> Unfortunately,
> <form METHOD= "post" ACTION="file://C|\Ada_Work\html_small_read.exe" >
> did not work. ....

I did not try a FORM, but here's what I did:

1. I refuse to touch a Microsoft program if there's a reasonable
   alternative, so I used Netscape 4.5, not Internet Explorer.

2. I tried to run a program "sp.exe" that already existed on a floppy but
   Netscape just asked me where I wanted to save it.

3. I tried to find the helper pref for .exe (to change "save" to "run") and
   there was none.  I tried to create one and it insisted that .exe was
   already defined for another helper. (!)

4. Several other things that didn't work.

5. Noticing that the prefs for "MS-DOS application" were set to actually
   run the app, I made a copy of the program and renamed it "sp.com"
   Voila! selecting it with the "Open Page" widget popped up a DOS window
   running the program.

6. I did the same with a .txt file (to get it in the browser window so
   that I could check the URL).

7. Using the text URL as a guide, I killed Netscape, opened an HTML file
   ON A UNIX BOX, and added
   <A HREF="file:///A|/sp.com">xxx</A>
   Note the THREE slashes after the colon.

8. Fire up Netscape again, call up the page via http://host/etc..., click
   the xxx and (drumroll) DOS window pops up with the program running.

I don't have time today to try this with a FORM and an Ada prog, but maybe
someone else will pick up where I left off.