How Do I Choose Whether To Use Html/Java Or Activex Components; What Other System Requirements Are There - Crestron e-Control Operation Manual

Software Development Kit & CNX Gateway
2 • Crestron e-control™: Software Development Kit & CNX Gateway
How do I Choose Whether to Use HTML/Java or
ActiveX Components?
Use the HTML/Java/Web page method if you need platform independence (i.e., you
must run from Macintoshes as well as PCs) and you have the ability to write HTML.
At this time, Crestron does not provide any method for developing Web pages. We
suggest using a third-party Web page development tool such as Microsoft
FrontPage '98 or Adobe Page Mill to produce great looking Web pages without
having to code in HTML directly. The compiled Java classes that Crestron ships with
the SDK are used within the Web page to communicate with Crestron equipment.
The Web page method also means that no special software is needed to access the
Crestron equipment; the act of viewing the Web page is all that is required.
The latest version of VisionTools™ Pro (VT Pro-e) is able to produce HTML-
encoded Web pages, just as previous versions of VisionTools produces touchpanel
displays.
Use the ActiveCNX method if you want to program in Visual Basic to provide a
completely custom look to your interface, or you need a background non-visual
interface to Crestron control systems.

What Other System Requirements are There?

Refer to the diagram on the next page for a graphical representation of the required
system components.
1. The Crestron e-control SDK requires that there be a Windows 95/98 or
NT PC accessible on your network to run the "CNX Gateway". The
Gateway is an application that routes packets from the SDK Java
components or ActiveX controls to Crestron's control systems or
Ethernet-enabled (CEN series) devices.
2. If you are running the CNX Gateway and the browser on different PCs,
OR if you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, you must also
run a Web Server on the network, perhaps Microsoft's own Personal
Web Server that is distributed free with Windows 95/98 or downloaded
from their Web site. The "CNX Gateway" and Web Server must be
running on the same machine to remotely access and control the system
from any LAN location.
3. The PC with CNX Gateway and all Crestron equipment must be
connected to the TCP/IP network and given static IP addresses.
4. SIMPL Windows, Crestron's graphical programming environment,
must be used to program any control system that accepts commands
from a virtual Touchpanel, just as it is used to program the control
system to respond to wired or wireless touchpanels. A sample SIMPL
Windows program has been included in this SDK. Crestron's Ethernet-
enabled devices (CEN series) can be controlled directly without any
special programming, if there is no control system, or if multiple points
of control are required. Of course, they can also be controlled through a
SIMPL Windows program running on the control system.
Crestron e-control™
Operations Guide - DOC. 5778A