Question: Run FireFox Like IE

[meamrussian]

Hello. I know that to open IE also to a specifit page (let's say google) I just have to put:

Run ("C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://google.com")

This will automatically make it run IE and start it on google.com. How do I make it do the same, but with firefox? I tried putting in the same command, except pointing to firefox, but that does not work. It doesn't have to be done in the same way; I just want ANYway to startup firefox and for it to go to a specific webpage. This will also teach me how to do the same in ANY browser.

Thanks a lot.

[blindwig]

Find the default browser:

Local $sType, $sCommand
$sType = RegRead('HKEY_Classes_Root\.html')
if $sType <> '' Then $sCommand = RegRead('HKCR\' & $sType & '\Shell\Open', '')
if $sCommand <> '' then Run(_StringReplace($sCommand, '%1', 'http://www.google.com'))

[SmOke_N]

LOL, like the avatar blindwig!

[w0uter]

for the default brouwser; you can also use:

RunWait(@COMSPEC & ' /c Start www.google.nl')

OR if you have the BETA

$o_URL = ObjCreate("Shell.Application")
$o_URL.Open('www.google.nl')

Edited July 12, 2005 by w0uter

[blindwig]

LOL, like the avatar blindwig!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's a pic I took of me squeezing the crap out of the stress ball my girlfriend bought me last Christmas. You see, I'm one of the few programmers I know who doesn't smoke or drink coffee (or alcohol, for that matter) so I gotta take out my frustrations on SOMETHING!

[blindwig]

for the default brouwser; you can also use:

RunWait(@COMSPEC & ' /c Start www.google.nl')

Yes, if you don't mind the ugly DOS box popping up!

The routine I gave does basically the same thing as the START command - it looks in the registry for the command associated with a certain filetype (in this case, a URL) and launches the appropriate associated application.

OR if you have the BETA

$o_URL = ObjCreate("Shell.Application")

$o_URL.Open('www.google.nl')

You could also do this:

DllCall("shell32.dll", "long", "ShellExecute", "hwnd", $parent_hwnd, "string", $sVerb, "string", 'Http://www.google.com' "string", $sArg, "string", $sFolder, "long", $state)

Many paths to the same solution, eh?

[w0uter]

Yes, if you don't mind the ugly DOS box popping up! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c start www.google.nl', @ScriptDir, @SW_HIDE)

Edited July 13, 2005 by w0uter

[meamrussian]

RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c start www.google.nl', @ScriptDir, @SW_HIDE)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey guys, thanks for your reply. I find this one to be the best lol, as it is the shortest. But, would you kindly explain this code to me step by step, as I am still kinda new to autoit? Thanks, w0uter

blindwig, I tested your code, and it had a bunch of errors in it

Thanks

[blindwig]

blindwig, I tested your code, and it had a bunch of errors in it

Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well it was more of pseudo-code to show you how to do it.

Here's actual working code:

Dim $sType, $sCommand
$sType = RegRead('HKEY_Classes_Root\.html', '')
if $sType <> '' Then $sCommand = RegRead('HKCR\' & $sType & '\Shell\Open\Command', '')
if $sCommand <> '' then Run(StringReplace($sCommand, '%1', 'http://www.google.com'))

And this is the more official way to do it:

DllCall("shell32.dll", "long", "ShellExecute", "hwnd", 0, "string", 'open', "string", 'Http://www.google.com', "string", '', "string", @ScriptDir, "long", @SW_SHOWNORMAL)

Edited July 13, 2005 by blindwig

[w0uter]

@meamrussian

RunWait( = runs a .exe/.com/.cmd/.etc and waits till its done.

@comspec = the default command interperter (9x, command.com; nt, cmd.exe)

/c = close after execution

Start = open's a file (for more info "start > run > cmd.exe > help start")

www.google.nl = the file to open.

@scriptdir = working dir.

@SW_HIDE = hide the dos box.

[meamrussian]

@meamrussian

RunWait( = runs a .exe/.com/.cmd/.etc and waits till its done.

@comspec = the default command interperter (9x, command.com; nt, cmd.exe)

/c = close after execution

Start = open's a file (for more info "start > run > cmd.exe > help start")

www.google.nl = the file to open.

@scriptdir = working dir.

@SW_HIDE = hide the dos box.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So, basically when you tell it to start www.google.nl, it knows to open it with the default browser? Also, what does @scriptdir do (working dir)?

blindwig, thanks for that fixed up, ready to use code

[w0uter]

So, basically when you tell it to start www.google.nl, it knows to open it with the default browser?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

short. yes.

Also, what does @scriptdir do (working dir)?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

im not sure. but i always thought:

For EX.

if you open a command promt (cmd.exe) its working dir is C:\

if you type cd .\WINDOWS\ then your working dir will be C:\WINDOWS\

but i can also be wrong and it can be @SystemDir.

[meamrussian]

Well it was more of pseudo-code to show you how to do it.

Here's actual working code:

Dim $sType, $sCommand
$sType = RegRead('HKEY_Classes_Root\.html', '')
if $sType <> '' Then $sCommand = RegRead('HKCR\' & $sType & '\Shell\Open\Command', '')
if $sCommand <> '' then Run(StringReplace($sCommand, '%1', 'http://www.google.com'))

And this is the more official way to do it:

DllCall("shell32.dll", "long", "ShellExecute", "hwnd", 0, "string", 'open', "string", 'Http://www.google.com', "string", '', "string", @ScriptDir, "long", @SW_SHOWNORMAL)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry for being so annoying, but just getting the code isn't enough for me; any chance you could explain the code, like w0uter did? (the "official" one)

Thanks a lot

Edited July 13, 2005 by meamrussian

[meamrussian]

RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c start www.google.nl', @ScriptDir, @SW_HIDE)

Also, the only reason I don't really like this is that it can't start all URLs. If I'm not going to a home page, there are some VERY long links that have the symbol & in them, and the link stops when it reaches the &... is there a way to fix this? I am trying to make it open the following:

RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c start http://namepros.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=6', @ScriptDir, @SW_HIDE)

As you can see if you tried it, it tries to go to:

http://namepros.com/newthread.php?do=newthread

Any way to make it go to the whole url?

[blindwig]

Also, the only reason I don't really like this is that it can't start all URLs. If I'm not going to a home page, there are some VERY long links that have the symbol & in them, and the link stops when it reaches the &... is there a way to fix this? I am trying to make it open the following:

RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c start http://namepros.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=6', @ScriptDir, @SW_HIDE)

As you can see if you tried it, it tries to go to:

http://namepros.com/newthread.php?do=newthread

Any way to make it go to the whole url?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, this is an issue with the method you're using. You're launching a command shell, then running a command inside that shell and passing your string to it. The promblem is that the command shell and the command can each potentially have special interpretations of special characters, so certain strings can get lost in the translation. That's why I don't recommend this method - yes, it is quick and easy, but it's a sloppy way to do thigs and bring the potential for problems.

The issue you're facing is that the command pre-processor uses the ampersand symbol as a command seperator. You can try to put your string in double quotes:

RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c start "http://namepros.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=6"', @ScriptDir, @SW_HIDE)

That might work. But the real solution is to use a real solution.

The best official true solution would be to use the object method w0uter suggested, or the DLLCall solution I suggested. Both of these methods pass the URL link to the part of the OS that decides which program is set to handle that link and launches it accordingly. The registry solution I gave you is a roundabout way of doing the same thing, but it doesn't cover all situations.

[meamrussian]

The best official true solution would be to use the object method w0uter suggested

What object method?

[blindwig]

Er, nevermind. I just tried the object solution on my machine and it doesn't do anything. I don't know whats wrong with it, because I've never done objects before.

So, just go with the DLL solution for now

[w0uter]

comspec: failed at all methods i tried.

object: worked for me.

dll: havent tried.

and this is the "object" method:

$o_URL = ObjCreate("Shell.Application")
$o_URL.Open('www.google.nl')

[meamrussian]

comspec: failed at all methods i tried.

object: worked for me.

dll: havent tried.

and this is the "object" method:

$o_URL = ObjCreate("Shell.Application")
$o_URL.Open('www.google.nl')

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh, that's for the beta version

[blindwig]

comspec: failed at all methods i tried.

object: worked for me.

dll: havent tried.

and this is the "object" method:

$o_URL = ObjCreate("Shell.Application")
$o_URL.Open('www.google.nl')

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For some reason, that doesn't work for me unless I put http:// in front of the address.