How is it possible to open a .url application shortcut in C#?

Question

I am trying to run an app using a .url link using Process.Start() but, according to the documentation:

If the address of the executable file to start is a URL, the process is not started and null is returned.

Is there a workaround? There is absolutly no way to launch this app in another way.

Here was my code and its error message:

Process proc = new Process();
Trace.WriteLine(MainDataModel.Default.FilePaths.ExecutableDirectory + "\\Minecraft Preview_Editor.url");
proc.StartInfo.FileName = MainDataModel.Default.FilePaths.ExecutableDirectory + "\\Minecraft Preview_Editor.url";
proc.Start();

BedrockLauncher.Exceptions.AppLaunchFailedException: An error occurred trying to start process 'C:\\Users\<me\>\\Documents\\GitHub\\BedrockLauncher\\BedrockLauncher\\bin\\Debug\\net6.0-windows10.0.17763.0\\Minecraft Preview_Editor.url' with working directory 'C:\\Users\<me\>\\Documents\\GitHub\\BedrockLauncher\\BedrockLauncher\\bin\\Debug\\net6.0-windows10.0.17763.0'. The specified executable is not a valid application for this OS platform.

try this https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7693429/process-start-to-open-an-url-getting-an-exception — Antony Kao, Mar 20 '23 at 10:26

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 20 '23 at 11:02

2

Thanks to @Antony Kao for commenting the answer

var ps = new ProcessStartInfo("http://myurl")
{ 
    UseShellExecute = true, 
    Verb = "open" 
};
Process.Start(ps);

answered Mar 20 '23 at 11:02

MetalManeMc

31
7

1

The trick is to set `UseShellExecute` to true since when it is false then the URL file will be treated as an executable file. – Mustafa Özçetin Mar 20 '23 at 11:53
Note that according to the `UseShellExecute` property docs, *The default is true on .NET Framework apps and false on .NET Core apps.* – Mustafa Özçetin Mar 20 '23 at 11:54
1

I believe the `Verb = "open"` line is redundant. – Mustafa Özçetin Mar 20 '23 at 11:55

How is it possible to open a .url application shortcut in C#?

1 Answers1