1. A method of automatically downloading software on a local device from one or more computers, the local device and the one or more computers being connected to a computer network, the method comprising: encountering an invocation of the software within a web page via an HTML <OBJECT> tag, wherein the software comprises an ACTIVEX control and the invocation comprises an identity of the software and a version indication of the software, wherein an additional <OBJECT> tag within the web page can be used to invoke a software component other than an ACTIVEX control; and responsive to encountering an invocation of software, downloading the software from the one or more remote computers according to the identity and version indication, wherein the version indication indicates to obtain a latest version of the software without specifying a particular version.