Opening HTML files in C++ so that they open the browser that the user has on their system

Is it something to do with the DOS library,
Is it possible to do it in C++ Builder instead

In a non windows C++ program you can use the system() function or any of the execxx() spawnxx() functions.  (The xx are letters that can change as there are several variations of these functions..)

The best and easier way to do it is as follows, especially when using C++ Builder...

ShellExecute(0, "open", "C:\\MyPath\\MyTestPage.html", NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

That's the easier way to do it and your page would be open in your defaul browser... For example I use Netscape and it would open it in Netscape... If oyu use IE it would open it in IE.... That's the easiest and best way,,,

Let me know if you need more help....

-Viktor
--Ivanov

Cheers but Viktornets answer proved the most succsesful.

Ever in Debt ( as long as it is not monitory!)

Then you could have rejected my answer to let  him submit a dummy answer.  

The advantage to  ShellExecute is that it uses the user's "default brownser", that is, whatever they want to use as a default.  The dissadvantage is that you have no control over this program.  so if your application needs to pass parameters to the browser, that is not possible, if you need to monitor is progrress or position its windows, that is not really possible.   Which is best really just depends on what your needs are.

Well, I was hoping to get my points 'cuz if my answer was correct.. and in this case it was, so i'm a little disappointed...

YOu can pass parameters to ShellExecute() and you can even make ShellExecute() e-mail something from a Text Component like Rich Edit, Edit Box, Memo and so on....

ShellExecute(0m "open", "mailto:viktor@megsinet.net", "The Subject Goes here", NULL, SW_NORMAL);

Hope this helps...

-Viktor
--Ivanov

Realistically, you can't send parameters to ShellExecute() because you don't know what program will be run, so you don't know what parameters to send.  Unless you know that all programs of a particular type will take some sort of standard parameter.

usually the browsers have the S command to send, so you can use it with ShellExecute().. so I think ShellExecute() can do almost anything you want.... well almost :)

Very sorry nietid if I offended you, I didnt realise that I should pass the points to the supplier of the most useful answer, so I shall now like to ask a straight forward question, to viktornet.  Hopefully it will gain Viktornet some points, and also prove to the others that I appear to have a real problem with this area.

Q:  In which library is ShellExecute and does it return a false  or error if the file is not opened correctly, if at all?

not offended, but viktornet probably feels a little cheated, it was his idea.  Try to make sure the right person gets the points in the future.

ShellExecute is not in a library.  It is part of the window API.  It returns a non-zero value when it is able to run a process to open the file.  It returns zero if there is a problem.  It is documented in the windows help, look there.

what nietod said about ShellExecute() is completely correct...