HTTP request with Windows script host (.hta)

Question

I can't believe I'm stuck here, but I can't seem to make a simple HTTP request using Windows script host or simple .hta file.

This is my code:

<script language="Javascript">
window.onload = function() {
    var http = CreateObject("Microsoft.XmlHttp");
};
</script>

When I start the .hta file I get a JavaScript error saying something like Object Expected.. this is very annoying since it's a trivial task and I can't really debug it.

Any idea how I can debug this stuff? Thanks.

Answer 1

It seems to me you should use

var http = new window.ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");

or just

var http = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");

inside of .hta file instead of CreateObject().

UPDATED: Hi Luca! I have not much place in comments and can post links not so good, so I appended my answer:

The error which you do from the code of your question is that you try use in JavaScript elements of other language. In VBScript exist CreateObject, but it is a feature of the VBScript language. In JScript/JavaScript you have to use new ActiveXObject instead.

Moreover you mentioned in your comments several times about cross domain problems, but never described what do you do. If you want a help about this subject you should include in your question more information about what do you do. Probably you can include code in WSH or C which worked and include the corresponding version of the .HTA file. It would be also helpful if you describes why you want to use .HTA file instead of WScript/CScript or PowerShell. In which scenario you want to use .HTA file?

Answer 2

your function simply creates the object and then destroys it. Try returning to an external variable or doing more in the function.