How to get the path to the users default browser?

[Darious Snell]

I need to be able to get the path to the users default browser from within my application.

I am in a situation where I can't easily use System.Diagnost ics.Process.Sta rt to start
their browser with the URL I want and I must resort to using "Shell". Of course, shell
wants to know where the browser is and now you can see my dilemma!

Thanks in advance...

[Crouchie1998]

You will need to query this registry path:

HKEY_CLASSES_RO OT\http\shell\o pen\command

The default key contains the path

[Crouchie1998]

Sorry, but forgot to add this one too:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACH INE\SOFTWARE\Cl asses\http\shel l\open\command

[Paul Clement]

On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 14:35:48 -0800, "Darious Snell" <nu**@sdlkfweu. org> wrote:

¤ I need to be able to get the path to the users default browser from within my application.
¤
¤ I am in a situation where I can't easily use System.Diagnost ics.Process.Sta rt to start
¤ their browser with the URL I want and I must resort to using "Shell". Of course, shell
¤ wants to know where the browser is and now you can see my dilemma!

Give the following a try:

Declare Function FindExecutable Lib "shell32.dl l" Alias "FindExecutable A" (ByVal lpFile As
String, _
ByVal lpDirectory As
String, _
ByVal lpResult As
System.Text.Str ingBuilder) As Int32

Function DefaultBrowserP ath() As String

Dim DummyFile As String
Dim FileDir As String

Dim FilePath As New System.Text.Str ingBuilder(255)
DummyFile = "e:\My Documents\dummy .htm"

If FindExecutable( DummyFile, FileDir, FilePath) > 32 Then
DefaultBrowserP ath = FilePath.ToStri ng
End If

End Function
Paul ~~~ pc******@amerit ech.net
Microsoft MVP (Visual Basic)

[Darious Snell]

Just a quick note...

An example of what can be stored in that key...

C:\PROGRA~1\MOZ ILL~1\FIREFOX.E XE -url "%1"

There needs to be a little string manipulation before using
this in a "shell" command. I came up with
Dim MyString As String
Dim MySplitStrings( ) As String
Dim ExeString As String
Dim BrowserRegKey As String = "SOFTWARE\Class es\http\shell\o pen\command"
Dim rk As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalM achine.OpenSubK ey(BrowserRegKe y, False)
MyString += CType(rk.GetVal ue(""), String)
MySplitStrings = MyString.Split( " ")
ExeString = MyStrings(0).To String

This works with IE and Firefox. Probably most anything else as well.
I am sure there are more elegant ways to do this. But, this works for
the moment.

Thanks
"Crouchie19 98" <Cr**********@d iscussions.micr osoft.com> wrote in message
news:42******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

You will need to query this registry path:

HKEY_CLASSES_RO OT\http\shell\o pen\command

The default key contains the path

[Tom Shelton]

In article <11************ *@corp.supernew s.com>, Darious Snell wrote:

I need to be able to get the path to the users default browser from within my application.

I am in a situation where I can't easily use System.Diagnost ics.Process.Sta rt to start
their browser with the URL I want and I must resort to using "Shell". Of course, shell
wants to know where the browser is and now you can see my dilemma!

Thanks in advance...

I'm a little confused... If you have a URL, you don't even need to know
their default browser using System.Diagnost ics.Process. You just set
the filename property of the startinfo structure to the URL and make
sure useshellexectue is true. The system will start the default browser
automatically.

Dim browser As New Process ()
browser.StartIn fo.FileName = "http://www.microsoft.c om"
browser.StartIn fo.UseShellExec ute = True
browser.Start ()
--
Tom Shelton [MVP]

[Darious Snell]

The reason I am having difficulty using .start ----

"The requested section is not present in the activation context"

This shows up due to threading model issues with the architecture.
I couldn't resolve the threading issues so I ended up using shell.
I tried using STAThread/MTAThread etc but I couldn't clear the issue.
So, "shell" produces the desired outcome. But, you are right, my first
choice was to go with the method you describe below.
"Tom Shelton" <to*@YOUKNOWTHE DRILLmtogden.co m> wrote in message
news:%2******** *******@TK2MSFT NGP12.phx.gbl.. .

In article <11************ *@corp.supernew s.com>, Darious Snell wrote:

I need to be able to get the path to the users default browser from within my application.
I am in a situation where I can't easily use System.Diagnost ics.Process.Sta rt to start their browser with the URL I want and I must resort to using "Shell". Of course, shell wants to know where the browser is and now you can see my dilemma!

Thanks in advance...

I'm a little confused... If you have a URL, you don't even need to know
their default browser using System.Diagnost ics.Process. You just set
the filename property of the startinfo structure to the URL and make
sure useshellexectue is true. The system will start the default browser
automatically.

Dim browser As New Process ()
browser.StartIn fo.FileName = "http://www.microsoft.c om"
browser.StartIn fo.UseShellExec ute = True
browser.Start ()
--
Tom Shelton [MVP]