OK, I tested out the use of the new vbs code files by installing a shorter version of Celestia onto my school networked server. Please note that the server is located in a different building, at the school district IT facility, so it is remote and networked to my school through a broadband line. My installation also automatically placed a Windows shortcut to the Educational-Activities sub-folder onto the desktop of the school computer that I used for the installation. I then used the shortcut to open the folder. It worked. I accessed a test document inside the Educational-Activities folder, opened it and clicked its "CLICK HERE" hyperlink, which linked to the vbs file in the Activity_Cels folder. I am PLEASED TO REPORT that everything worked fine.
There was also no error message when I closed Celestia, then clicked the hyperlink again in the test document several times. Since I created the Installer file at home on a machine with Celestia located in the C:\Program Files directory, and installed it onto a remote server with a totally different drive (J:\Apps), and since everything worked fine, I see no reason why this "elegant and wonderful solution" should not work on any Windows computer running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7. No more worry about pre-hard coded Windows shortcuts getting lost!!!!
The only thing I didn't do is paste my Windows shortcut to the Educational-Activities folder onto another remote terminal in the school, and make sure that the shortcut was also able to locate the J:\Apps\Celestia\Educational-Activities folder on the server. I will do that on Monday. I don't expect any problems. I also need to make sure that OpenOffice also opens those hyperlinks OK in my school test. It worked fine in my home test, but I will check it out on Monday.
If all goes well, I will update all of Celestia160-ED with a new set of vbs files in the Activity_cels folder, to replace my pre-hard-coded Windows shortcuts or bat files. I will also then edit all the hyperlinks in the Activity documents that link to the Activity_cels folder, so that they now point to the appropriate vbs files.
Jogad and Marco, I cannot thank you enough. It looks like this problem is really solved.
Warmest regards
Frank
PS - Marco, I will be happy to send you a zip file with all the new vbs files in a few days, to be placed into the Activity_cels folder. You can then edit your Dutch translations of the Activity documents to reflect these new hyperlink destinations. Based on my testing, the only hyperlinks that need editing are the ones that launch Celestia160-ED, typically on pg 4 or 6. I'll outline this more in the email I send you with the vbs zip file.
