Running an executable on the server

I want to make my asp page run a program (written in VB6) on the server, without the user having to do anything. The asp page is part of a form handler that inserts data into a database, then sends an email to the user. The program creates an html page that incorporates some of the user's data they entered (its a datareport). The html page is then attached to the email sent. So you can see, there isn't a time for the user to click a button or something to run the program, it must run and close itself in the background. Closing itself is also a question. Do I write that into the program, or as part of the asp page? In summary, my questions are:

1. How do I execute a program using asp (any scripting language), without the user taking any action.

2. To close the program (written in VB6) do I include something in the program itself, or do I close it w/ asp?

Thanks in advance

You want to make a report and insert some data in the database right? Then wouldn't it be easier to just make an asp.

No, I already have that. Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. The form already inserts the data into the database. The report then takes some of that new data out of the database and puts it into a few fields (first name, initial, last name, computer id). The form is exported as html, which the user then prints, and fills in some other, empty, fields and sends it back to us. Its part of an authentication for user access to a different database. The form needs to be filled out, and we (my boss) doesn't trust the users to get it right, so he wants it filled in automatically as much as possible. I already have the program and such working on my local computer, I need to move the executable to the server, and figure out how to run it from my asp page that handles the original form that is filled out. I hope this is more clear.
This is rather a messy solution, but I was given a messy, half done problem, so it will have to do.

I agree with you about the security problems and the basic ugliness of this program setup. I'm just an intern though so I'm just going to give them what they asked for, since I won't be around to deal with the problems
Could you elaborate what you meant about making the .dll for the asp to use? I don't have experience with that. Thanks for your help

ps- the parameter is the WaitOnReturn parameter, "that specifies whether the script should immediately return to script execution (False) rather than waiting for the process to end (True) and return any error codes returned by the application"
In case anyone wondered.

edit: I'm getting a "The system cannot find the file specified" error for my .exe. I did a Server.MapPath to find it, but it still won't accept it. Anyone have a suggestion?

Ah, I see. That is a good idea, I'll give it a try. (The only problem is getting it registered on the web server, which I can't access...)
Thanks.

Well, you can rest easy echolalia. The boss has changed his mind (due to combination of my difficulties doing things this way and the fact he may have grasped how insecure this is). So now its on to csv and word merge document. All this instead of just letting the users fill in their own lan ID. Thanks anyway for all your help and suggestions (on this and my other questions, all of which have been related to this !#$!$@ project). I really appreciate it.

karsh, i'm interested in doing just what you did! its for an intranet like yours was. the following posts look like they are missing someone's reply. could you tell me how you did it or point me to a site?

thanks

Actually, I never did get it to work, too many issues with permissions and such.
I ended up using the file system object to write the data into a page I made at the start (so that the previous entry was written over each time), then sending that.
The final way suggested here was to use the file scripting object, but to pack it in a .dll as a component. Never did it, don't have any more to tell you.