i’ve seen on some people’s websites where they have a link that actually opens icq and starts a message to them. it’s not like on message boards where the icq button opens a javascript for a message – this actually opens the icq program. i’ve also seen it done in aim. unfortunately, i can’t remember where i saw it.
anybody know how to pull this off?
In ICQ, there’s a way to page a user (as opposed to sending them a plain ol’ vanilla message). I’ve never tried using it, so I don’t know exactly how it works, but it could be what you’re looking for.
i know how to do that, and it’s not what i’m looking for. thanks anyway.
I do not think you can start a program in someone else’s computer. Maybe you are trying something else
<a href=“http://wwp.mirabilis.com/XXXXXXX#pager”>My pager</a>
where xxxxxx is your user number will send them to the page from which they can send you an instant message even if they do not have ICQ
no, sailor, i already know that code. i had icq up and running, and when i clicked the link an actual icq message window opened up. i’ve also seen it done in aim. it was NOT the www pager code.
thanks anyway.
You say you’ve seen this feature on some websites.
Could you provide a link to one of those sites so that interested parties could examine them?
that’s the problem. i can’t remember what sites. if i had examples, i could figure out the code myself. 
i posted this question on several boards, and someone just answered. she said that for aim the code is:
<a href="aim:goim?screenname=____&message=_____>
i’m going to test it out in a second, but right now my computer is screaming to be re-booted.
i’m still looking for the code for icq.
the aim code does work. even when i had aim turned off!
Can you please post the ICQ code, when/if you find it? I’d love to know, too. Thanks.
It’s on a lot of AOL homepages.
This disturbs me. I don’t like it when my programs talk to each other behind my back. Hopefully there is a way to turn off and/or select which program to use.
On the other hand, I’m starting to think of all sorts of mischief to cause.
Many of the programs are stored on each person’s computer in the same location. Thus, using simply a link to the person’s HD, itll open those programs. Like a HTML link to notepad, which is always in the same place, easy.
C:/windows/notepad.exe Seems like the might be launching AIM the same way?
I am not going to say anything about people who have AOL as they deserve what they get.
But I would like to know how an html link can start ICQ in my computer without my authorizing it. Maybe some javascript could do it but I think my security settings could prevent it.
Techno-dummy here - I don’t get it; is this a good thing or not? What are the advantages and disadvantages – is there a security issue?
“But I would like to know how an html link can start ICQ in my computer without my authorizing it.”
I just explained that. When you make a link, link it to a file that launches ICQ on your computer. It’ll be the same on everyone’s computer if they didn’t change the ICQ setup.
It’ll open ICQ on anyones’ computer that has it.
>> I just explained that
Yeah, I know. The only problem is that it does not work as you said. Try it.
I think the key here is that ICQ and AIM are both owned by the same company as Netscape (I’ll bet that those links don’t work with MSIE). As such, Netscape implicitly trusts them. I wouldn’t worry about it any more than I’d worry that Navigator can open up Netscape mail.
sailor, I think the idea here is the same as including an email link on a website with the mailto: code. If you visit a webpage and see something that says, Click Here to email me, doing so opens your email program and gives you a blank email with that person’s email address already filled in. The same would apply for ICQ or AIM; there would be a link that says, Click here to send me an ICQ/AIM message, and clicking it would open ICQ or AIM and bring up a blank message window already “addressed” to the recipient. In either case, if you don’t want it launching your program, the simple solution is not to click on that link. 
Shayna, I haven’t seen you around in quite a while. I hope it was good things that kept you away.
The browser (IE) knows how to interpret the <Mail to: X> tag because you have told it what your email program is. I wonder if there’s another similar tag for ICQ. Probably Chronos has it right and it is Netscape that has a tag it can interpret but I have not seen it with IE which is what I have.
Handy has it wrong. What he says doesn’t work as he says.
My point is that AFAIK there is no generic HTML tag which would start a (any) program on your computer without your authorizing it first.