How To Distribute the WebBrowser Control

Starting with versions 3.x, Internet Explorer has shipped with an ActiveX control that you can use to add the functionality of a Web browser to your applications. This ActiveX control is called the WebBrowser control (also known as SHDOCVW.dll). If you want to use the WebBrowser control with your program, you must obtain a redistribution license and use the Internet Explorer installation routine to install the necessary files and registry entries.

The Internet Explorer installation routine installs a number of system files and registry entries in addition to the actual WebBrowser control. If all of the system files and registry entries are not installed correctly on the target machine by the setup program, the WebBrowser control either functions incorrectly or does not function at all.

In order to use and redistribute Internet Explorer, you must first sign a license and distribution agreement. You can find the license agreement from the Internet Explorer Administration Kit home page:

Internet Client SDK documentation Site Builders Workshop