One of the nicer surprises in Internet Explorer 5.0 is the ability to create stand-alone applications. These HTML Applications (HTAs) behave like any other applications on your computer, whether they are written in C++, Visual Basic, or J++. HTAs are like a dream come true for programmers who want the power of Internet Explorer without its strict security model and user interface. Now you can create browser-dependent applications that display themselves to your users as a plain window, without any resemblance to Internet Explorer's window. Your application needs to define the user interface, all by itself.

For authors of browser-based Applications, you may find HTAs attractive as they hide the fact that they were written in HTML, DHTML, and JavaScript. For those of you that haven't tried yet writing applications for the Web, HTAs may be the turning point, at they are easier to write than C++ or Java applications. Programmers that write applications for the PC may consider writing them as HTAs now. You get the power of the DHTML & JavaScript languages and avoid the security shortcomings of Internet Explorer.

In this column we'll teach you all about HTAs. In particular, you will learn:

• How to to decide if your next Web application should be an HTA
• How to create an HTA
• How to install an HTA
• How to trust an HTA
• How to customize an HTA - the <HTA:APPLICATON> Tag

Be sure to read Peter's column on his Web-Based Presentation Conferencing (WPC) HTML application.