windows XP and IE 8 (Release):

This issue affects a number of ActiveX controls with no clear cause other than 'old' XP machines, i.e. systems with a prolonged history of software installs and uninstalls.

If affected (and only if affected), please turn Off the option Enable memory protection to help mitigate online attacks (In Tools->Internet Options, Advanced tab), then install ScriptX, then be sure to turn the option On again.

Please note that this issue only affects 'cab-based' installs initiated by Internet Explorer - installation via smsx.exe or ScriptX.msi are not affected.

Windows 7 (Beta) and IE 8 (RC/Beta):
If ScriptX is already installed via a .cab installer and upgrade is attempted using the ScriptX Corporate MSI Installer for ScriptX, the first time the installer is run it will fail. Either uninstall ScriptX before running the MSI installer for the first time, or, if already run and failed, run it again - the second installation attempt will succeed.

When using Licensed ScriptX on Vista and later:
It is strongly recommended that <param name="PerUser" value="True"> is used on the MeadCo Security Manager object. Without this parameter and if UAC is enabled, Security Manager will prompt for an administrator's credentials (elevation) to approve storage of the license for the machine rather than solely the current user.

Latest Test Versions

v6.5.439.53
(Friday, January 29, 2010)

New

cleansx helper checks for the presence of an installation using Windows installer (msi) and warns if one is found.
cleansx helper now works fully on Win64 systems.

Fixed

cleansx helper application now also tidies up the .osd file.
Initialisation of ScriptX can cause the hosting IE window to pop to the front.

Release Versions (stable)

v6.5.439.50
(Tuesday, December 15, 2009)

This release is a maintenance release with fixes for a number of issues with support for IE 8.

Upgrading to 6.5.439.50 or later of ScriptX is strongly recommended for correct working with IE8.

New

Optional event log entries when a print job fails with IE 8 and will be re-started (to enable, create a DWORD registry value LogPrintFails in the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MeadCo\ScriptX\Shims\iexplore.exe with a value of 1).
cleansx.exe included in Corporate Resource Kit.

Fixed

Unable to target a different printer to default in some hosting scenarios and when printing XML documents.
Intermittent print failure with latest IE8 on slow machines with high loads (blank page syndrome).
PageSetup() API loosing page headings and footers settings and could lead to reset of copies and collate values with IE8.
Print background colours and images setting lost when change scale in IE8 preview.
ScriptXUser.msi now behaves in the same way on all systems for limited rights users (all users on Windows Vista and Windows 7) - it will not remove a cab based install, the msi installation will be halted.
Fix PrintSetup() and printHtml() print with prompt ignored the users' copies and collate selections on some Windows Vista systems and Windows 7.

v6.5.439.30
(Friday, July 24, 2009)

This release is a maintenance release with fixes for a number of issues with support for IE 8.

New

the frame argument for the print or preview methods can now be passed as an object (as before), the object returned by document.getElementById(), or the id of the frame to be printed.
Fallback support latest license certificate.

Fixed

MaxiPT unable to print frameset as shown with IE8 when no print dialog.
MaxiPT, if Show page selected in preview and printed, the active frame was printed.
Copies and collate setting not persisted properly by printSetup() API with IE8.
Some internal callback notifications missing in MaxiPT.
Some internal callback notifications missing in IE5.5 style template.
Notification sequence changed to stop a wait loop exiting too early.
Intermittent display of print dialog when silent printing requested.
Vista/Windows 7, erroneous failure on QA test.

Changed

ScriptX Corporate MSI documentation update and clarification.
Added work-around for Vista pre-Service Pack 1 bug with per user installs when UAC is turned off - this bug stopped ScriptXUser.msi (in ScriptX Corporate) installing properly with an admin user and UAC turned off.

v6.5.439.12
(Monday, April 27, 2009)

In addition to fixes for a number of issues, this release introduces support for IE8 final release.

Upgrading to 6.5 or later of ScriptX is required for correct working with IE8.

New

Support for IE8 final release - beta versions of IE 8 are not supported.

Fixed

SetPageRange() fixed to work as documented.
onPageSetup not fired for user initiated pagesetup on IE7 or later.
onPageSetup incorrectly fired when performing a print on IE7 or later.
Correct error message being lost and replaced by licensing error in some cases.
onPageSetup not being fired when page setup used in preview with IE7 or later.
MaxiPT, erroneous borders on display.
Specified template not used by printHtml(), always uses the browser default.
Regression bug - fix for margins wrong if Regional Settings' non-Unicode programs setting did not match the main selection in v6.4.438.06 broke IE 6 behaviour.
An orientation change by toolbar button in preview was ignored when the document was printed (IE 7 & 8).

Changed

Improved shutdown sequence of OwnQueue() host process - may aleviate some crash cases.
Margin changes from dragging in print preview are persisted in the session (but as with scripted changes, lost when the document is closed).
Component broker/host optionally creates a dump on crash.
File and product versions aligned for more helpful information in IE 8 Manage Add-ons dialogs.

v6.4.438.06
(Wednesday, July 16, 2008)

In addition to fixes for a number of issues, this release introduces Enterprise+ licensing, preliminary support for IE8 and support for Windows 2000 and later only.

ScriptX v6.4 and later no longer support Windows 9x/NT. For maintenance support of these operating systems, please see ScriptX win9xNT/NT Maintainance Mode Binaries.

New

IE 8, the ability to specify the font to use for page headers and footers.
ScriptX is now built with the /NXCOMPAT switch indicating compatibility with DEP.
ScriptX Client Corporate Resource kit includes smsx(w).cab to provide for codebase driven distribution of the MSI installer.
Enterprise+ licensing provides licensing based on computer domain name. Requires Windows 2000 or later, and is only available as part of ScriptX Client Corporate.
Version included on License Manager help page.

Fixed

printHtml() can become stuck if a print in the queue fails.
Margins wrong if Regional Settings' non-Unicode programs setting did not match the main selection.
No longer dependent upon msi.dll during cab-based install or registration.
Issues with validating license files on some OS configurations. Fixed problems in the validation of binaries affecting brokers.
Security Manager can install perMachine licenses on Vista - this will give rise to the standard elevation prompt for permission. On Vista, perUser licenses are now installed out of the lowRights location so are not reliant on virtualisation.
License Manager can now remove perMachine licenses on Vista.
Stop a crash if printer details fail to initialise properly. This may (will) result in more "no default printer" error messages.
Stop a crash when printing a frame in a complex frame arrangement.
Errors not returned properly from SetWebBrowser().
Server side printer server not registering properly for multiple use.
Inconsistent object naming between .cab installed and msi installed versions.
IE 8, any chosen header/footer font is ignored.
Windows Installer database fails on Vista.
Windows Installer database will now uninstall previous installs that used smsx.exe.

Changed

.inf based installers (classic smsx.cab) now check if there is already a MSI based install and if the user has administrator rights.
ScriptX v6.4 and later no longer support Windows 9x/NT. For maintenance support of these operating systems, please see ScriptX win9xNT/NT Maintainance Mode Binaries.
Brokers no longer authenticode-check on non-Vista OSs
Security improvements.
MCPXHost.exe and MCPXUser.exe renamed to MCSXUser.exe and MCSXHost.exe
Vista protected mode brokers (MCPXHost.exe and MCPXUser.exe) now have the same version numbers as the main ScriptX modules. Elevated rights broker (MCBroker.exe) added.
ScriptX Removal Tool marked as requiring administrator privileges for Vista.
Modifications to core template processing to improve behaviour under IE 8 Beta 1 and Vista.
Security Manager fallback support for latest certificate.

v6.3.436.14
(Friday, February 29, 2008)

In addition to fixes for a number of issues, this release introduces printing directly to an attached printer allowing sending of command languages such as ZPL/EPL for Zebra Label Printers, ScriptX Corporate utilising Windows Installer technology (please contact our sales team) and full compatibility with Windows Server 2008.

New

The rawPrinting object provides the ability to send bytes directly to a printer allowing printing to devices such as label printers.
Windows Installer based installers and merge modules.
Security manager method for navigating across domains.

Fixed

Print scaling could not be used with printHtml().
With IE 7 or later, if Page Setup is used within print preview, scripted configuration of the printer is lost.
batchPrintPDF method fails to print anything other than PDF documents and may cause a crash with other document types.
Edge case licenses unable to validate properly on Vista.

MaxiPT: image urls in html header/footer could not use more than one querystring parameter. To enable multiple parameters, parameters must be delimited with && and processAmpersands set to true in the document rules, for example:

  document.printingRules = {
     diffFirstPageHeadFoot: true,
     allPagesHeadFoot: true,
     pageRange: "",
     printingPass: "all",
     mirrorMargins: true,
     setupButton: "show",
     setupExtraButton: "enabled",
     processAmpersands: true
  }

MaxiPT: mixed case relative image urls in html header/footer were not processed correctly and would not print.
MaxiPT: Attempting to print large selected area intermitently gave scripting errors.
MaxiPT: Unable to print selection from within preview.
MaxiPT: "you can only use one copy of ScriptX" error if MaxiPT is specified as the factory object template parameter and the license has not yet been accepted.
MaxiPT: unable to print selection.

Changed

Improved error message if try to get/set property unsupported by the printer (e.g. duplex).
On Vista with patched IE 7, refreshes IE broker policies after install.

v6.3.435.20
(Monday, April 23, 2007)

In addition to fixes for a number of issues, this release introduces improvements for application licenses and the ability to install license updates without requesting permission from the user (this will only occur for updates of an already accepted license).

For printing, this release adds control of the preview zoom factor and, when using the IE 7 style template, the ability to specify the print scale factor.

New

Application licenses can take advantage of clientperiod.
Revision upgrades for licenses can install silently.
Method factory.printing.SetPreviewZoom() added to provide control over the zoom factor used on print preview. Please see the sample for full details.
Method factory.printing.SetPrintScale() added to provide control over the scaling used when printing - IE 7 style template only. Please see the sample for full details.

Fixed

.NET Forms app could not call print preview.
Security Manager failed to returned specified default dual interface.
batchPrintPDF() failed under IE 7 Vista Protected mode.
printHtml() causing crash in unusual circumstances (WinQual report: 36449129).
Unable to create printer object or run license manager on some systems.
Hang no longer occurs if factory object used in an iframe in an hta and the iframe does not have application="yes" attribute. Printing will not work without this attribute.
Failures in creating the printing object were not being reported.

v6.3.434.26
(Tuesday, December 05, 2006)

For Vista an upgrade to Script v6.3.434.26 or later is required, this release or later is recommended for IE 7 on XP.

New

Supports x64 versions of Windows in client side Internet Explorer (32bit). ScriptX is 32 bit code and will therefore only work in the 32 bit version of Internet Explorer on the x64 platform.
Security Manager errors report the code version number to assist the helpdesk team.
IE 7 - "Close" and "Print" button added to preview.
IE 7 - "Paginating Preview..." message while performing preview layout.

Fixed

In [optional] slowmode, License Manager would double report errors.
Windows Vista - use of OwnQueue() would result in the print of an empty document which was immediately discarded from the queue.
MaxiPT - script error in the template if page range defined by print settings javascript object.
IE 7 - click toolbar print button to print, print did not use ScriptX settings.
Installer smsx.exe failed under Win2K (introduced in #434.12).
Print preview/printing of scaled to fit frame using IE 7 style template was unreliable (would print 100% on occasion).
Printing frame using IE 7 template did not give scaled to fit output.
IE 7 - if margin measure changed from system default, use of page setup dialog would corrupt margins.
IE 7 - print preview use of page setup would corrupt margins if margin measure changed from system default.
IE 7 - print preview use of page setup - changes to printer and/or paper size/source not peristed across usages.
IE 7 - print preview of frame gave corrupted display if paper size, orientation, etc changed or window resized.
IE 7 - rather nasty flicker when preview frame.

v6.3.434.12
(Sunday, October 01, 2006)

This release is for Internet Explorer 7 on XP compatibility. When using Internet Explorer 7 on XP or Vista an upgrade to Script v6.3 or later is required.

New

MaxiPT object deprecated (but continues to be supported) - use the template parameter instead...

ScriptX object has a new parameter 'template' with value being the url of the custom template to use. This is a licensed feature, other than for the following special 'urls':

Value	Description
MeadCo://IE55	The IE 5.5/IE 6 style template
MeadCo://IE7	The IE 7 style template - note free usage on all versions of IE 5.5 or later.
MeadCo://Default	The default template for the IE version in use, i.e. the template matches the browser version. This is the default behaviour.
MeadCo://maxipt	The MaxiPT template (requires a license).

Example:

<!-- MeadCo ScriptX Control - Use the IE 7 template for all IE browsers  -->
<object id="factory" style="display:none" viewastext
       classid="clsid:1663ED61-23EB-11D2-B92F-008048FDD814">
   <param name="template" value="MeadCo://IE7" />
</object>

IE 7 style template available for all IE versions 5.5 and later.
Frames can now be previewed - see the advanced and frames samples. Previewing a frame is a licensed feature and requires the IE 7 style template.

Fixed

If a template is specified to ScriptX then the print object is initialised so that the template takes effect.
printHtml() causes crash on Windows NT 4 (bug introduced in 6.2.433.70).
Compatible with Vista Internet Explorer DEP enabled (Advanced Settings|Enable memory protection).
A hang was caused if page navigated away from (after user confirmation) while a printHtml() call still processing and that printHtml() had not yet reached an initialised state.
Crash during window unload if the object had unloaded prematurely (WinQual Report 305474323).
A scripting error in the document loaded by printHtml() could cause printing to hang.
Now more lenient on determination if paperSize is given by the printer driver - solves some scripting problems when switching printers.
Print job status text was empty if job has only one status.
If user manually changes page setup, the page footer text is lost. [introduced in release 6.2.433.70].
Licenses containing approved object classids do not display correctly in license acceptance or License Manager applet if any of the listed classids are not valid on the machine.

Changed

Out of process components use MCPXHost.exe as hoster rather than rundll32.exe - ScriptX processes now easily identified in task/process listings.

v6.2.433.70
(Thursday, June 01, 2006)

This is a maintenance release

Fixed

McAfee VirusScan interferes with license acceptance dialogs.
Per User licenses were not listing in License Manager when the license was accepted on Vista IE 7 running in protected mode.
Security Manager reporting wrong error message on APIs if Zeepe is not installed.
Closed potential vulnerabilities.
A number of APIs that required a license were silently failing when no license was present rather than explicitly reporting license required.
printHtml() using a direct string with the html:// psuedo protocol could cause a "Server threw an exception" error.
Use of MaxiPT template caused IE window to drop to back in the z-order after printing.
Security Manager licenses could not be accepted if IE 5.0 was installed and Zeepe was also installed.
License Manager applet not listing licenses with IE 5.0.
License Manager UI links not working.

Changed

Security Manager never uses Zeepe implemented dialogs, even when Zeepe is installed.
Removed unused legacy code.
Printing host (printHtml) removed redundant code, the host now uses enhanced security under XP SP2 and later.
MCPrintX.htm custom template is no longer installed to the Windows /Help/ folder - templates are obtained from resources.
Single installer always installs all components.
Improvements in License Manager UI. Always uses own UI even if Zeepe is installed.

Samples

You can access the (IE only) ScriptX printing and MaxiPT print template examples here. Note that the first time you access a sample you will asked to accept the latest test version of the ScriptX software and this site's evaluation publishing license.

Note: You must be logged on to your Windows 2000 or Windows XP workstation as an administrator to permit the installation.

ScriptX printing

Functionality available in the Free subset

Always IE 7 Template
Illustrates the use of the freely distributable ScriptX printing component to provide the IE 7 printing experience on all versions of IE from v5.5 onwards. No scripting is used to alter headers and footers etc.

Basic
Illustrates the straightforward use of the freely distributable basic ScriptX printing functionality.

'Wide' Basic
Illustrates the straightforward use of the freely distributable basic ScriptX printing functionality. The page to be printed is very wide - this sample illustrates the new 'Scale to fit' functionality that will be available as standard with IE7 and ScriptX makes available to IE5.5 and IE6 users. The sample also illustrates changing the template type in use.

Header and footer font
Illustrates scripted control of the font used to print the document header and footer. User/scripted defined fonts for headers and footers requires Internet Explorer 8 or later.

ScriptX Installed Version Information
Illustrates how to obtain the version of ScriptX installed on a machine - this sample will not attempt to install a new version of ScriptX or upgrade any current installation.

Licensed functions

Advanced
Illustrates the typical use of ScriptX advanced printing functionality for which a publishing license is required.

Techie
An all-in-one technical example illustrating the most advanced use of licensed ScriptX functionality.

Frame preview
The basic sample, but with the ability to preview the frame. This requires the use of the IE 7 style template.

ScriptX with Frames
Provides a discussion of using ScriptX with framesets including printing of individual frames.

Automating preview
Illustrates calling for a preview during the initialisation of the page taking the user straight to the preview from which they can then print.

Printer Control
Illustrates the use of the printerControl, Jobs and Job objects.

Reports
Provides a discussion of printing customised documents and reports with ScriptX and a number of samples of differing techniques. A download of all the sample code is included. A mix of free and licensed functionality is used; the licensed functions provide an improved user experience.

Use of OwnQueue
Provides a discussion of the usage of the OwnQueue() method with the printHtml() method for printing reports.

HTML Headers
Discusses usage of the little known htmlheader property - a full html header for the first printed page.

ScriptX Events
ScriptX fires a number of events, such as when the user chooses print preview and when printing has completed. This short article illustrates each of these events.

Controlling margins, printing and previewing frames
In an international environment there may be a mixture of margin measurement units - this sample sets margins in the opposite units to your default illustrating that with ScriptX you gain control of the units for specifying measurements. This sample also illustrates the scaled to fit preview and printing of a frame.

Printing the selection or range of pages
Discusses the SetPageRange() method that provides for printing only the selected content, or a range of pages.

Preview Zoom (requires 6.3.435 or later)
Illustrates setting a custom zoom factor for print preview.

Print scaling (requires 6.3.435 or later)
Illustrates specifying the print scaling to use. This requires the IE 7 style template and enables overriding the default of 'scale to fit'/100%.

Printing PDF Files
Discusses printing of Adobe Acrobat PDF files.
Direct (raw) printing (requires 6.3.436 or later)
Discusses sending data directly to the printer in scenarios such as sending ZBL commands to a Zebra Label printer.

MaxiPT custom print template

Feature Set #1
Illustrates the use of HTML headers & footers and all other functions of MaxiPT Feature Set #1.

Optimal layout
Illustrates the use of the Optimal Layout function of MaxiPT Feature Set #2.

Frame preview
Illustrates the use of the Frame preview function of MaxiPT Feature Set #2 - please note that this facility is now also available as a licensed function when using the IE 7 style template with ScriptX.

Scaling
Illustrates the use of the Scaled printing function of MaxiPT Feature Set #2.