Launching browser problem

[markiemooster]

Can someone please tell me why the following code throws an exception:

// Launch browser/other app to display help page
System.Diagnostics.Process p= new System.Diagnostics.Process();
p.StartInfo.FileName= @"http://10.4.1.44";
p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute= true;
p.StartInfo.Verb= "open";
p.Start();

Windows Start button -> Run and http://10.4.1/44 opens a browser. And so does my use of ShellExecute and the same URL in a C++ test program.

What is different about my C# code? I'm at my wit's end.

Thanks,
Mark

PS I'm using Visual Studio.NET 2002 (so it compiles code using the version 1.0 of the .NET framework)

[Norfy]

What's the exception?

I tried your code and it worked fine! When you say the C++ version worked, is that C++ .NET?

The only problem I've had in this area when the app doesn't open, is that the file does not have an associated app in the Folder Options. is the "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol" entry pointing at a browser?

System.Diagnostics.Process p= new System.Diagnostics.Process();
p.StartInfo.FileName= @"http://www.codeguru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319246";
p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute= true;
p.StartInfo.Verb= "open";
try
{
p.Start();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
}

[markiemooster]

I tried your code (and mine) and I received the following exception:

System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The requested lookup key was not found in any activation context
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithShellExecuteEx(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start
at <my method:line no>

Frankly I'm bewildered. It's all so simple what could be going wrong?

My C++ test program was not .NET but compiled code for Win32.

My app monitors a folder and if a new file appears in the folder it launches a form with a Help button. When the user presses the Help button the browser is supposed to open.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks,
Mark

PS I'm running XP with SP2.

[Norfy]

Out of interest does this work?


System.Diagnostics.Process p= new System.Diagnostics.Process();
p,StartInfo.Filename = "explorer.exe";
p.StartInfo.Arguments = @"http://www.codeguru.com";
p.Start();

Are you using XP themes? ie. Application.EnableVisualStyles();

[markiemooster]

Yes it does! Thankyou so much. You are a legend.

I still don't understand why there is an issue but at least that solves the problem in the short term. It would be nice to know why the issue occurs. Maybe I'll never know!

Thanks again,
Mark

PS Application.EnableVisualStyles() is only available in .NET version 1.1 so I'm not able to use it.

[Norfy]

Great!

The reason I mentioned the XPThemes bit is there is a known bug with activation contexts and explorer. Apparently if you do an Application.DoEvents() immediately after the Application.EnableVisualStyles(); it fixes the problem. Of course if you're not using this then it's totally irrelevant.

Now if you cut and paste "Thankyou so much. You are a legend" into the "Rate This Post", that'll make both of us happy! :wave:

[Andy Tacker]

wow!!!
how about
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("http://www.codeguru.com");

It simply works :)

[Andy Tacker]

Great!
Now if you cut and paste "Thankyou so much. You are a legend" into the "Rate This Post", that'll make both of us happy! :wave:hehehe Norfy...

[waterscapes]

Let Microsoft do the work for you in solving this problem.
Do the following;
1. open your browser
2. go to options in the topmenu
3. go to internet options
4 where it is written homepage - use current - type in [url]http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/
5. OK or Apply and close.
Close your browser.
Open your browser and the Microsoft update page will be opened automatically.
Click Express and smile while the updater does all the work for you.
Have a drink, call a friend, enjoy yourself as I did.
Greetings
Henry