HELP - ActiveX value to PHP variable

[fragmaster]

Hi, im trying to store the local users username in a cookie for use with my database. I have found that i can only obtain the users username using an activeX control. (php will only tell me the host name). The ciode i have is as follows...

<form id="hiddenform" name="hiddenform" method="post" action="">
<input type="hidden" name="user" value="">
</form>
<script>
<!--
var environmentVars = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Network");
document.hiddenform.user.value =(environmentVars.UserName);
-->
</script>
<?php
setcookie("helpdeskUser", "TESTING", time()+3600);
?>

I have tryed and tested the activex control and it works fine (im aware that activex isnt the most secure thing in the world but its being used within a private network:-)

as you can see i have passed the value from the activex control to a hidden field. But from there on i can get that value into my cookie.

Can anyone help with this problem?

Thanks

[WeAnswer_IT]

ActiveX controls only work in Internet Explorer. If you happen to be using this for an office intranet, you can count on some kinda-internet-savvy employee using Firefox and not having your application function properly.

You should always, always make sure that your application will work for 100% of your users before you even start adding features like automatically finding usernames (which requires as much time and effort as having them just TYPE their usernames!)

You appear to be using JavaScript or JScript (you should also always specify your script language in your HTML).

If that's the case, you can just set the cookie from the scripting language. No need to mix languages when it's unnecessary.

function createCookie(name,value,days) {
	if (days) {
		var date = new Date();
		date.setTime(date.getTime()+(days*24*60*60*1000));
		var expires = "; expires="+date.toGMTString();
	}
	else var expires = "";
	document.cookie = name+"="+value+expires+"; path=/";
}
// Function above is from http://quirksmode.org/js/cookies.html


var networkVars = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Network");

createCookie('username', environmentVars.UserName, 1);

After the user visits this page and everything goes as planned, they will have a cookie that you can access in PHP for their username. Remember, they have to visit the page with the script and THEN visit a new page for this to work in PHP!

<?php

echo "Your username is";
echo $_COOKIE['username'];

?>

Just make SURE this cookie does not overwrite any other cookies named "username" that your intranet might be using!