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Comet Script Files

Overview

Starting with Build 306 of Comet2002, you can launch Comet or CometAnywhere via a Comet Script File.

A Comet Script File is a one-line or two-line text file that contains startup information for Comet or CometAnywhere. These files are distinguished from other text files by a unique extension: CSW (an abbreviation for "Comet Script for Windows").

You can launch a Comet Script File from Windows Explorer, from a desktop shortcut, or from a web page hyperlink. This latter feature is where Comet Script Files really shine. Imagine clicking on a link on a web page and, as a result, launching a Comet or CometAnywhere session.

Launching Comet

To launch Comet via a Comet Script File, you'll need to create a two-line text file that contains the following commands:

WorkDir=

Command=

The WorkDir= command identifies the working directory where the COSW.EXE program is located (also known as the "Start in" directory), and Command= specifies the command line option(s) for Comet. For example, the following commands identify c:\comet as the working directory, and specify the profile name (/pn), Comet Security Server auto-start (/sec), and maximize (/max) startup options:

WorkDir=c:\comet

Command=/pn=node1 /sec /max

Save the Comet Script File with a .CSW extension. For the sake of this example, suppose we save the file using the following path:

C:\comet.csw

The Comet Script File is now ready to use. For example, to launch Comet from a hyperlink on a web page, include the following tags in your HTML file:

<a href="file:///c:\comet.csw">

Launch Comet

</a>

Thus, when you click on the "Launch Comet" hyperlink, the browser launches the c:\comet.csw script file, which starts Comet.

Launching CometAnywhere

To launch CometAnywhere via a Comet Script File, you'll need to create a one-line text file that contains the following command:

Command=

This specifies the command line option(s) for CometAnywhere. For example, the following command specifies the /net and /max options:

Command=/net:255.255.255.255 /max

Save the Comet Script File with a .CSW extension. For the sake of this example, suppose we save the file using the following path:

C:\cometanywhere.csw

The Comet Script File is now ready to use. For example, to launch CometAnywhere from a hyperlink on a web page, include the following tags in your HTML file:

<a href="file:///c:\cometanywhere.csw">

Launch CometAnywhere

</a>

Thus, when you click on the "Launch CometAnywhere" hyperlink, the browser launches the c:\cometanywhere.csw script file, which starts CometAnywhere.

Replaying Keystrokes

You can automate this process even further by using the /keyfile command line option. This option replays keystrokes from a text file when you start the COSW.EXE program.

For example, suppose you want to automate your Comet password entry and then run a customer inquiry program. You could create a text file that contains the keystrokes for these actions. In the following example, "PASSWORD" represents your Comet password, "CINQ" is the name of the customer inquiry program, and the two blank lines represent the Enter key being pressed after each action.

PASSWORD

CINQ

Suppose we save this keystroke file using the following path:

C:\login.txt

You could then add the /keyfile command to your Comet Script File, as follows:

WorkDir=c:\comet

Command=/pn=node1 /sec /max /keyfile=c:\login.txt

Launching this script file starts Comet and replays the keystrokes from the c:\login.txt file. Thus, you could click on a web page hyperlink and, as a result, login to Comet and run your customer inquiry program.

File Type Registration

In order to use a Comet Script File, you must run COSW.EXE at least once on the system where the CSW file will be executed. Running COSW registers the CSW file type with Windows as follows:

Registered file type: Comet Script for Windows

Extension: CSW

Content Type (MIME): application/x-comet-session

Opens with: path\COSW

You can verify this by using Windows Explorer. Select the "View --> Folder Options" and "File Types," and then look for the "Comet Script for Windows" entry among the list of registered file types.